From “House of the Dragon” to “Ted Lasso,” here’s what’s coming to TV this summer. By Belen Edwards on May 2, 2026.
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What will your summer TV obsession be this year? Will it be a returning favorite like House of the Dragon, The Bear, or Ted Lasso? Or will it be a new show, like Netflix’s sci-fi series The Boroughs or Apple TV’s thriller remake of Cape Fear?
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Whatever your preference, 2026’s summer TV offerings are here to satisfy any genre craving you may have. Hang out with rock star vampires in The Vampire Lestat, or zip along with superheroes in offerings like Spider-Noir and Lanterns. Get some animated action in with a new season of The Legend of Vox Machina or the upcoming raunchy comedy Mating Season. Looking for romance? Check out the hockey-focused Off Campus or summery drama Every Year After.
That’s just the start of what you can expect from TV over the next few months. Here, in chronological order, are the TV shows you should keep an eye out for this summer.
May 2026 TV releases
Lord of the Flies
A new miniseries from Adolescence co-writer Jack Thorne, based on William Golding’s legendary novel Lord of the Flies? Count us in. Following a group of school boys who are forced to survive on a deserted island after their plane crashes, this new adaptation is every bit as brutal as the 1954 book. Expect coming-of-age friendships, rivalries, and a piercing exploration of just how quickly society can fall apart when things enter life-or-death territory. — Sam Haysom, General Assignment Editor, UK Starring: Winston Sawyers, Lox Pratt, David McKenna, Ike Talbut How to watch: Lord of the Flies premieres May 4 on Netflix.
The Other Bennet Sister
What do you know of Mary Bennet, the overlooked sister of Pride and Prejudice? Jane Austen’s beloved novel spends ample time with Lizzy and Jane, but what of the more reserved, observant, and bookish of the Bennet family? Based on Janice Hadlow’s novel of the same name and set after Pride and Prejudice, BBC’s The Other Bennet Sister gives Mary the respect (and screen time) she deserves.
Call the Midwife’s Ella Bruccoleri takes on the unsung fictional heroine, whose sisters are now all married, which means she’s under pressure from her ever-theatrical mother (Gavin & Stacey’s Ruth Jones) to do the same. However, thanks to the encouragement of the Gardiners (Indira Varma and Richard Coyle), Mary decides to travel across England to figure out her own path — whether it involves potential suitors or not. — Shannon Connellan, Senior Editor Starring: Ella Bruccoleri, Ruth Jones, Richard E. Grant, Indira Varma, Dónal Finn, Tanya Reynolds, Varada Sethu, Maddie Close, Poppy Gilbert, Richard Coyle, Laurie Davidson, Grace Hogg-Robinson, Molly Wright, Lucy Briers How to watch: The Other Bennet Sister premieres May 6 on BritBox.
M.I.A.
Ozark co-creator Bill Dubuque shifts states for some score-settling South Florida crime in Peacock’s new drama, M.I.A.. Heir to a family drug business, Etta Tiger Jonze (Shannon Gisela) finds herself literally adrift on the ocean when they’re brutally murdered. Once back on dry land in Miami, the one that got away has one mission: Revenge, what did you think? However, she’ll have to find this cartel before they find her — or the cops do. Sounds like it’s time for a flamboyant new identity and the brutal deployment of those specialised hunting skills. — S.C. Starring: Shannon Gisela, Cary Elwes, Danay Garcia, Brittany Adebumola, Dylan Jackson, Alberto Guerra, Maurice Compte, Gerardo Celasco, and Marta Milans How to watch: M.I.A. premieres May 7 on Peacock.
Off Campus
Heated Rivalry got you craving more hockey romance? Then Off Campus may be just up your alley. Based on the bestselling books by Elle Kennedy, the series centers on Briar University’s hockey team and the women they fall for. The first season is all about womanizing hockey all-star Garrett (Belmont Cameli) and quiet tutor Hannah (Ella Bright), who kick off a fake dating ploy in order to make Hannah’s crush jealous. Of course, all that fake dating turns into real feelings, with the potential