The best TV shows to watch in 2026 start with Succession, four series on the Roy family's battle for control of a global media empire, and The Last of Us, with Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. Severance (Apple TV+) and Industry, set in London investment banking, are the standout dramas; Slow Horses, White Lotus and Squid Game Season 2 lead the thrillers; and The Penguin and For All Mankind cover sci-fi and fantasy. Every pick was chosen for being genuinely addictive, the just-one-more-episode kind.
The volume of quality television available in 2026 is genuinely overwhelming. From HBO prestige drama to brilliant BBC originals, Nordic noir to South Korean thrillers — US viewers have access to an unprecedented range of excellent television. The challenge is knowing where to start.
We've cut through the noise to identify the shows that are genuinely addictive — the kind where you say "just one more episode" at midnight and mean it.
The Most Addictive Drama Series Right Now
Succession (HBO / Sky Atlantic)
If you haven't watched Succession, you have a gift ahead of you. Four series of the finest TV drama of the 21st century — the Roy family's battle for control of a global media empire is Shakespearean in scope and darkly, mercilessly funny.
The Last of Us (HBO / Sky Atlantic)
Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in the post-apocalyptic drama that elevated video game adaptations permanently. Season 2 is underway. Watch Season 1 immediately if you haven't already.
Severance (Apple TV+)
Employees at a mysterious corporation have their work and personal memories surgically divided. One of the most original and visually stunning shows in years — and Season 2 answered every question while asking ten more.
Industry (BBC Two / HBO)
Young graduates navigating the brutally competitive world of London investment banking. Shockingly good — unflinching, intelligent, and made with genuine insider knowledge of City culture. Two brilliant series, third in production.
The Best Thriller Series to Binge
Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
Gary Oldman leads MI5's rejects in this consistently brilliant spy thriller. Currently four series in, each better than the last. The rare show where every single regular cast member is compelling.
White Lotus (HBO / Sky Atlantic)
Mike White's anthology series about holidaymakers at luxury resorts conceals razor-sharp class satire beneath gorgeous cinematography. Season 3 in Thailand is already generating the year's most intense episode-by-episode discourse.
Squid Game Season 2 (Netflix)
The South Korean phenomenon returns. The second series picks up directly from the finale and delivers more elaborate games, sharper social commentary and — somewhat controversially — more characters you will care about losing.
Must-Watch Sci-Fi & Fantasy
The Penguin (HBO / Sky Atlantic)
Colin Farrell's extraordinary performance as Oz Cobb in this Batman spin-off is one of the great TV acting achievements of recent years. Eight episodes that feel like eight excellent films.
For All Mankind (Apple TV+)
The alt-history where the Soviet Union won the space race continues into the 2000s in its fourth series. Constantly surprising, genuinely emotional and technically meticulous.
How to Watch All of These in the USA
The frustration: these shows are spread across Sky Atlantic, HBO, Apple TV+, Netflix and the BBC. A full set of individual subscriptions would cost over $80/month.
Check each show's current streaming home before you subscribe, because titles move between platforms as licences change. Tivimate is an IPTV subscription with live TV and an on-demand library from $19.99/month; ask our WhatsApp support about a specific series before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Succession in the USA?
Succession is an HBO series, so in the USA all four seasons stream on HBO Max. In the UK it is on Sky Atlantic and NOW.
Is Severance available to watch in the USA?
Severance is an Apple TV+ original, streaming on Apple TV+ in the USA.