These days, television never stops. In the earlier broadcast network era, new releases would disappear as the end of the year approached and the all-important ratings period came to a close. But with the growth of streaming, nearly every week on the calendar has a new release of some kind. The close of 2026 may be in sight, but there are still numerous shows – from blockbuster adaptations to crucial documentaries – lined up to debut. Here are 14 to watch out for.
The Greatest
Few sporting lives have been as immense as that of Muhammad Ali’s. The iconic American boxer was charismatic, gifted and often confronted by controversy. For the creator of this biographical series, Ben Watkins (Cross), there’s no shortage of material to embrace, and no shortage of biopic cliches to avoid. The estate of the former heavyweight champion of the world helped produce the show, with relative newcomer Jaalen Best (All American: Homecoming) given the demanding lead role. Amazon Prime Video, November 4.
2.6 Seconds: Death in the Outback
Already acquired by Netflix for international release, this true-crime docuseries examines the fateful moment in 2019 when 19-year-old Warlpiri-Luritja man Kumanjayi Walker was fatally shot in his grandmother’s home by 28-year-old Northern Territory police officer Zachary Rolfe. Directed by Darren Dale (Total Control), the four episodes chart the pair’s differing lives as well as the private and public aftermath of their intersection – Rolfe was charged with murder but was acquitted by a jury in March 2022. NITV/SBS, November 10.
The Body
Quinn Shephard, who made the crushing true-crime drama Under the Bridge, sticks with teenage protagonists for this new series, but they’re having a lot more wicked fun in this horror thriller. The setting is a Catholic girls’ school where the illicit initiation party for the dance team gets out of hand – did they make a pact with the devil in exchange for competitive success? The absurd and the supernatural get heated up in a narrative that looks keen to push some enjoyably insightful buttons. Netflix, November 11.
Separated at Birth
Coping with unexpected chaos is the comic engine of this six-part series from comedian and actor Nazeem Hussain (Orange is the New Brown). Set in Melbourne, the comedy stars Hussain as paramedic Sameer, whose wife asks for a divorce while they’re still in the birthing suite with their newborn. As Sameer struggles with co-parenting and family expectations, his unlikely ally – and new tenant – is his straight-talking friend and co-worker Donna (Urzila Carlson). ABC, November 11.
12 12 12
Set against Europe’s cobblestoned streets and imposing mountains, this twisty heist thriller about the daring robbery of a Swiss bank unfolds across three timelines: the 12 months planning the robbery, the 12 minutes executing it, and the 12 days required to get away safely. The plot centres on two obsessive foes, with Jamie Dornan (The Fall) as criminal mastermind Paul Galvin and Anthony Mackie (Twisted Metal) as pursuing FBI agent Jack Strickland. Done right, this should be catnip for Hijack and Lupin fans. Apple TV, November 13.
The Good Daughter
The troubled history that lingers between estranged sisters underpins this crime drama, which stars Rose Byrne (Platonic) and Meghann Fahy (The Perfect Couple) as siblings Samantha and Charlotte Quinn, who are forced to reunite when they have to care for their ailing criminal lawyer father and defend his new client, a young woman charged with a double murder. Are their traumatic family secrets waiting to surface? Absolutely. Is this a formidable pair of leads? Absolutely. Stan*, November 13.
The Altruists
They were an idealistic young couple committed to changing the world. They ended up being responsible for the $12 billion collapse of a global cryptocurrency exchange, blaming each other in court, and receiving prison sentences. The headline-making financial saga of FTX is dramatised through the relationship of its founders, Sam Bankman-Fried (Anthony Boyle, Say Nothing) and Caroline Ellison (Julia Garner, Ozark). There is some jaw-dropping reporting for this limited series to draw on. Netflix, November 18.
Shakedown
The robodebt scandal, where welfare recipients were unlawfully issued incorrect debt notices by the Australian government, remains a shameful national scandal. Television’s first reply was the essential SBS documentary series, The People vs Robodebt, with the second being this four-part drama about those who empowered the scheme and those who suffered from their actions. Justine Clarke (RFDS), Kate Box (Deadloch), and Mandy McElhinney (Wakefield) lead the ensemble cast. ABC, November 22.
