Even in the most difficult of times, we can always count on good art to keep us going.

That's particularly true of the best TV shows we've been given in the first half of 2026, many of which follow a similar pattern of comfort. The sheer volume of warm, loving comedies on offer is simply wonderful to see, especially when previous years have leaned more heavily into grim drama and dark fantasy. 

Of course, it's not all laughs and hugs in TV form, as many shows released this year, both new and returning, have also offered brilliant displays of melodrama, though even then this prevailing sense of hope against the odds breaks through them all. 

Before we take a look at the best of the best, it's worth giving a shout-out to some honourable mentions that didn't make the cut, particularly The Boys, which, with its final season, was a real mess but still offered some great thrills and moving individual moments, and Daredevil: Born Again, a superhero drama with plenty of story left to tell. 

With all that out of the way, then, here are the 20 best TV shows of 2026 (so far).

Brilliantly reinventing itself after season three left the vast majority of its characters scattered and dejected, Industry's fourth chapter is a rousing thriller that gives the series more bite than ever.

This year, buckling under the hardship imposed by a broken, unjust financial system, Industry's quiet heroes fail at every turn whilst the system continues to oppress, and uses this theme of defeat to explore how politics corrupts and destroys even the most ethical of everyday people... and makes the villains even worse. 

Brought to life by poignant dialogue delivered by staggeringly complex performances, particularly from embattled series lead Marisa Abela, Industry's latest and best season finds its characters at their most put-upon, miserable, and betrayed. This is a world in which no one is who they claim, no one can be trusted, and the results are intensely watchable.

Already renewed for a fifth and final season, Industry is a still-underappreciated gem that deserves a wider audience, so make sure to seek it out as it speeds to what will surely be a stunning conclusion.

Contributor

Aidan Whatman

I get to write about what I love, which is cool. You'll typically find me in front of a TV, or hunkered down behind a book, or dreaming of things far away. Be good to each other. Find my other writings here: https://allthethingsineversaid.substack.com/

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