ANTICIPATED KDRAMAS OF 2026
- Caitlin Connolly
- 2 minutes ago
- 13 min read
Now that we have looked back on 2025, it is time to look at 2026. Per usual, I look ahead at the beginning of the year at all of the rumored/confirmed upcoming Kdramas and talk about them. This week it will be the Korean dramas and next week will be the Cdramas. I am going to do what I did in 2025 and just talk about Korean and Chinese dramas in these anticipated blogposts. I will be starting these posts in February 2026 because I already listed the January Kdramas I was excited for (spoiler alert, there weren't a lot). If you want to look at that list, you can view it here on My December 2025 Wrap Up. I also decided I am going to skip the Kdramas that are scheduled for February 2026 since you will read about them in Next week's blogpost when I wrap up January. I am trying to not have any type of expectations for dramas in 2026.
LET'S GET STARTED!! HERE IS MY LIST OF SOME THE KDRAMAS I AM EXCITED FOR IN 2026!!
Just a quick note, I have no idea if all of these dramas will air in 2026. I will put them on this list because it is rumored, they will air in 2026. I will include premiere dates if I know them, but these are subject to change. I will also include posters/pictures if they have released posters/pictures already. We will see what happens. This list is in no particular order. I am honestly surprised with how many Kdramas are on this list. We know how 2025 Kdramas were for me. At the same time, most of the Kdramas on this list are in the same genre so, it might not be surprising at the same time. I will give you a hint - most are in the thriller/mystery genre. This list also doesn't include everything - I had to stop somewhere. I am sure there are some dramas that are being made or just have not been announced to be airing in 2026.
In any case - Here are some Kdramas that are airing or rumored to air in 2026 that I am looking forward too.
PREMIERE DATE: March 16, 2026
At this rate, anything Ju Ji Hoon is in, I automatically add it to my plan to watchlist. The rest of the cast look great for this drama as well such as Ha Ji Won, Nana and Oh Jung Se. There is not much given in MDL's synopsis. It does have the genres of thriller and mystery which is already a draw for me. It also seems to have an older married couple so, maybe an older married romance. I love when we get older adults romance so, if that is the case with this Kdrama, that also is interesting to me. It looks like it will be a political thriller with Ju Ji Hoon being at the center.
PREMIERE DATE: March 2026
I have had my eye on this Kdrama since 2025. Seo Ji Hye and Go Soo being a part of the case is a big draw for me. I love both of these actors. Obviously being within the genres of thriller and mystery, that is a draw for me. I am also a sucker for amnesia trope if done right and the amnesia trope written in the synopsis seems interesting. Seo Ji Hye is out for revenge but then loses her memory. She needs to find her memories but then trying to find those lost memories, she discovers new evidence about the incident she wants revenge for. That piques my interest.
PREMIERE DATE: April 2026
I don't know if I have ever seen Park Bo Young do a thriller/mystery Kdrama which gets me interested in Goldland. It also sounds like her character is not a good person in this drama, overcome by greed. I also have never seen her play this type of character as well. Disney + has a strong lineup for me in 2026. We will have to wait and see if We get access to them in the US or not. I also love Kim Sung Cheol and if he plays a villain in this, I know he will do great because he plays villains so well. I am curious if this will be another Karma set up where every character is flawed and no one is a good person. GO WATCH KARMA BY THE WAY!
PREMIERE DATE: April 2026
Who is NOT excited for this Kdrama? I will say I am hesitant to be excited because I was let down a lot by Kdramas in 2025 and other years. This Kdrama has a lot of hype which has me worried. I will say everyone looks good in this drama; I was not expecting comedy which we saw in the teaser we recently got. So, I now don't know if I will watch this one or not. Also, the episodes for this drama are supposed to be an hour and a half EACH! THAT IS A MOVIE PEOPLE! The cast is a huge draw, and they do look great in the little teaser we got from Disney.
PREMIERE DATE: April 2026
Park Hae Soo and Lee Hee Joon in a drama together - SIGN ME UP! It is a bonus that it is a crime drama. This will be their third drama they have done together after Chimera and Karma. I feel like both of these actors are powerhouses when it comes to the crime genre. They excel in this genre in my opinion. This time it looks like they are going head-to-head while working together to find a serial killer which will be fun to watch. The setting for this crime drama sounds like it will be a small town in the country which is a trope I LOVE when it comes to crime dramas.
PREMIERE DATE: May 2026
A change of pace here with this Kdrama. I am SUCH A FOODIE so any time there is a drama that is about food, I am interested. This Kdrama sounds fun. Park Ji Hoon, who is such a good actor, plays a soldier who has experienced cooking with his father's food truck so, he is assigned to the kitchen when he enters the military. The fun twist with this drama which the synopsis states on MDL is he gets access to a hologram game where the more he plays, the better cook he becomes. I LOVE that idea for the plot. It also stars a bunch of actors I love as supporting cast and you know it will be funny with the likes of Yoon Kyung Ho and Jung Woong In in the cast.
