The movies and TV shows that are expected to come out this year are already incredible. What’s even better is that many of the anticipated releases are entering the third part of their series. From season 3 of XO, Kitty to the third movie in the Dune franchise, we are getting the best releases of 2026. It should be an exciting year for the entertainment industry, so let’s look at the new media coming out with their third installments.
XO, Kitty Season 3
Fans of this spinoff series of the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before film franchise have been waiting for a release date of season 3 since season 2 left off with a cliffhanger. While some speculated it to premiere on Valentine’s Day, Netflix recently announced that season 3 actually releases globally on April 2, 2026. There will be eight 30-minute episodes following Kitty’s senior year at KISS. The new season will see Kitty (Anna Cathcart) as she navigates her relationship with Min Ho (Sang Heon Lee), her connection to her Korean roots, and new, surprising challenges along the way.
Euphoria Season 3
There’s been a significant delay in this show’s third season, considering season two was released 4 years ago. It was primarily due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes, much of the cast getting breakout movies (Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Jacob Elordi), creator Sam Levinson’s particular writing process, and the death of beloved actor Angus Cloud. However, the show finally announced that season 3 will premiere on HBO on April 12, 2026, with episodes coming out weekly. There are eight episodes expected that start with a huge time jump forward about five years after the previous season, moving the characters out of high school and into navigating adulthood.
The Comeback Season 3
Even though it’s been twenty years since the first season and eleven years since the second, The Comeback will return with a third and final season on HBO in March. Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King decided to bring this series back due to the interest in Valerie Cherish, who is played by Lisa Kudrow, and the desire to see how she deals with AI in the entertainment industry. This season will look at what Valerie has been up to over the past decade, as well as what’s next for her: the lead role in a new AI-written sitcom, How’s That?! The details that we have been given surrounding this last season are minimal, but we are certainly in for an entertaining end to the show.
House of the Dragon Season 3
The new season of House of the Dragon, as confirmed by Variety and Business Insider, is set to premiere in June 2026 on HBO and Max and will feature eight episodes. This release follows the release of the other Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which was expected early this year. However, fans do not need to worry because this show is not over yet, but it will conclude with a fourth and final season expected in 2028. The season will cover the events in the Targaryen civil war, as well as continue to adapt George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood. There has been a teaser trailer released showing Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) getting ready for further battle, which is only making this next chapter of the series highly more anticipated.
Dune: Part Three
Moving on to movies, the epic sci-fi franchise of Dune is coming out with their third installment in theaters on December 18, 2026. Frank Herbert’s 1969 novel Dune Messiah has been adapted to conclude Denis Villeneuve’s film trilogy. This film will continue Paul Atreides’ story 12 years after the first book as he explores the tragic outcomes of his rule, the ensuing holy war, and his relationship with Chani. Actors like Timotheé Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, and Anya Taylor-Joy will reprise their roles, as well as new addition Jason Momoa returning as Duncan Idaho. Although the story faced challenges adapting to the book’s time jump, this newest edition of the space saga will not disappoint the fans.
Angry Birds Movie 3
I personally love the Angry Birds Movie, so I was extremely excited when I heard they were to release a third film this year. Paramount Pictures initially announced The Angry Birds 3 Movie was to release in theaters on January 29, 2027; however, the movie is now scheduled to come out on December 23, 2026. This upcoming installment is an animated comedy film based on the Angry Birds franchise, directed by John Rice and from a screenplay by Thurop Van Orman. There will be many returning voices like Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, and Rachel Bloom, as well as new additions like internet sensation MrBeast. The story will see the new coexistence between the birds and pigs, following the peace that was established in the second film.
These new releases expected in 2026 are already exciting, but the fact that they are each the third of a series is even better. In many TV shows, the third season is often considered the best, as it marks a “sweet spot” where characters are developed and the series has reached a creative peak. While in trilogies many third films have been considered the weakest, there have also been many exceptional examples that are considered the best. For these particular shows and movies, I hope they will live up to the expectations and deliver us strong sequels to already well-established series.