2026 Fall TV Preview: Best New Shows and Returning Series to Watch

Viewers looking ahead to the autumn months will find a packed schedule spanning fantasy epics, high-stakes legal dramas, sports comedies, and psychological thrillers.

Returning Hits and Sports Comedy Premieres

Season 2 of the sports comedy Chad Powers premieres on Hulu on September 3, according to Mashable. The series stars Glen Powell as disgraced college football player Russ Holliday, who returns to his quarterback glory days by adopting the bumbling alter ego Chad Powers. In the upcoming season, Russ’s secret approaches exposure, forcing him and confidant Danny, played by Frankie A. Rodriguez, to rope a reluctant Ricky, played by Perry Mattfeld, into their scheme to prevent a major scandal, as reported by Mashable.

On Peacock, The Paper returns for its second season on September 9. The Office spin-off follows the newsroom staff of the Toledo Truth Teller, featuring editor-in-chief Ned, played by Domhnall Gleeson, and reporter Mare, played by Chelsea Frei, alongside wild card managing editor Esmeralda, played by Sabrina Impacciatore, and returning franchise character Oscar, played by Oscar Nuñez, according to Mashable.

New Thrillers and Dramas Releasing This Fall

The show stars Patrick Brammall as police dispatcher Ian Ridley, who receives a call from a teenager he believes to be his long-missing daughter, Maggie, launching him into an intense search alongside a cast that includes Maxine Peake and Brendan Cowell.

Beyond September premieres, the broader fall television landscape features several major titles highlighted by Mashable, including the return of fantasy epics like The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, the debut of sci-fi series Blade Runner 2099, and the arrival of a new Avatar series titled Avatar: Seven Havens. Horror and spooky season offerings include Mike Flanagan’s Carrie series and the Friday the 13th prequel Crystal Lake. Drama audiences can expect Netflix’s East of Eden, starring Florence Pugh, and HBO’s legal drama War, while comedy fans will see Sharon Horgan debut her new series Youth.

Fall 2026 Television Release Schedule At-a-Glance