Netflix Upfront 2026 : Series Renewals & New Releases

Netflix took over New York City on May 13, 2026, for its annual Upfront presentation — and the announcements came fast. Before diving into the full breakdown, it's worth clarifying what these events actually are : the Upfronts are a decades-old broadcast industry tradition where networks pitch their upcoming slates to advertisers, media buyers, and global brands. Netflix officially joined this circuit a few years back, largely because of its ad-supported subscription tier, which now requires a dedicated stage to attract commercial spending. Everyday subscribers aren't the primary audience here — but that doesn't mean there's nothing in it for us.

This year, Netflix used the occasion to tease interactive and AI-generated ad breaks planned for 2026, flex its viewership numbers, and drop a string of content reveals that matter well beyond the boardroom. We tracked everything as it unfolded — here's the full picture.

Brand new series and films greenlit at the 2026 Netflix showcase

The slate of freshly announced projects was one of the most diverse we've seen at a Netflix Upfront. Several titles stand out for their creative pedigree alone.

A Matter of Time is a new film starring Ben Stiller, Nicholas Galitzine, and Bella Maclean, directed by Harry Bradbeer. The premise : an unlikely angel sent from heaven to persuade a reclusive man to sacrifice himself for the greater good — only for the man's acceptance to spark a romance that could alter the course of history. The project comes via a first-look partnership with Sony Pictures.

On the series side, Barbaric adapts a cult Vault Comics title about a cursed barbarian and his talking axe. Creator Sheldon Turner leads the project, produced with A+E Studios, and Sam Claflin is attached as executive producer. Fantasy fans should mark this one. Meanwhile, Bridgerton creator Chris Van Dusen is developing Calabasas, a YA drama set at an elite private school, with Emma Roberts and Kim Kardashian serving as executive producers — inspired by the 2021 book If You Lived Here You'd Be Famous by Now.

Adam Sandler is also returning : Grown Ups 3 is officially in development, with Kyle Newacheck (who directed Happy Gilmore 2) attached to direct, and Sandler co-writing with Tim Herlihy. Two more projects round out the new announcements :

• Myron Boltar — the second US-set Harlan Coben adaptation at Netflix, with production starting this summer
• The Retrievals — a dramatization of the Yale Fertility Center scandal, adapted from the New York Times / Serial Productions podcast, with Molly Smith Metzler (Maid, Sirens) as writer and showrunner
• Untitled Nick Cannon Docu-Series — arriving Winter 2026, following Cannon's life raising twelve children with six different mothers

For animation lovers, Brad Bird's upcoming Netflix animated feature Ray Gunn also adds to what's shaping up as an ambitious year for the platform beyond live-action.

Major renewals : what's coming back to your watchlist

Renewals dominated a significant portion of the presentation. The headline ? Big Mistakes gets a second season. Dan Levy's breakout comedy thriller heads back to New Jersey for production, and Levy also signed a new series first-look deal with Netflix. His statement was direct : "Season 2 is already in the works and it's going to be WILD." For those who tracked the first season's trajectory on our platform, this one climbed the charts fast — and Season 2 will likely do the same.

Running Point, the Kate Hudson sports comedy created by Mindy Kaling, Ike Barinholtz, and David Stassen, crossed 60 million views across its first two seasons — a number that justifies its Season 3 renewal without much debate. Production stays in Los Angeles.

Live sports, live events, and what Netflix is building beyond scripted content

The live programming strategy Netflix is pushing deserves serious attention. The NFL partnership is expanding significantly, with four confirmed broadcast slots for the coming season : the Season Opener (49ers vs. Rams from Australia), the first-ever NFL Thanksgiving Eve game (Packers vs. Rams), a Christmas Day game, and a Week 18 season finale with playoff implications. NFL Honors will also air on the platform.

Then there's the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show — a genuine coup. Netflix will be the exclusive streaming home of the 151st Westminster Dog Show, with Group judging and Best in Show airing live from Madison Square Garden on February 1–2, 2027. Daytime breed competitions stream simultaneously on Tudum. This is the kind of live, appointment-viewing content that changes how subscribers — and advertisers — think about the platform.

On the scripted side, two titles got early spotlight treatment before the main presentation : East of Eden received a first teaser clip and a confirmed Fall 2026 window, while The Hawk — Will Ferrell's new comedy series featuring Florence Pugh — dropped its first teaser, photos, and a July 2026 premiere date. Mike Epps also locked in two new stand-up specials with Netflix. Keeping an eye on availability dates for all of these ? That's exactly where a streaming tracker becomes useful — release windows shift, and being ahead of the curve matters.