Variety Critics Pick 20 Top TV Shows of 2026's First Half

Q: With HBO and Apple TV+ dominating critics' picks, which streamer is truly winning the war for prestige television in 2026?

HBO/Max is still winning the prestige-TV race in 2026, though Apple TV+ is the closest challenger. The clearest evidence is breadth and consistency. In Variety’s midyear critics’ picks, HBO/Max lands more titles overall across the two top-10 lists, including “Half Man,” “DTF St. Louis,” “Industry,” “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” “Neighbors” and “The Pitt.” Apple TV+ also performs strongly with “Star City,” “Imperfect Women,” “Your Friends & Neighbors” and “Widow’s Bay,” but its footprint is slightly narrower. The broader critical data points the same way. “The Pitt” Season 2 is cited as the highest-rated prestige title of the first half with a Metacritic 92, while “Industry” posted an 88 and “Hacks” an 89. That gives HBO/Max the strongest cluster of upper-tier reviews, not just one breakout. Apple’s lineup is impressive, especially “Widow’s Bay,” “Star City” and its deeper bench of sci-fi and comedy, but the scores and critics’ mentions suggest more momentum than outright dominance. Awards forecasting also favors HBO/Max on volume. Industry projections put HBO Max ahead of Apple TV+ in total Emmy nominations and in the number of series expected to contend in top program categories. Apple may have one of the year’s biggest individual awards players, but HBO/Max appears stronger across drama, comedy and limited series at once. Apple TV+ has become a genuine prestige powerhouse. But if the question is who is truly ahead right now, the evidence still points to HBO/Max.

1 articles · Updated · Variety · Jul 1

Variety’s Aramide Tinubu and Alison Herman each named 10 favorite TV shows from the first half of 2026, issuing unranked lists meant as a midyear catch-up guide.
10 picks apiece produced a 20-show snapshot spanning sitcoms, medical dramas, horror, fantasy and period pieces, with little overlap between the two critics’ selections.
Tinubu’s list ranged from Peacock’s horror comedy “The ‘Burbs” and Hulu’s “Rivals” to Apple TV’s “Star City” and “Your Friends & Neighbors,” plus Hulu’s “The Testaments.”
Herman highlighted HBO-heavy fare including “Industry,” “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” and “The Pitt,” alongside AMC’s “The Audacity” and “The Vampire Lestat.”
The combined lists underscore how broad 2026 television has already become across streamers and networks, from franchise extensions and literary adaptations to original comedies and documentaries.