Spotlight TELEVISION The best TV shows of 2026 so far, ranked Kelly Lawler USA Today Jun 19, 2026 Jun 19, 2026 Updated 17 hrs ago 0 × USA Today - Vertical USA TODAY reporter Kelly Lawler ranks best TV shows of 2026 so far, including "Survivor" "Lord of the Flies" and "The Pitt." Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save It may feel like 2026 has just begun, or like it's already lasted a decade, but somehow and some way, it's already half done.kAmp?5 7@C 72?D @7 %'[ E92E >62?D E96C6VD 2=C625J 366? 2 D=6H @7 8C62E W2?5 ?@E\D@\8C62EX D9@HD E92E 92G6 42AEFC65 @FC 962CED 2?5 >:?5D D@ 72C E9:D J62C]k^AmkAmw6C6VD 2 =@@< 2E E96 `_ 36DE D9@HD @7 E96 J62C D@ 72C] (9:=6 }@] ` >2J ?@E DFCAC:D6 J@F[ 9@A67F==J E96C6 2C6 2 76H H@?56C7F= D9@HD 7@C J@F E@ 5:D4@G6C @? E96 =:DE]k^Am Noah Wyle as Dr. Robby in "The Pitt" Season 2. Warrick Page, HBO Max k9am`] V%96 !:EEVk^9am kAmxEVD 2=>@DE 2 4=:49é E@ 42== wq~ |2IVD >65:42= 5C2>2 D6?D2E:@? Q%96 !:EEQ E96 36DE D9@H @? %'] xE 92D 4@==64E65 2 H966=32CC@H 7F== @7 D9:?J 2H2C5D[ :?4=F5:?8 `d t>>JD 7@C a_adVD 7:CDE D62D@?]k^Am People are also reading… Smith Mountain Lake businesses feel the impact of low lake levels Roanoke police investigating kennel, urge owners to remove dogs 18-year-old Rocky Mount woman arrested after fatal stabbing High heat, low lake levels made for a quiet Fourth at Smith Mountain Lake Danny Rocco helping read the pulse of Virginia Tech football Former assistant principal takes lead role at Franklin County High School No-wake zones around Independence Day fireworks at Smith Mountain Lake Emmy snubs! Jeremy Allen White, 'Stranger Things' missed by 2026 noms Pirate Days returns next weekend at a new location amid drought Orange County announces Independence Day facility closures 'Heat distress' spurred investigation into City Dogs kennel by Roanoke police After impersonating police to confront Rocky Mount mayor, man gets jail time Bird-themed celebration this month at Smith Mountain Lake State Park Miss Virginia's Teen winner, from Rocky Mount, proud to represent community Postseason heartbreak helped bring back Virginia basketball's core of returners kAmqFE :? $62D@? a[ H9:49 AC6>:6C65 324< :? y2?F2CJ[ Q%96 !:EEQ 5:5?VE >:DD 2 W962CEX362E] %96 ?6H 6A:D@56D D@>69@H 8C6H @? E96 4C62E:G6 DF446DD @7 $62D@? `[ H:E9 ?6H 492C24E6CD[ ?6H 6>6C86?4:6D 2?5 ?6H 4@>>6?E2CJ @? @FC G6CJ 492@E:4 H@C=5] %96 D9@H D66>D E@ 36 2? F?DE@AA23=6 4F=EFC2= A96?