The Guardian Seeks Readers’ Favorite 2026 TV Shows via Online Form

Q: With hundreds of shows released, what's the one series from 2026 you must watch?

The one 2026 series to watch is **The Pitt**. That pick is the strongest match across both critical consensus and the broader TV conversation so far this year. In The Guardian’s roundup, it is praised as a “faultlessly realistic” medical drama with emotional range and a powerful sense of humanity. Separately, the additional reporting points to **The Pitt** holding the highest Metacritic score among the cited 2026 shows, at **92**, giving it the clearest evidence-based edge. What sets it apart is that it appears to avoid the excesses of many hospital dramas. Critics have highlighted its restraint and focus on how characters evolve and connect, rather than relying on constant shock twists. That makes it not just acclaimed, but broadly accessible: a prestige drama with enough urgency to hook viewers and enough depth to reward sustained watching. There are other strong contenders. **A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms** has drawn praise for bringing a lighter, more character-driven tone to Westeros, while **Industry** and **The Traitors** remain standout choices in drama and reality TV. But if the question is which single show best combines reviews, buzz and quality, **The Pitt** has the strongest case right now. If you only make time for one new series from 2026, make it **The Pitt**.

2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 9

The Guardian invited readers to submit their favorite TV show of 2026 so far, asking for recommendations on new series and the reasons behind their picks.
An online form is the main submission channel, with a separate link provided for readers who have trouble using it.
The callout follows the publication of the paper’s culture writers’ own selections of the year’s best TV shows so far.
Readers are also directed to the outlet’s terms of service and privacy policy as part of the submission process.