Cr. Eli Joshua Ade/Netflix © 2025
Which new Netflix series has stood out the most so far in 2026? Here’s our top 10, featuring adaptations of classics, to a new horror drama from the creators of Stranger Things.
2026 has already been a big year for new series on Netflix; the streamer has debuted shows from a variety of genres, including period dramas, horror, and one of the raunchiest dramas in its library. Out of the glut of new offerings, we’ve compiled our top 10. We’re not including returning series in this list. Let’s dive in!
10
Run Away
Netflix began 2026 with yet another Harlan Coben crime drama. The streamer now has a large roster of Coben adaptations (12 in total), with some of the most popular being Stay Close (2021) and The Stranger (2020).
Run Away is a twisty and brutal drama, following a father, Simon Green (James Nesbitt), who’ll do anything to find his missing daughter Paige (Ellie de Lange). She goes missing under mysterious circumstances, being swept up by an underground cult. Simon takes it upon himself to locate his missing daughter. He follows breadcrumbs and ventures into some of the most dangerous areas in his town on his search, confronting numerous unhinged individuals — and getting caught up in a murder case.
In true Harlan Coben style, this series keeps the tension high and keeps throwing curveballs. It’s certainly not the best Harlan Coben adaptation on Netflix; it’s in competition with some excellent series. The thirteenth Harlan Coben project landing on Netflix is I Will Find You, coming to the streamer in June.
9
Vladimir
Headlined by Hollywood superstars Rachel Weisz and Leo Woodall, Vladimir is easily one of Netflix’s sauciest shows ever. A workplace romance, Vladimir follows an unnamed English literature professor in her late 50s (Weisz), who is herself a struggling writer. The series chronicles her lustful obsession with her new, handsome younger colleague, Vladimir (Woodall). The longer she spends time with him, the more intense her unhinged and outlandish fantasies become.
The series takes some unique creative approaches. For instance, Weisz’s character is never actually named, and she breaks the fourth wall (talks directly to the audience) regularly. It’s these quirks and creative choices that add an extra layer to its storytelling. But let’s be real, you’re not watching this for a phenomenal story. You watch it for the humor and tension between Weisz’s protagonist and Woodall’s seemingly ignorant young professor.
8
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials
Agatha Christie is the most famous murder mystery writer ever, introducing the world to legendary fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. However, for Netflix’s three-part mystery Seven Dials, creator Chris Chibnall tackles one of Christie’s lesser known tales, following young, budding detective Lady Eileen ‘Bundle’ Brent, brilliantly portrayed by Mia McKenna-Bruce (Persuasion, How to Have Sex).
Set in the 1920s, Seven Dials begins at an English country mansion during a lavish, glamorous house party hosted by Sir Oswald Coote and his wife, Lady Coote. There, the handsome and much desirable Gerry Wade (Corey Mylchreest) flirts with Bundle, hinting at a possible matrimony. However, the next morning, when everyone wakes up still exhausted following the night before, Bundle finds herself rather shocked to learn that Gerry Wade appears to have overslept.
The series is a stylish, exquisitely produced production from start to finish. In our review, we deemed it a ‘mystery worth solving.’ We also interviewed showrunner Chris Chibnall, which you can read here.
7
Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole
Harry Hole. (L to R) Tobias Santelmann as Harry Hole in Harry Hole Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024
Norwegian novellist Jo Nesbø is one of the most coveted in the world of crime fiction, especially for his Harry Hole novels that began with The Bat (1997). His Detective Hole series was auctioned for a television adaptation for many years, and it finally happened at Netflix.
The 9-episode debut season stars Tobias Santelmann (The Last Kingdom) in the titular role, who plays it brilliantly. It’s a challenging role that demands range, but Santelmann delivers Hole’s deeply flawed anti-hero personality with ease. The debut season sees Hole investigate a sadistic serial killer who chops off victims’ fingers and leaves star-shaped diamonds. Meanwhile, he takes on his corrupt nemesis, Detective Tom Waaler (Joel Kinnaman). It’s a jam-packed debut season, but well-paced nonetheless.
Netflix hasn’t renewed Detective Hole for Season 2 — there’s no plans for a return at the moment. It currently looks unlikely that it’ll return, but we’re not giving up on seeing more Harry Hole adventures just yet.
6
How to Get to Heaven From Belfast
How To Get To Heaven From Belfast Season 1. Caoilfhionn Dunne as Dara Friel, Roisin Gallagher as Saoirse Shaw, Sinead Keenan as Robyn Winters Cr. Christopher Barr/Netflix
Lisa McGee is best known Derry Girls, a coming-of-age drama set during the final years of The Troubles in Northern Ireland. For her debut Netflix series, she sticks to Northern Ireland, delivering a chaotic, hilarious tour of the country that’s bursting with charm. We follow three lifelong friends in their late 30s: Saoirse (Roisin Gallagher), a popular TV writer; Robyn (Sinead Keenan), a stressed-out mother of three; and Dara (Caoilfhionn Dunne), a carer. Having spent their formative years together, they grew apart. But then they receive news that the estranged fourth member of their friendship group has passed away, and the trio get back together to pay their condolences.
