The BBC is preparing to launch a robust lineup of new and returning drama series for autumn 2026, offering a variety of genres for viewers. The slate includes espionage thrillers, legal dramas, crime sagas, and paranormal stories, many of which will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Returning for its third series, "Vigil" will transport DCI Amy Silva and DI Kirsten Longacre to a remote Arctic research station. The investigation into the death of a British special forces member is set to uncover potential international conflicts related to energy and resources in the polar region. The series is scheduled for release on BBC iPlayer starting August 30.
"The Split Up," a new six-part drama, delves into the world of high-stakes divorce law in Manchester, focusing on the British-Asian Kishan family and their prominent firm. The series promises to explore complex family dynamics and unraveling personal and professional lives when a long-buried family secret surfaces. It is expected to be available on BBC iPlayer in September.
"Honey," a dark comedy Cold War thriller, is set in East Berlin in 1982. The drama follows MI6 agent Marta as she navigates undercover work while entangled with a Stasi counter-espionage chief and a CIA operative. The series will stream on BBC iPlayer this autumn.
"This City Is Ours" returns for a second series, continuing its exploration of crime, family, and loyalty in Liverpool. The new season will pick up with Michael's struggle for control of a crime gang amidst family challenges. Viewers can expect its release on BBC iPlayer this autumn.
For fans of the supernatural, "The Witch Farm" offers a four-part ghost story set in South Wales in 1989. The series centers on a couple who move to a remote farmhouse seeking a fresh start, only to experience escalating strange disturbances following a traumatic home birth. Inspired by a paranormal podcast, it is slated for BBC iPlayer this autumn.
"Blue Lights" will also return for a fourth series, focusing on the tense situations faced by response officers in Belfast. As the officers enter their third year on the job, they confront a new threat, while a murder trial threatens to expose long-held secrets within the police and criminal underworld. The new series will be available on BBC iPlayer this autumn.
Lastly, Jimmy McGovern's acclaimed drama "Time" enters its third series, shifting its focus to a Young Offenders Institution. The three-part drama features veteran prison officer Bailey at odds with a disillusioned prison chaplain, as they both grapple with personal secrets and the challenges of teenage inmates trying to survive incarceration. This installment is also set to stream on BBC iPlayer this autumn.