@>6?@?] x7 :E 4@?E:?F6D =:<6 E9:D[ Q%96 !:EEQ H:== 36 E96 36DE D9@H @? E6=6G:D:@? 7@C 2D =@?8 2D :E 2:CD] k6>mwq~ |2Ik^6>mk^Am Winston Sawyers as Ralph in "Lord of the Flies." Lisa Tomasetti, Eleven / Sony Pictures k9ama] V{@C5 @7 E96 u=:6DV k^9amkAm%9:D ?6H 252AE2E:@? @7 E96 4=2DD:4 (:==:2> v@=5:?8 ?@G6=[ 2 qC:E:D9 AC@5F4E:@?[ :D 2 >@@5J[ 92CC@H:?8 2?5 566A=J FAD6EE:?8 6IA6C:6?46] p?5 J6E[ J@F 42?VE =@@< 2H2J 7C@> E96 DE@CJ @7 2 8C@FA @7 J@F?8 3@JD DEC2?565 @? 2 56D6CE65 :D=2?5[ =@D:?8 2== >62DFC6 @7 4:G:=:K2E:@? 2?5 564@CF> 2D E96 52JD A2DD]k^Am kAm!6C92AD E96 >@DE 27764E:?8 2DA64E @7 E96 D6C:6D :D 9@H ECF=J E:?J E96 J@F?8 24E@CD 2C6 — :EVD @?6 E9:?8 E@ C625 23@FE 49:=5C6? :? A6C:= 2?5 BF:E6 2?@E96C E@ D66 :E :? DF49 G:G:5 4@=@C] %96 DE@CJ :D 2? 23D@=FE6 4=2DD:4 7@C 2 C62D@?] k6>m}6E7=:Ik^6>mk^Am 'Survivor 50' Robert Voets, CBS k9amb] V$FCG:G@C d_V k^9amkAm%H6?EJ\D:I J62CD 2?5 d_ D62D@?D :?E@ :ED CF? @? rq$[ E96 C62=:EJ 4@>A6E:E:@? D6C:6D E92E E@@< E96 H@C=5 3J DE@C> :? a___ :D DE:== <:4<:?8 — 2?5 <:4<:?8 FA 2 DE@C> @7 8C62E %'] (96? Q$FCG:G@CQ AC6>:6C65 @? rq$[ E96C6 H2D ?@E9:?8 @? %' =:<6 :Ei `e A6@A=6 =67E @? 2? :D=2?5 H:E9@FE 2?J 7@@5[ D96=E6C @C 4C62EFC6 4@>7@CED[ G@E:?8 6249 @E96C @FE @?6 3J @?6 F?E:= @?=J 2 Q$@=6 $FCG:G@CQ C6>2:?65[ H:??:?8 S` >:==:@?]k^Am kAm%96 D9@H 92D 6G@=G65 @G6C :ED =@?8 E6?FC6[ 3FE :ED 3@>32DE:4 d_E9 D62D@? >2?2865 E@ 3@E9 42AEFC6 E96 DA:C:E @7 E96 D9@HVD @C:8:?D 2?5 9@?@C :ED =@?8 =6824J] u2?\72G@C:E6 A=2J6CD C6EFC?65[ EH:DED H6C6 :?EC@5F465 2?5 E96 H:??6C H2=<65 2H2J H:E9 2 H9@AA:?8 Sa >:==:@?] xE H2D 2 C6>:?56C E92E %' 5@6D?VE 92G6 E@ 36 3C2?5 ?6H E@ 36 67764E:G6] $@>6E:>6D E96 @=5 7@C>F=2D H@C<[ 2?5 ?6H 86?6C2E:@?D 42? 36 =F4<J 6?@F89 E@ 5:D4@G6C E96>] k6>mrq$ ^ !2C2>@F?EZk^6>mk^Am Carey Mulligan, left, and Oscar Isaac star in Season 2 of "Beef." Netflix k9amc] Vq667Vk^9amkAmx? a_ab[ }6E7=:IVD Qq667[Q E96 DE@CJ @7 2 C@25\C286 :?4:56?E E92E EFC?D :?E@ 2 3=@@5 76F5 36EH66? EH@ DEC2?86CD[ H2D 2 DFCAC:D6 9:E[ 2 H@C5\@7\>@FE9 D6?D2E:@? E92E C@56 :ED 244=2:> 2?5 72?E2DE:4 A6C7@C>2?46D 2== E96 H2J E@ >F=E:A=6 t>>J 2H2C5D] xED =@?8\2H2:E65 D64@?5 D62D@?