How to Get to Heaven From Belfast was a major critical success: The Guardian and The Independent both rated it 4 stars. And we rated it highly too. Sadly, viewership wasn’t too high and its future on Netflix is uncertain. That said, Season 1 stands as a very solid standalone. It’ll leave you wanting more, but you won’t finish it on a cliffhanger.
5
Finding Her Edge
Finding Her Edge always felt destined to be a major hit on Netflix. It arrived with a dedicated audience ready and waiting, thanks to the enormous commercial success of the novel by Jennifer Iacopelli. A huge success it was, reaching the streamer’s top 10 in 81 countries. It will return for a much-deserved second season.
A romance with a heated, competitive ice skating twist, Finding Her Edge, follows Adriana Russo (Madelyn Keys), a former competitive skater from a family with an esteemed history in ice skating. When her older sister, Elise (Alexandra Beaton), is injured in competition, Adriana decides to put the skates back on — but not because she wants to. She needs to earn a sponsorship in order to save her esteemed family’s struggling ice rink. However, Adriana finds herself caught in the middle of an awkward love triangle with her narcissistic new skating partner Brayden (Cale Ambrozic) and her former partner Freddie (Ollie Atkins).
4
His & Hers
His & Hers was one of Netflix’s first breakout series of 2026, airing on January and spending an impressive 7 weeks in the streamer’s Top 10 rankings. The series is headlined by Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal as estranged spouses Anna, a news reporter, and Jack, a skilled detective. The two find themselves entangled in a murder case, in which they both believe the other is the suspect. Is there two sides to every story? If so, who is lying?
The series is fast-paced and keeps you engaged through high-stakes plot twists. But the real highlight is the performance of its two stars Thompson and Bernthal.
3
Something Very Bad is Going to Happen
After wrapping up Stranger Things, creators Matt and Ross Duffer quickly moved onto other projects, but they kept hold of the horror element. Their first post-Stranger Things Netflix series is unsettling psychological horror Something Bad is Going to Happen, a miniseries they worked on as executive producers.
Something Very Bad is Going to Happen follows bride Rachel (Camila Morrone) and groom Nicky (Adam DiMarco) as they travel to Nicky’s parents’ vacation cabin, nestled away in snowy, secluded woodland, where they’ll hold their winter wedding. While that might sound idyllic, wife-to-be Rachel learns that her matrimony is doomed by an ancient curse, and the only way success can be assured is by marrying her soul mate — otherwise the ceremony will be bathed in blood. Does she really love Nicky? Her second thoughts could prove deadly.
Read our review of Something Very Bad is Going to Happen here.
2
Lord of the Flies
Adolescence writer Jack Thorne has brought William Golding’s seminal novel Lord of the Flies (1954) to the screen in what is easily one of the most disturbing and chilling miniseries of the year. The 4-part drama takes place after a plane crashes on a desolate tropical island. All of the adults die in the crash, but the children survive. At first, the school kids work together to survive, creating something that resembles a democracy. However, as the series goes on, and power struggles are at play, their leadership turns towards a dictatorship, and they begin to fight among themselves. It’s a chilling and highly disturbing depiction of a fight for survival.
The series stars Winston Sawyers (Ralph), Lox Pratt (Jack), David McKenna (Piggy), and Ike Talbut (Simon). Fans will see also McKenna star in Greta Gerwig’s Narnia in 2027.
Lord of the Flies originally aired at the BBC before ultimately finding its international streaming home on Netflix.
1
Legends
Created by Neil Forsyth (who made true crime series The Gold), Netflix’s 6-episode series Legends is based on the unbelievable true story of how a team of largely untrained customs officers were made to temporarily abandon their lives, including their families and day jobs, in order to go undercover and infiltrate the drug trade under the pretence of false identities — known as their ‘Legends’.
Set in London and Liverpool in the 1990s, the series is extremely gritty and unforgiving, carrying tension from the get-go. It doesn’t just follow undercover officers, but cuts a cross-section of the entire drug trade, from opium farming in Pakistan, to transportation of narcotics to the British Isles, to street-level dealing. We follow those involved from the very bottom to the leaders of the operation.
Legends also boasts a top tier cast, including acting legend Steve Coogan as Don, and Tom Burke as tough undercover officer Guy Stanton.
You can check out Netflix’s top 10 documentaries so far in 2026 here. Which new series on Netflix have you loved the most so far in 2026? Tell us in the comments down below!