PREMIERE DATE: June 2026
I saw the trailer for this in the SBS award show that I watched earlier this month. After Mercy for None being one of my favorite Kdramas of 2025, I am so excited to watch So Ji Sub in another revenge action Kdrama. It sounds like the Korean Version of Taken. A Father looking for his missing daughter and who is a former spy. Now, I don't know if his daughter was kidnapped like in Taken but either way, WE GET ACTION SO JI SUB AGAIN IN 2026!
PREMIERE DATE: June 2026
I know that this Kdrama is up in the air if it will even air in 2026, but I am still going to put it on this list. I have been waiting for this second season for 10 years. SO, OF COURSE, it is one of my most anticipated Kdramas for 2026. I hope it figures out a way to air in 2026. If you have not seen Signal Season 1, I HIGHLY recommend the Kdrama. I also have a review for Season 1 up on the podcast now. I want to see Lee Je Hoon, Kim Hye Soo and Jo Jin Woong reunited on my screen in 2026
PREMIERE DATE: July 2026
I AM HERE FOR A COUPLE REFINDING THEIR ROMANCE THROUGH A CRISIS! This also stars Namkoong Min so, OF COURSE I AM INTERESTED! This Kdrama is about a former neurosurgeon whose wife gets kidnapped before they can finalize their divorce. So, he now must faceoff with the criminal to save his wife. I need this Kdrama to be thrilling but also have a steamy romance that we are all rooting for. I AM PRAYING WE GET ACCESS TO THIS DRAMA since it is Disney +. I am trying to not have high expectations for this one.
PREMIERE DATE: July 2026
Spellbound is one of my favorite Korean Movies EVER so, I can't tell you HOW EXCITED I am for this Kdrama adaption of the movie. I also love when a romance Kdrama has a ghost/occult twist to it. I think Korean dramas do this genre well. I am also curious to see the pairing of Park Eun Bin and Yang Se Jong in this Kdrama. I never pictured them together, but I also have not seen Yang Se Jong in a Kdrama in A LONG TIME!
PREMIERE DATE: August 2026
The Story sounds familiar to Flower of Evil AND YOU GUYS KNOW HOW MUCH OF A FAN I AM OF THAT KDRAMA! You can go listen to my review of that Kdrama on my podcast. This drama has the same Director as Flower of Evil. I am curious about this pairing. Of course, we all know Gong Hyo Jin and I am curious what she will do with this role as a hired killer. The male lead I have seen in support roles but never in lead role. He has done far more movies that I have seen. I am curious about their chemistry together.
PREMIERE DATE: October 9, 2026
I still have yet to watch Hyper Knife but here is another dark crime Kdrama. It is an unconventional surgeon who is fighting against an unjust medical system. Now this Kdrama is a remake of a VERY popular Japanese drama series of the same name that has MULTIPLE seasons and ran for quite a few years. Amazon Prime has the Jdrama series so, now I am also curious to watch the Jdrama version of this drama as well. I love seeing Lee Jung Eun in a drama so since she is part of the cast, I am excited for it.
PREMIERE DATE: November 2026
Not a lot of people watched Crash Season 1, I was one the people who did. I quite enjoyed it so, I am excited for Season 2. Ji Sung from NCT just joined the cast for Season 2. I would advise people to watch Crash Season 1 before you watch Season 2. You have a lot of returning cast to season 2 and you will need to know some of the character's back stories that were revealed in Season 1 to understand them better in Season 2. Also, Season 1 is just really good and as I said no one seemed to watch it.
PREMIERE DATE: December 2026
One of my favorite ongoing Cdrama series is The Lost Tomb series. Marble of God gives me those vibes of tomb raiding and adventure but historical Korea. It is about a group of people who are trying to find sacred relics in Historical Korea. Now I normally don't like Korean historicals but just because it is a potential treasure hunting/tomb raiding story, that piques my interest. There is also a lot of actors/actresses in this cast who I have not seen in a Kdrama in a bit like Claudia Kim and Yoon Kyun Sang.
PREMIERE DATE: 2026
Now I talked about this in my anticipated Kdramas for 2025 blogpost but the Kdrama was delayed due to a fire on set while filming. So, I have been waiting a while for this Kdrama. The teaser we got with the Netflix announcement looks FANTASTIC! I also am super excited to see the 3 leads together in the drama: Nam Joo Hyuk, Roh Yoon Seo and Cho Seung Woo. The premise for this Kdrama looks like something I would love because it involves curses and ghosts and people who have the ability to see ghosts. It looks dark and I can't wait to watch it.
