Entertainment
7 Upcoming Horror Shows You Cannot Miss
Horror TV is definitely having a moment. Sadly, though, between endless reboots and spin-offs, it’s getting harder to tell which projects are actually worth paying attention to and which ones are just riding the wave. Unfortunately, even some of the more original concepts fail to stick the landing because they still rely on the same old tropes that viewers have honestly grown tired of at this point.
Thankfully, though, this year’s horror lineup is surprisingly stacked with a good mix of reimaginings and unique stories that feel genuinely exciting. To cut through the noise, though, here is a list of upcoming horror shows that just cannot be missed.
7
‘Carrie’
October 2026
Stephen King’s 1974 novel Carrie has seen several adaptations over the years. However, Mike Flanagan’s upcoming take on it definitely justifies revisiting the story once again. Flanagan is the undisputed king of TV horror with shows like The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass under his belt. That makes him the perfect director to reimagine Carrie with a character-driven, in-depth approach that focuses on the emotion beneath the horror. The series will follow Summer H. Howell as Carrie White, a socially isolated teenager raised by her extremely religious and abusive mother, Margaret (Samantha Sloyan). However, her life takes a turn when she develops terrifying telekinetic powers right when she is in the middle of an awful bullying scandal.
Flagan’s version of Carrie is expected to portray Carrie’s journey as a coming-of-age tragedy that’s only heightened by the supernatural horror elements of the story. The horror here won’t just come from what Carrie can do, but also what has been done to her. The series is currently slated to premiere in October 2026, right in time for spooky season. At a time when audiences are frankly getting a little tired of reboots, Carrie has a real chance of changing the game by giving the story a new sense of depth and nuance.
6
Untitled ‘The Conjuring’ Series
2026
The Conjuring universe has already proven itself as one of the most successful horror franchises of all time, so it was only a matter of time before it moved to TV. An untitled The Conjuring series is now in development at HBO Max and is set to expand the world established in the films. The show is a continuation of the story rather than a reboot or retelling, which immediately gives the audience a reason to tune in. Details about the plot are still under wraps, but Nancy Won is on board as showrunner while Peter Cameron and Cameron Squires serve as writers.
This shift in format could be exactly what the horror franchise needs at the moment. The nine films have largely thrived on contained cases and traditional horror storytelling featuring plot twists and jump scares. However, a series allows for a deeper dive into the Warrens’ legacy or perhaps what happens to it after they choose to retire in The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025). The series is expected to be released in 2026, but an exact date has not been announced yet.
5
‘Widow’s Bay’
April 29, 2026
Apple TV has been delivering some of the most unique shows on streaming in recent years, and Widow’s Bay will be no exception. The horror-comedy series, created by Katie Dippold and directed by Hiro Murai, is set in a remote New England town that might be cursed. The story follows Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys), a skeptic determined to revive the struggling town, even as the locals insist something is deeply wrong. This tension between disbelief and a sense of creeping dread makes the show’s premise so interesting.
Widow’s Peak will lean into familiar small-town horror territory and is already being compared to Twin Peaks-style storytelling, where the tone is constantly shifting. The upcoming series premieres on April 29, 2026, and will feature 10 episodes where the central mystery will slowly unravel. It might not be the most mainstream horror title on the slate, but it’s definitely one to watch out for.
4
‘Crystal Lake’
2026
Crystal Lake is another upcoming series that will revive a beloved horror franchise. The horror show will serve as a prequel to the original 1980 Friday the 13th and shift the focus away from the violence and gore to the actual origin of Pamela Vorhees herself. Linda Cardellini headlines Crystal Lake as Pamela, a grieving mother who descends into absolute madness after her son, Jason, drowned at Camp Crystal Lake after being bullied by the other campers. Longtime fans of the franchise already know that Pamela blames the tragedy on the camp counselors who were supposed to be watching him. However, the series will explore the events leading up to young Jason (Callum Vinson)’s death while grounding the story in the very specific time and mindset of the ‘70s.
There’s no denying that the premise of this is rooted in familiar territory, but it will take a far more ambitious creative direction. Crystal Lake has been pitched as a paranoid thriller that will unpack Pamela’s grief and paranoia on a whole new level. The show will feature its fair share of slasher moments, but the context behind them is what will give them their true weight. Crystal Lake has been through quite a few issues behind-the-scenes with the original showrunner, Bryan Fuller, exiting due to creative differences. However, the series is now helmed by Brad Caleb Kane, whose approach leans heavily into character and atmosphere. An official premiere date hasn’t been confirmed yet, but the prequel series is expected to arrive sometime in 2026.
3
‘Hostel’
Late 2026
The Hostel franchise has been met with mixed reception due to its “torture horror” roots. The original movie, released in 2005, follows a group of backpackers who are lured into a nightmarish underground network where wealthy elites pay to torture unsuspecting tourists. The film’s graphic violence is definitely still controversial, but it was a pop-culture-defining moment for early 2000s horror. The upcoming Peacock series marks a revival of Eli Roth’s franchise and is expected to take a present-day approach to the original concept instead of simply rehashing the films. Paul Giamatti is set to star in a leading role. However, details about the characters and the plot remain under wraps.
The upcoming Hostel series has the potential to expand the lore of the Elite Hunting Club beyond just a single location and focus on the people who run it. The series can still lean into the graphic violence of its predecessors, but it might benefit from taking a more psychological approach with its story. Hostel definitely has the potential to reinvent itself for a new audience if it manages to balance its signature shock value with something more substantial. The show does not have a confirmed release date yet, but it is expected to premiere in late 2026, possibly around Halloween.
2
Untitled Netflix Newfoundland Series
Late 2026
This entry on the list might not have a title, but its premise has all the makings of a horror hit. Netflix’s untitled series based on Newfoundland will be set in a remote coastal town where a mysterious sea creature begins terrorizing the community. The story will follow a tough fisherman, played by Josh Hartnett, who has to fight for his and his family’s survival. The cast also includes Mackenzie Davis and Stranger Things star Charlie Heaton.
This won’t be a typical creature feature, though, because the show is meant to be a character-driven drama about resilience and community. The Newfoundland setting is also of key importance here, since the culture and dialect will also have a huge impact on the story. The series will have a limited, six-episode run and has the potential to balance spectacle with a story that feels intimate. An official release date has not been announced yet, but given that production is already underway, a late 2026 debut might be in the books.
1
‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ Series
TBA
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) has left a mark on the horror genre like no other. Instead of relying on supernatural scares, the film’s sense of fear is grounded in something disturbingly real, and that makes all the difference. A24 is leaning into that same identity with a new TV series that’s currently in development. The upcoming show promises to dig deeper into Leatherface and his cannibalistic family’s origins. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre TV adaptation is not a remake, but instead, is being positioned as a long-form exploration of the franchise’s mythology.
JT Mollner has joined the project as writer and director, while Roy Lee and Glen Powell serve as producers alongside Kim Henkel, who co-created the original film. What makes the series so exciting is how The Texas Chainsaw Massacre has always hinted at a larger, more disturbing world beyond the immediate violence the audience sees. The series will have room to unpack all of that, explore the dynamics of the family and the environment that shaped them. The A24 series doesn’t have an official release window yet.
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