Series Mania 2026: A Global Showcase of Bold Latest Television

The 2026 edition of Series Mania, held from March 20th to 27th in Lille, France, promises a diverse and compelling lineup of international television, featuring over 50 series with more than 20 world premieres. This year’s festival highlights a trend towards risk-taking and accuracy in storytelling, reflecting a changing landscape in the television industry.

Opening Night and Key Premieres

Disney+’s The Testaments, a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, will open the festival. Bruce Miller, creator of both series, will host a masterclass and attend the premiere with the cast, including Ann Dowd, Chase Infiniti, and Lucy Halliday.

International Competition Highlights

Nine series have been selected for the international competition, showcasing a range of genres and perspectives:

• The Audacity (AMC Network): A series set in Silicon Valley from Jonathan Glatzer.
• Major Players (Channel 4): A UK series directed by Molly Manning Walker and produced by A24.
• Waiting For The Out (BBC): A prison-set drama.
• Dustfall (ABC Australia, BBC, ZDF): An Australian murder mystery exploring the long-lasting impact of sexual violence.
• Paolo (HBO Max France): Details are currently limited.
• Love Is Enough (HBO Max Poland): Details are currently limited.
• Dear Killer Nannies (Disney+, Hulu): A Colombian series revisiting the story of Pablo Escobar from the perspective of his son, raised by his father’s hired killers.
• Anatomy of a Moment (Movistar+): A Spanish historical drama directed by Alberto Rodríguez, based on Javier Cercas’ account of the failed 1981 coup d’etat, starring Álvaro Morte as Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez.
• My Brother (Nordic Co-production): Details are currently limited.

Other Notable Series

Beyond the competition, Series Mania 2026 will feature a diverse selection of shows:

• Burden of Justice (DR Sales): A Swedish legal drama created by Jens Lapidus, exploring ethical compromises within Stockholm’s elite defense firms.
• Little Prophets (BBC): A workplace comedy/existential exploration of grief and wonder from Detectorists writer/director Mackenzie Crook, starring Michael Palin.
• The Best Immigrant (Streamz): A Belgian dystopian drama imagining a future where migration policy is determined by a reality competition.
• The Flaws (ZDF, Razor Film): A German workplace comedy leaning into surreal and physical humor.
• Those Sacred Vows (RTE, Banijay Rights): An Irish crime comedy.
• Unfiltered (3CAT): A Spanish drama exploring digital identity and adolescence.
• Smallpox Vera (TVP): A Polish series reconstructing the 1963 smallpox outbreak in Wrocław.

Industry Trends

Festival organizers noted a shift in the industry, with fewer series submitted, shorter formats, and fewer episodes per season. Although, they also highlighted a positive trend towards more focused and accurate storytelling, with many projects inspired by current geopolitical events.

Key Dates

Series Mania 2026 runs from March 20th to 27th. Ticket sales opened in February and March, with some sessions selling out quickly.