August 2026 TV To-Do
New TV shows airing in August 2026.
Ted Lasso: Season 4 ★
Apple TV+Comedy/DramaTed coaches a women's football team. Aug 5.
Releases Aug 5, 2026
X-Men '97: Season 2
Disney+AnimationMarvel's revival of the '90s animated series returns for a second season, releasing weekly through mid-August.
Releases Jul 1, 2026
Silo: Season 3
Apple TV+Sci-FiThe post-apocalyptic drama's best season yet: 96% RT. Final season set for July 2027.
Releases Jul 3, 2026
Lanterns
HBOSuperhero/CrimeDCUKyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre as Hal Jordan and John Stewart investigate a murder in small-town Nebraska. 8 episodes.
Premieres Aug 16, 2026 · 8 weekly episodes · finale Oct 4
Reacher: Season 4
Prime VideoAction/ThrillerAlan Ritchson adapts 'Gone Tomorrow.' 94% RT, 77 Metacritic.
Releases Aug 12, 2026
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4
Paramount+Sci-FiPenultimate season. 10 episodes.
Releases Jul 23, 2026
Futurama: Season 11
HuluAnimation/ComedyThe Planet Express crew returns on Hulu. 10 episodes, finale Sep 28.
Releases Aug 3, 2026
August 2026 TV Collection
TV finished before August 2026, ranked. Full write-ups in our Best TV of 2026 hub.
The Pitt: Season 2 ★
HBOMedical DramaReleased Jan 8, 2026
One Piece: Into the Grand Line (Season 2) ★
NetflixAction/AdventureReleased Mar 10, 2026
The Bear: Season 4 ★
Hulu / FXDrama/Comedy85% RT72 MetacriticReleased Jun 25, 2026
Avatar: The Last Airbender – Season 2 ★
NetflixFantasy/Action71% RTReleased Jun 25, 2026
Industry: Season 4
HBODramaReleased Jan 11, 2026
Dutton Ranch
Paramount+Western/Drama89% RTReleased May 15, 2026
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
HBOFantasyReleased Jan 18, 2026
Lord of the Flies
NetflixDramaReleased May 4, 2026
Bait
Prime VideoComedyReleased Mar 25, 2026
Spider-Noir
Prime Video / MGM+Action/NoirReleased May 27, 2026
The Night Agent: Season 3
NetflixThrillerReleased Feb 19, 2026
Dark Winds: Season 4
AMCCrime/DramaReleased Feb 15, 2026
Rick and Morty: Season 9
Adult SwimAnimation/ComedyReleased May 24, 2026
The Four Seasons: Season 2
NetflixComedy/DramaReleased May 28, 2026
The Season
Disney+Sports DramaReleased Jun 1, 2026
Not Suitable for Work
HuluComedyMindy KalingReleased Jun 2, 2026
Euphoria: Season 3
HBODramaReleased Apr 12, 2026
How We Rank
Ranking the Collection
Aired shows (Jan–Jul) are ranked on critical reception (Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic), audience engagement, cultural impact, and quality relative to previous seasons.
Ranking the To-Do
Upcoming Aug–Dec shows are ranked on anticipation factors: showrunner pedigree, cast, source-material strength, platform investment, and franchise momentum.
S Tier = exceptional, must-watch regardless of genre preference
A Tier = excellent, highly recommended
B Tier = good, worth your time if the premise appeals to you
C Tier = decent, has strengths but notable weaknesses
FAQ
What are the best TV shows of 2026 so far?
As of August 2026, the top-ranked TV shows are The Pitt: Season 2 (92 Metacritic) and One Piece: Into the Grand Line Season 2 (100% RT) — both S-tier. A-tier highlights include Industry S4, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Spider-Noir, Dutton Ranch (86% RT), and Rick and Morty S9 (100% RT). This ranking is updated monthly.
What TV shows are coming out in summer 2026?
Key August 2026 TV premieres include Ted Lasso: Season 4 (Aug 5 on Apple TV+), DC's Lanterns (Aug 16 on HBO), and Reacher: Season 4 (Aug 12 on Prime Video). X-Men '97 Season 2 and Silo Season 3 continue airing weekly into August.
How often is this TV tier list updated?
On the 1st of every month. Each update re-evaluates rankings based on completed shows and newly premiered series. Monthly deep-dives are published as separate articles linked from the main Best TV Shows of 2026 hub.
Where can I watch the best TV shows of 2026?
The best TV shows of 2026 are spread across HBO (The Pitt, Industry, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Euphoria), Netflix (One Piece, Lord of the Flies, Avatar, The Four Seasons), Hulu/FX (The Bear, Not Suitable for Work), Prime Video (Bait, Spider-Noir), Apple TV+ (Ted Lasso), Paramount+ (Dutton Ranch, Star Trek: SNW), and Adult Swim (Rick and Morty).
