TOP 12 Series for Long Winter Evenings 2026

Winter is coming, and with it, those evenings when you just don't want to leave the couch. This year's end is unusually rich in genre series. Middle-earth, Night City, and Hawkins are returning, the world of replicants gets a new sequel, and at Christmas, the Harry Potter series opens the gates of Hogwarts for the first time. We've selected 12 sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and anime series that are airing right now or will be released by the end of 2026. We've ordered them by premiere date, so you can see at a glance what to dive into tonight and what to wait for a little longer.

Stranger Things: Tales from '85 (2026–present)

Number of seasons: 2 | Season 2: from Sept 17, 2026 | Service: Netflix

The main series ended last year, but Hawkins won't let you go just yet. Stranger Things: Tales from '85 is an animated spin-off that returns to the winter of 1985, between the second and third seasons of the original series. The familiar gang faces new monsters and another paranormal mystery; in the second season, they head into abandoned silver mines on the trail of a mysterious blue flower. The animation by Flying Bark studio recalls Saturday morning cartoons from the 80s, but it hasn't lost its horror edge. If you want more stories from the town, grab the comic Stranger Things: Tales from Hawkins. We wrote about what to read when you miss the series in our article Stranger Things: End of the series, start of the reading.

Neuromancer (2027)

Number of seasons: 1 | Premiere: Jan 22, 2027 | Service: Apple TV

William Gibson's novel Neuromancer was published in 1984, won the Hugo, Nebula, and Philip K. Dick Award, and gave the world the term cyberspace. Without it, the genre we know today as cyberpunk wouldn't exist. Apple TV is now bringing it to the screen in ten episodes. Case (Callum Turner) is a burned-out hacker whose former employers damaged his nervous system for stealing, and he can no longer access the net. A mysterious employer offers him a cure in exchange for one job. Case sets out on it with Molly (Briana Middleton), a street samurai with mirror implants instead of eyes and blades under her fingernails. The showrunner is Graham Roland, author of the Jack Ryan series. Two episodes will be released at the premiere, with more arriving every week until March 19. Gibson's vision also inspired Mike Pondsmith, so you can shorten the wait with the classic Cyberpunk 2020 RPG. You can find more cyberpunk games and merch in the Cyberpunk 2077 category.

Carrie (2026)

Number of seasons: 1 (miniseries) | Premiere: Oct 7, 2026 | Service: Prime Video

Stephen King and Mike Flanagan—this combination has already delighted horror fans several times. The author of The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass has this time retold King's first novel, Carrie (1974). Shy Carrie White (Summer H. Howell) starts high school after her father's death, faces bullying from classmates and her fanatical mother Margaret (Samantha Sloyan), and gradually discovers she can move objects with her mind. The series moves the story to the present day and opens up themes of cruelty, kindness, and violence in schools. All eight episodes were released at once, so you can plan a full-length marathon for Halloween. You can find more books by the King of Horror on the author's page Stephen King.

Dragon Ball Super: Beerus (2026)

Number of seasons: 1 | Premiere: from Oct 11, 2026 | Service: Crunchyroll

Dragon Ball Super: Beerus is a remastered version of the opening arc of the Dragon Ball Super series by Akira Toriyama. The God of Destruction Beerus wakes up from a long sleep after years and searches for a warrior he dreamed about: the legendary Super Saiyan God. He encounters Goku and his friends on Earth, and a peaceful birthday party turns into a battle for the fate of the planet. The improved image from the remaster makes the series an ideal entry point for newcomers and a nostalgic return for those who once devoured Dragon Ball Z. New episodes are released every week. You can find mugs, blankets, and other accessories in the Dragon Ball category, and more titles in the manga and anime section.

VisionQuest (2026)

Number of seasons: 1 (miniseries) | Premiere: Oct 14, 2026 | Service: Disney+

Marvel concludes the trilogy started by WandaVision and continued by Agatha All Along. Paul Bettany returns as the synthezoid Vision, who tries to escape those who want to turn him into a weapon again, while bounty hunters track him down. James Spader returns as Ultron after years, and T'Nia Miller plays Jocasta. The premiere starts with two episodes, with more arriving every week. As a prelude, we recommend the comic Vision: A Little Worse Than a Man, A Little Better Than a Beast by Tom King, a chilling family drama of synthetic people in the suburbs. You can find more comics and merch in the Marvel category.