PREMIERE DATE: 2026
I have to be honest about this Kdrama. I wasn't really interested in it until pictures, and the first teaser was released. Now that we have more information about the drama and I can get a sense of what it will look like I am more interested. I am definitely interested in this drama due to the story and the look of the drama because the leads are not a draw to me. Some of the support case definitely look interesting and I am curious to see them in this time period for this drama. It is also written by the same person who did Dr. Brain which is a fantastic Kdrama from 2021.
PREMIERE DATE: 2026
I had never heard of this Kdrama until Netflix released their preview for 2026 Kdramas. Not a lot of dramas from Netflix in 2026 looked interesting to me but this one did. It is a crime Kdrama so, it should be no surprise I am excited for it. The concept of an elusive criminal stealing your identity and there is no way you can prevent it or catch the guy who did is scary. Also, the idea that someone who owes money to a loan shark but then teaming up with this loan shark to find the person who stole your identity is such a crazy concept that I want to see how that plays out in this drama.
PREMIERE DATE: 2026
Another Japan/Korea crossover drama and this time it is a crime drama. I did not know this Kdrama existed until the Netflix preview of their dramas for 2026. The cast of Son Suk Ku, Kim Shin Rok, and Jung Jae Young already have me intrigued. Jung Jae Young has not done a drama in years. I have only seen the Japanese actor Nagayama Eita as guest roles so, I am curious what I will think of him as a lead in a drama. I am also curious what a kdrama version of a crime drama and a jdrama version of a crime drama will meld together and look light. As a trope you see in crime dramas, it looks like the two cops hate each other at the beginning which is always fun to watch in a drama.
PREMIERE DATE: 2026
I will be honest, this is another Kdrama that I hope lives up to the hype and does not disappoint. A lot of people are excited for this Kdrama as well. I MEAN HAVE YOU SEEN THE STILLS FROM THIS KDRAMA!? THE BUDGET FOR THIS KDRAMA LOOKS INSANE! We are definitely getting a fair number of Monarchy Kdramas in 2026 which is always fun and different to watch. The cast is also older in their 30s and 40s which I always love and love to support.
PREMIERE DATE: 2026
IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT I AM EXCITED FOR SEASON 2 OF THIS KDRAMA! Season 1 was one of my favorite Kdramas of 2024 and I am so excited we are getting season 2! I just hope we get answers from the questions that we had with Season 2. I am excited to see the gang together again. What I am EVEN MORE excited for is we might actually see Lee Dong Wook on the screen in Season 2. 😂 Season 1 had one of the best villains I have ever watched so, I can't wait to see him more but also who the other villains might will be in Season 2. I have HIGH expectations for this season so, I hope it does not let me down.
PREMIERE DATE: 2026
Now I usually am not interested in high school dramas anymore except when it has this type of concept where the students are dealing with crimes or maybe zombies. A very good Kdrama with this concept that a lot of people have not seen is Night Has Come which is about a group of students who is forced to play mafia, but people actually start dying due to the game. If Wishes Could Kill is about a group of students who have access to an app that grants wishes but things take a deadly turn. I love a good survival Kdramas set in High School. Let's hope it is a good one.
PREMIERE DATE: 2026
Now there is nothing new about a Kdrama talking about bullying. What is unique and interesting about this Kdrama and what stands out to me is it is an adult/teacher getting the revenge for bullying and not a student. Apparently, it also isn't just 1 school but an adult who travels to different schools which will be interesting. I hear that the manhwa this is based off of is VERY violent and somewhat controversial so, I am sure this Kdrama will not be for everyone. The cast has a lot of good talent like Jin Ki Joo, Kim Mu Yeol and Lee Sung Min.
PREMIERE DATE: 2026
I am not one to do horror but as I said Korea does ghosts and the supernatural well. I did not know this Kdrama existed until the Netflix preview that was released recently. The cast is a HUGE draw from Lee Jae Wook, Go Min Si, Kim Min Ha and more. This Kdrama is about Lee Jae Wook's character getting a part time job that seems too good to be true and finding out why that is the case. I am glad that not a lot from the plot was given away because I want to suspense to last and to figure out what the heck is going on once I can watch the Kdrama.
PREMIERE DATE: 2026
Last but certainly not least is Study Group Season 2. I LOVE THIS KDRAMA FROM LAST YEAR! It was my number 1 Kdrama of 2025 and I CAN'T WAIT for Season 2. Not much is known yet for the drama. Hopefully we get the gang back together. I am excited to see who else joins the cast. I just hope it keeps the things I love about Season 1 like the Manhwa feel in Season 2. Apparently, they should start filming soon but they are getting more of the cast right now. We will see if this actually comes out in 2026 like it should.
THAT IS IT FOR MY LIST OF ANTICIPATED KDRAMAS FOR 2026!
WE WILL SEE WHAT KDRAMAS I END UP CHECKING OUT IN 2026!
I am sure there are many kdramas that are coming out in 2026 that I didn't even mention.
What Kdramas are you excited for 2026?
Did you discover any Kdramas off my list that you are now excited for 2026?
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