A new year means new period dramas! And returning period dramas! I am finding that period drama releases are somewhat slowing down, and I will guess that has something to do with everyone everywhere shrinking their budgets. However, we still have several fantastic period dramas set to be released this year. (Or dramas that look to be fantastic!) As I have said many times everywhere, I don’t expect my period dramas to be textbooks- I am okay with creativity and changes to the story for entertainment. Without further ado, onto my 2026 to-watch period dramas!*
*This is a list of the period dramas I am looking forward to, not an exhaustive list. I know there are many other shows and films out this year; these are the pieces I am watching for!
My 2026 To-Watch Period Dramas
I will start with the films and television shows that have been given set release dates, in case you want to get organised for them.
The Artful Dodger, S2 (Disney+/Hulu)- 10 February 2026
I loved the first season of The Artful Dodger and was more than happily surprised when the second season was announced! From the trailer alone, this looks like I will be hooked from start to finish again. I am curious to see how well it performs- I’m hoping that it does well out of the gate so that we can secure a third season.
Want my Artful Dodger reading list? It is right here!
Young Sherlock (Prime Video)- 4 March 2026
I am in two minds about Young Sherlock. This looks to be very Guy Ritchie, and I don’t know how I will feel about that over several episodes. (I find his movies to be entertaining, but it is also one film rather than several episodes.) Still, I am usually up for a good Sherlock retelling as I find that the detective lends himself well to creative adaptations. Get ready for the exceptionally gritty side of nineteenth century London.
The Forsytes (PBS Masterpiece)- 22 March 2026
This period drama actually aired in the UK in the autumn of 2025- I was able to watch the first four episodes while I was in the UK in November but need to see the last two. This is the North American airdate for PBS Masterpiece, I think it will do solidly well here. It is absolutely a creative adaptation of The Forsyte Saga and is not a direct page to screen adaptation, but I think it is a lot of fun and will bring a lot of people in! (Plus, PBS Masterpiece has needed another big name period drama. Along with the new Count of Monte Cristo, this will be a big one.)
Sense and Sensibility– 11 September 2026 (US), 25 September 2026 (UK)
We don’t have a ton of information about Sense and Sensibility other than the cast and the release dates, but I very much enjoy Sense and Sensibility, so I will be looking for it. I don’t know that I’ve seen Daisy Edgar-Jones in anything, so I can’t say anything on her casting. However, I do love Fiona Shaw and look forward to her as Mrs. Jennings!
No Fixed Airdate
Some period dramas have been confirmed for 2026 but do not have specific dates attached yet! Once the dates have been announced, I will move them above with the relevant info!
The Gilded Age, S4 (HBO)
Sadly we have no specific dates when Bertha Russell and Agnes van Rhijn will be returning to our screens. However, HBO did include TGA in a trailer of upcoming 2026 shows, so we certainly should be getting it at some point this year. (I would guess a mid-to-late summer release, but I’m just basing that on the success of S3 in the summer.)
You can find my reading list for The Gilded Age here!
The Other Bennet Sister (BBC, BritBox)
Based on Janice Hadlow’s novel of the same name, this mini-series is centred on Mary Bennet, a character most often relegated to the background. Given that we just wrapped up the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth and now have more attention than ever on Austen adaptations and the like, I think this will do well. I am hoping both the UK and North America get a confirmed release date soon.
The Empress, S3 (Netflix)
The sweeping Netflix drama focused on the tragic Austrian empress should be returning in 2026 for its third (and I believe final) season. While the writers and producers are creative in their telling, it hits hard on the drama and remains a popular period drama for the streaming service. I suspect this will be released later in 2026, but again, that is entirely a guess on my part.
You can also find my reading list for The Empress here!
What are your 2026 to-watch period dramas?
Cheers,
The Historian
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