Crystal Lake (2026)

Number of seasons: 1 | Premiere: Oct 15, 2026 | Service: HBO Max

A prequel to the cult slasher Friday the 13th (1980) returns to where it all began. Linda Cardellini plays Pamela Voorhees, the mother of little Jason. The series reveals what happened at the camp by Crystal Lake long before it became a synonym for horror. The series is backed by A24 studio, famous for horror films, and with a budget of around ten million dollars per episode, they definitely aren't skimping. It was filmed directly at the camp where the original movie was made. In the US, the series is broadcast by Peacock; in Europe, you can find all eight episodes at once on HBO Max.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 (2026)

Number of seasons: 2 | Premiere: Oct 20, 2026 | Service: Netflix

The first season of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners was already a tip in our 2022 selection. Since then, it has built a reputation as a modern classic among anime and Cyberpunk 2077 game fans. Studio Trigger returns to Night City with ten new episodes, but the story is standalone with new characters. We follow a film enthusiast filming the truth about the city, a gangster stuffed with implants, a seasoned edgerunner, and a netrunner craving revenge. Directed by Kai Ikarashi, the creators sought inspiration in 90s films. You can find merch and board games from the world in the Cyberpunk 2077 category, and you can play the soundtrack to the first season on vinyl on your turntable.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022–present)

Number of seasons: 3 | Season 3: from Nov 11, 2026 | Service: Prime Video

The third season of the series from the Second Age of Middle-earth skips several years after the events of the second season and throws us into the height of the war between the elves and Sauron. In it, the Dark Lord forges the One Ring, which is to ensure his victory and rule over all of Middle-earth. Alongside Galadriel, Elrond, and Durin, Jamie Campbell Bower joins the story as a noble knight. If you want to read the history of the Second Age directly from J. R. R. Tolkien, reach for the book The Fall of Númenor. You can read how we rated the beginning of the series in our review of the first season. Among fans, the series has a bad reputation due to the first season. But the second season stepped on the gas, and it's definitely worth giving the series a second chance!

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023–present)

Number of seasons: 3 | Season 3: from Nov 20, 2026 | Service: Disney+

The series adaptation of Rick Riordan's books keeps a brisk pace, and the third season retells the book The Titan's Curse. Percy (Walker Scobell) and his friends try to get siblings Nico and Bianca di Angelo to safety. In the process, he gradually reveals that the Titans are preparing for a return. Dafne Keen and Saara Chaudry have newly joined the cast. The series is an ideal choice for family viewing, where both children and parents enjoy Greek mythology. If you can't wait for the next seasons, you can have the entire Percy Jackson book saga at home as a gift box set.

Blade Runner 2099 (2026)

Number of seasons: 1 (miniseries) | Premiere: Nov 25, 2026 | Service: Prime Video

Ridley Scott's cult world returns in series form after the film Blade Runner 2049. Los Angeles in 2099 is in the hands of replicants after an uprising, and humans have become second-class citizens. Olwen (Michelle Yeoh) is a replicant and a blade runner at the end of her life. She teams up with her partner Cora (Hunter Schafer), a human posing as a replicant, and together they go after a gang of rebellious replicants. The showrunner is Silka Luisa, and all eight episodes will be released at once. If you want to hunt for replicants yourself, try the Blade Runner RPG starter set. You can find merch and soundtracks in the Blade Runner category.

Harry Potter (2026)

Number of seasons: 1 | Premiere: Dec 25, 2026 | Service: HBO Max

The biggest Christmas present of this season. HBO is preparing a series that is to retell one book by J. K. Rowling in each season, and the first season adapts Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in eight episodes. Harry is played by Dominic McLaughlin, Hermione by Arabella Stanton, and Ron by Alastair Stout. Dumbledore is John Lithgow and Snape is Paapa Essiedu, with Francesca Gardiner as showrunner. Compared to the films, the series promises more space for side characters and plotlines that didn't fit into the cinema. You can find everything about the cast and filming in the article Harry Potter series from HBO. If you want to recall the story before the premiere, reach for the illustrated edition of the Sorcerer's Stone.

3 Body Problem (2024–present)

Number of seasons: 2 | Season 2: announced for late 2026 | Service: Netflix

The continuation of the sci-fi hit from David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, creators of Game of Thrones, and Alexander Woo is the only unknown in our selection. Netflix has only confirmed late 2026 so far; an exact date is missing. The series is based on the trilogy by Chinese author Liu Cixin, in which humanity discovers that an alien civilization of Trisolarans is heading to Earth and begins preparing for their arrival. The second season has been filming in Budapest since November 2025, and according to the creators, it will be much larger in scope. If you want to know what awaits you, start with the novel The Three-Body Problem and continue with The Dark Forest. You can find all the books on the author's page Liu Cixin.

Other Series to Watch

Twelve tips aren't everything worth paying attention to this year. Those who already know the above can try Lanterns from DC (HBO Max), the third season of Silo (Apple TV), or the fourth season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Spider-Noir with Nicolas Cage awaits on Prime Video, and from anime, there's JoJo: Steel Ball Run (Netflix) or the return of Black Clover after six years (Crunchyroll). Avatar fans can note down Avatar: Seven Havens, for which it is currently being awaited when and where it will appear in the Czech Republic.