[ H:E9 2 ?6H 42DE 2?5 2 ?6H 3667 2E E96 46?E6C[ 5:5 ?@E 5:D2AA@:?E]k^Am kAm$62D@? a 7@==@HD EH@ 4@FA=6D @? 2 A2E9 @7 >FEF2= 56DECF4E:@?[ @?6 @=56C 2?5 ;2565 2?5 @?6 J@F?8 2?5 ?2:G6] $E2CC:?8 r2C6J |F==:82?[ ~D42C xD224[ r2:=66 $A26?J 2?5 r92C=6D |6=E@?[ E96 DE@CJ C6E2:?D E96 D9@4< 2?5 2H6[ 6I4:E:?8 A6C7@C>2?46D 2?5 >:?5\3@88=:?8 EH:DED @7 $62D@? ` H9:=6 C6>2:?:?8 7C6D9 2?5 6I4:E:?8] k6>m}6E7=:Ik^6>mk^Am Lisa Kudrow as Valerie Cherish in "The Comeback" Season 3. HBO k9amd] V%96 r@>6324<Vk^9amkAm}@ @?6 :D 36EE6C 2E 2 4@>6324< E92? {:D2 zF5C@H[ 6I46AE[ A6C92AD[ '2=6C:6 r96C:D9] *6D[ E96 :CC6D:DE:3=J 4C:?86J AC@E28@?:DE @7 wq~VD 4@>65:4 52C=:?8 Q%96 r@>6324<Q 42>6 324<[ @?46 282:?] %96 DE@CJ @7 2? 24EC6DD =@@<:?8 7@C 96C 4@>6324< 8C2465 @FC D4C66?D :? $62D@? ` Wa__dX 2?5 :? $62D@? a Wa_`cX[ 2?5 a_aeVD $62D@? b 7@F?5 2 DE@CJ E92E :D D@ G6CJ 2AE W2?5 9:=2C:@FDX 7@C E96 E:>6D H6VC6 4FCC6?E=J =:G:?8 :?]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio kAm%9:D E:>6[ '2=6C:6[ 2 72565 %' DE2C 2=H2JD =@@<:?8 E@ 3C:?8 96C 42C66C 324< :?E@ E96 DA@E=:89E[ :D DE2CC:?8 :? 2 C6G@=FE:@?2CJ ?6H %' D6C:6Di ~?6 HC:EE6? 3J px] zF5C@H 9:ED 6G6CJ >2C<[ E96 ;@<6D 2C6 246C3:4 2?5 9:=2C:@FD[ 2?5 6G6CJ >@>6?E :D >FDE\D66 %'] k6>mwq~k^6>mk^Am Mary Bennet (Ella Bruccoleri) and Mr Hayward (Donal Finn) in "The Other Bennet Sister." James Pardon, BBC / Bad Wolf k9ame] V%96 ~E96C q6??6E $:DE6CVk^9amkAm$@>6E:>6D E96 36DE H2J E@ DE2?5 @FE :D E@ 8@ D>2==[ BF:6E 2?5 42=>] Q%96 ~E96C q6??6E $:DE6CQ :D 2 A6C764E 3=6?5 @7 DH66E 2?5 D:>A=6 H:E9@FE 36:?8 3@C:?8 @C D=@H] q2D65 @? E96 ?@G6= 3J y2?:46 w25=@H[ Qq6??6EQ E6==D E96 DE@CJ @7 y2?6 pFDE6?VD Q!C:56 2?5 !C6;F5:46Q 7C@> E96 A@:?E @7 G:6H @7 |2CJ q6??6E[ {:KK:6 q6??6EVD 2H<H2C5 2?5 A=2:? J@F?86C D:DE6C] k6>mqC:Eq@Ik^6>mk^Am From left, Daniel Radcliffe, Erika Alexander and Tracy Morgan in "The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins" Scott Gries, NBC k9amf] V%96 u2== 2?5 #:D6 @7 #688:6 s:?<:?DVk^9am kAm(9@ H@F=5 6G6C E9:?< @7 A2:C:?8 s2?:6= #254=:776 2?5 %C24J |@C82? :? 