Blade Runner 2099
Blade Runner is an intoxicating franchise, and the seeds planted by Ridley Scott’s ground-breaking 1982 science fiction movie continue to inspire new iterations. The latest is a sequel series, set further forward in a future Los Angeles where the Replicant cyborgs are now the ruling class above humanity’s second-class citizens. The trailer looks amazing, but the story – with Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once) as a Replicant police officer and Hunter Schafer (Euphoria) as her desperate human partner – has to deliver. Amazon Prime Video, November 25.
Pride and Prejudice
How do you adapt a beloved novel that’s already been on the screen numerous times? “Boldly” appears to be the answer of English author, podcaster and screenwriter Dolly Alderton, whose take on Jane Austen’s 1813 novel of romantic manners is reportedly “progressive”. Alderton certainly has a terrific cast, with Emma Corrin (The Crown) and Jack Lowden (Slow Horses) as respectively the unwed Elizabeth Bennet and her less than conventional suitor Mr Darcy, plus Olivia Colman (Fleabag) as Elizabeth’s mother. Netflix, December 3.
The Murder of JonBenet Ramsey
Aside from OJ Simpson’s murder trial, no criminal case has exerted more of a distorting hold on America than the 1996 murder of six-year-old JonBenet Ramsey in her Colorado family home. With Melissa McCarthy (Nine Perfect Strangers) and Clive Owen (Impeachment: American Crime Story) as JonBenet’s parents (and suspects) Patsy and John, this true crime drama faces numerous crucial choices in how it unfolds the tragic events. Netflix, December 10.
Harry Potter
While the time zone implications for Australia of a global “Christmas Day” release have yet to be clarified, there’s no doubt this ongoing adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s hugely popular fantasy novels is 2026’s most anticipated scripted series. With a new trio of child actors as the 11-year-old heroes, the wizarding school of Hogwarts returns to the screen. Eight episodes is an expansive canvas versus a two-hour movie, but can the show deliver something new? HBO Max, December 25 or 26.
Bondi: 7 Minutes That Changed Australia
December 14 marks the first anniversary of the unprecedented terrorist attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach in which 15 people shot were dead during the local Jewish community’s Hanukkah celebration. This documentary draws on the testimony of survivors, first responders, heroic bystanders, and families of the victims, as well as revealing exclusive archival material, to capture the deadly consequences of what occurred. SBS, December TBC.
Wentworth: Halfway Home
Debuting in 2013 and running for eight seasons, prison drama Wentworth was one of the most successful Australian scripted series of the past two decades. This spin-off moves the setting from the titular women’s prison to a halfway house for newly released inmates, but multiple characters from the original show, including Nicole da Silva’s Franky Doyle, will return. The galvanising newcomer is Moira, a manipulative high-society fraudster played by Rachel Griffiths (Total Control), who upends an already fraught community. Binge, TBC.
Returning shows to catch up with
All’s Fair S2: Ryan Murphy’s “You go, girl!” legal drama, starring Kim Kardashian and Naomi Watts, dismayed critics and drew viewers. It’s likely little will change. Disney+, November 4.
Stick S2: Owen Wilson’s laconic former professional golfer gets a terrific new foil – Pluribus star Rhea Seehorn as a hard-nosed coach. Apple TV, November 4.
Black Doves S2: Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw return as well-armed besties in this ludicrously charming action-thriller. Netflix, November 5.
Yellowjackets S4: All good things, including supernatural thrillers about 40-something women who went cannibal when lost in the wilderness as teenagers, must come to an end. Paramount+, November 20.
The Hunting Wives S2: Unheralded on release, this risqué thriller about Texan society wives was a surprise 2025 hit. Expect the show’s creators to be emboldened. Stan, November 26.
Babylon Berlin S5: One of television’s finest period dramas reaches its terrifying conclusion – it’s February 1933 and Adolf Hitler has been appointed as Germany’s chancellor. SBS, TBC.
*Stan is owned by Nine, the publisher of this masthead.
Want more TV? We’ve got you.
- Newsletter: Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.
- Movie guide: More than 200 hand-picked hits from all the major streamers.
- October streaming picks: A guide to the best new shows this month.
- Last Seen is only the latest: The TV shows taking Australia to the world.
- 70 Up: Why TV’s greatest experiment is coming to an end.
- Watch (below): Deputy TV editor Meg Watson recommends Dustfall, the incredible new ABC drama you should be watching.