Fantasy TV has been having a great run in 2026. The genre just keeps getting bigger, but more importantly, it’s becoming far more creative. Today’s fantasy shows are experimenting with new settings, diverse perspectives, and character-driven stories instead of relying on grand magical battles and action to drive the plot forward.
That’s exactly what has made this year’s lineup so exciting. Each of the shows on this list approaches fantasy from a completely different angle, which proves just how flexible the genre has become. That said, here are the six best fantasy shows of 2026 so far, ranked.
6
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ (2026–Present)
Image via HBO
The biggest surprise about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is that it doesn’t try to be the next Game of Thrones. Instead of featuring another sprawling war between great houses in George R.R. Martin’s universe, the series tells a far more personal story set nearly a century before the original. The spin-off follows inexperienced hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall, better known as Dunk (Peter Claffey), who unexpectedly takes on a young squire named Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). What Dunk doesn’t realize is that Egg is actually Prince Aegon Targaryen, a royal heir traveling the Seven Kingdoms in secret.
The audience watches this unlikely duo as they journey across Westeros and become entangled in local disputes, knightly tournaments, political rivalries, and conflicts that shape the very future of the realm. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms stands out in how refreshingly intimate it feels. Instead of chasing the scale of Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon, the series focuses on the ordinary people living in Westeros. This smaller scope gives the characters far more room to breathe and for the audience to see what it truly means to be a knight. The fantasy adventure series feels warm while also unfolding with the moral complexity that Martin’s world is known for, and is easily one of the best fantasy series on air right now.
5
‘Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord’ (2026–Present)
Image via Disney+
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord finally gives one of the franchise’s greatest villains the story he deserves. The animated series takes place after the fall of Mandalore and the events of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. It follows Maul (Sam Witwer) as he attempts to rebuild his shattered criminal syndicate on Janix, a planet that remains largely beyond the Empire’s control. However, his plans change when he crosses paths with young Jedi Padawan Devon Izara (Gideon Adlon), who survived the collapse of the Order. Maul sees Devon as both a weapon and a possible apprentice and pulls her into an increasingly dangerous underworld filled with crime bosses and powerful Imperial forces.
On the other hand, investigator Brander Lawson (Wagner Moura) begins closing in on the violence surrounding them, which turns Maul’s return to power into a galactic crime thriller rather than a traditional Jedi adventure. Now, the series never tried to redeem Maul. He may be the protagonist, but he is still manipulative and desperate to reclaim the power Darth Sidious took from him. That’s what makes his dynamic with Devon so unsettling. Aside from all that, the series’ noir-inspired criminal underworld creates a side of Star Wars that feels darker and more morally ambiguous than anything else in the entire franchise.
4
‘The Vampire Lestat’ (2022–Present)
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‘Daemons of the Shadow Realm’ (2026–Present)
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