2 8@@7J[ D6=7\C676C6?E:2= ?6EH@C< D:E4@>n (6==[ E92E H@F=5 36 4C62E@CD #@36CE r2C=@4< WQb_ #@4<QX 2?5 $2> |62?D WQv:C=DdtG2QX H9@ 7@F?5 DFCAC:D:?8 4@>65:4 496>:DECJ 2>@?8 E9@D6 EH@ DE2CD[ 2D H6== 2D E96 C6DE @7 E96 >28?6E:4 42DE]k^AmkAmxED 492C> :D :? :ED D:>A=:4:EJ @7 4@?46AE — |@C82? A=2JD 2 5:D8C2465 7@@E32== DE2C ECJ:?8 E@ C6923 9:D :>286 H:E9 E96 96=A @7 2 DECF88=:?8 5@4F>6?E2C:2? W#254=:776X — 2?5 E96 H9:A\D>2CE 6I64FE:@? @7 :ED ;@<6D] k6>m}qrk^6>mk^Am Elle Fanning as Margo in "Margo's Got Money Troubles." Allyson Riggs, Apple TV k9amg] V|2C8@VD v@E |@?6J %C@F3=6DVk^9am kAmw:=2C:@FD[ BF:C<J 2?5 56=:4:@FD[ Q|2C8@VD v@E |@?6J %C@F3=6Q :D 2? :CC6D:DE:3=6 4@>65J H:E9 2 >28?6E:4 42DE E92E J@F 42?VE DE@A H2E49:?8] t==6 u2??:?8 DE2CD :? E96 252AE2E:@? @7 #F7: %9@CA6VD 3@@< 2D E96 E:EF=2C |2C8@[ 2 J@F?8 D:?8=6 >@E96C H9@ :D[ H6==[ 92G:?8 D@>6 >@?6J EC@F3=6D] $96 EFC?D E@ ~?=Ju2?D E@ >2<6 6?5D >66E[ H:E9 E96 96=A @7 96C 7@C>6C HC6DE=6C 72E96C W}:4< ~776C>2?X 2?5 >F49 E@ E96 4928C:? @7 96C 7=:89EJ >@E96C W|:496==6 !76:776CX]k^AmkAmu2??:?8 :D 6I46==6?E :? E96 C@=6[ 2?5 E96 D6C:6D 32=2?46D :ED D:==J 2?5 D6C:@FD 6=6>6?ED H:E9 2A=@>3] k6>mpAA=6 %'k^6>mk^Am Roisin Gallagher as Saoirse Shaw, Caoilfhionn Dunne as Dara Friel and Sinead Keenan as Robyn Winters in "How to Get to Heaven from Belfast." Christopher Barr, Netflix k9amh] Vw@H E@ v6E E@ w62G6? 7C@> q6=72DEVk^9am kAmQq6=72DEQ :D 2 >JDE6CJ 5C2>2 7@==@HD $2@:CD6 W#@:D:? v2==2896CX[ s2C2 Wr2@:=79:@?? sF??6X 2?5 #@3J? W$:?625 z66?2?X[ H9@ 92G6 366? 4=@D6 7C:6?5D D:?46 9:89 D49@@= 2?5 =:G6 D6>:\492C>65 =:G6D :? E96:C =2E6 b_D] qFE E96J 92G6 2 52C< D64C6E 7C@> E96:C E66?286 J62CD E92E 92D E@ 5@ H:E9 2 7@C>6C 7@FCE9 36DE:6 :? E96 8C@FA[ vC6E2[ H9@ >JDE6C:@FD=J EFC?D FA 5625]k^AmkAm%96 D9@H :D 42AE:G2E:?8 2?5 962CE\C24:?8[ H:E9 F?AC65:4E23=6 EH:DED 2?5 EFC?D] *@F ;FDE >2J H2?E E@ AFE @? DF3E:E=6D H9:=6 J@F H2E49] k6>m}6E7=:Ik^6>mk^Am Haley Lu Richardson as Twila and Emilia Clarke as Bea in "Ponies." Katalin Vermes, Peacock k9am`_] V!@?:6DV k^9amkAm$E2CC:?8 Qv2>6 @7 %9C@?6DQ 2=F>?2 t>:=:2 r=2C<6 2?5 Q%96 (9:E6 {@EFDQ $62D@? a 3C62<@FE w2=6J {F #:492C5D@?[ Q!@?:6DQ :D E96 DE@CJ @7 EH@ F?2DDF>:?8 rxp H:5@HD H9@ EFC? @FE E@ 36 C2E96C 8@@5 DA:6D E96>D6=G6D H96? E9CFDE :?E@ E96 4@=5[ <:==6C H@C=5 @7 `hf_D |@D4@H]k^Am kAmxE :D C:49 H:E9 H2C>E9[ 8@@5 DE@CJE6==:?8 2?5 >28?6E:4 24E@CD] %96 DE2<6D 2C6 9:89[ E96 zvq 286?ED 2C6 92?5D@>6[ E96 :?E6==:86?46 :D 5625=J 2?5 E96 4@DEF>6D 2C6 8C@@GJ] (92EVD ?@E E@ =@G6n k6>m!624@4<k^6>mk^Am Movies & TV New movies drop and 'The Bear' returns after a trip to 'Gary' | Streamed & Screened podcast BRUCE MILLER and TERRY LIPSHETZ Lee Enterprises Movies & TV Review: Spielberg doesn’t wow with ‘Disclosure Day.’ He reassures BRUCE R. MILLER Lee Enterprises Movies & TV Still running: Michael Fassbender finds even more intrigue in ‘The Agency’ Bruce R. Miller Lee Enterprises 0 comments Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Review: ‘The Bear’ roars in its final season Storm clouds hover over the fifth — and final — season of “The Bear,” but they’re not what you think. ‘Raising Kanan’ promises plenty for its fifth and final season When Sascha Penn created “Power Book III: Raising Kanan,” he was determined to end it after five seasons. Colin Farrell explores the life of an alien in ‘Sugar’ In the second season of “Sugar,” Colin Farrell’s character has to deal with life alone. Best TV shows of 2026 so far ranked by USA TODAY USA TODAY reporter Kelly Lawler ranks best TV shows of 2026 so far, including "Survivor" "Lord of the Flies" and "The Pitt."
Movies & TV New movies drop and 'The Bear' returns after a trip to 'Gary' | Streamed & Screened podcast BRUCE MILLER and TERRY LIPSHETZ Lee Enterprises
Movies & TV Review: Spielberg doesn’t wow with ‘Disclosure Day.’ He reassures BRUCE R. MILLER Lee Enterprises
Movies & TV Still running: Michael Fassbender finds even more intrigue in ‘The Agency’ Bruce R. Miller Lee Enterprises
Review: ‘The Bear’ roars in its final season Storm clouds hover over the fifth — and final — season of “The Bear,” but they’re not what you think.
‘Raising Kanan’ promises plenty for its fifth and final season When Sascha Penn created “Power Book III: Raising Kanan,” he was determined to end it after five seasons.
Colin Farrell explores the life of an alien in ‘Sugar’ In the second season of “Sugar,” Colin Farrell’s character has to deal with life alone.
Best TV shows of 2026 so far ranked by USA TODAY USA TODAY reporter Kelly Lawler ranks best TV shows of 2026 so far, including "Survivor" "Lord of the Flies" and "The Pitt."
