Every Upcoming K-Drama Releasing In 2026

2026 will be a great year for K-dramas, with new and returning series arriving every month. Platforms like Netflix and Disney+ have invested heavily in Korean storytelling, expanding budgets, talent pools, and genre experimentation well beyond traditional romance and melodrama. As a result, K-dramas are now accessible worldwide and span everything from prestige crime thrillers to high-concept fantasy adaptations.

And with no sign of stopping any time soon, K-drama’s future is shaping up to be an expansive one. Studios are lining up ambitious originals and long-awaited second seasons, for both long-time and new viewers. These upcoming series and new seasons reflect how K-dramas are now woven into global pop culture.

Can This Love Be Translated? (Netflix)

Release Date: January 16, 2026

Can This Love Be Translated? will explore how communication goes far beyond words. As a romantic drama built around language and culture, the series follows Ju Ho-jin, an interpreter working for top actress Cha Mu-hee. The series covers themes of navigating a complicated relationship, cultural misunderstandings, and unspoken feelings. Created by Hong Sisters, the Netflix original K-drama is one of 2026's most exciting releases.

No Tail to Tell (Netflix)

Release Date: January 16, 2026

No Tail to Tell blends fantasy and mystery through the lens of Korean folklore. The lead is Eun-ho, a mythical Korean nine-tailed fox known as a “gumiho”. She finds herself transformed into a human after an accident and is forced to navigate the world of human emotions and responsibilities.

Rather than leaning into romanticized or comedic depictions of mythical beings, early expectations for the series suggest a focus on internal conflict, secrecy, and moral ambiguity. There’s hope that the series, which stars Lomon and Kim Hye-yoon, will deliver a darker, more psychological take on legendary creatures compared to other gumiho shows.

Undercover Miss Hong (Netflix)

Release Date: January 17, 2026

Undercover Miss Hong is a workplace sitcom that mixes high-energy set pieces with social satire. The series centers on Hong Geum-bo, a 35-year-old elite inspector at the Financial Supervisory Service. She is reassigned to pose as a 20-year-old junior employee at a securities company to investigate suspicious financial activity. Lead actress Park Shin-hye will get to balance sharp comedic timing with a confident physical presence, giving the show a more modern and stylized feel than a typical office comedy.

Brave New World (Network: TBD)

Release Date: TBD, 2026

Upcoming K-drama Brave New World is shaping up to be a genre-blending series that mixes romantic fantasy with sharp character-driven drama. Starring Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun, the show centers on a struggling modern-day actress whose life is upended when she becomes possessed by the spirit of a notorious Joseon-era femme fatale.

Made In Korea (Season 2) (Disney+)

Release Date: TBD, 2026

Following a strong premiere, Disney+'s Made In Korea will be returning with a deeper exploration of political power and national identity. While specific plot details for season 2 remain under wraps, the continuation signals a broader scope and escalating stakes, building on the groundwork laid in season 1.

The Wonder Fools (Netflix)

Release Date: TBD, 2026

A superhero K-drama with a cheeky sense of humor, The Wonder Fools asks the simple question: what if the people who got superpowers were the least prepared to handle them? Instead of sleek costumes and city-leveling battles, the series leans into messy personalities, half-baked abilities, and the chaos that erupts when flawed people are forced to work together.

Perfect Crown (Disney+)

Release Date: TBD, 2026

Set in a reimagined modern Korea ruled by a constitutional monarchy, Perfect Crown centers on a reluctant prince and a corporate conglomerate “chaebol” heiress who enters a marriage of convenience, setting the stage for romance, political pressure, and a quiet rebellion that’s the result of living under rigid social hierarchies. Headlined by IU and Byeon Woo-seok, the series uses its royal premise to explore themes of duty, privilege, and personal freedom.

Bloodhounds (Season 2) (Netflix)

Release Date: TBD, 2026

After becoming one of Netflix’s breakout action K-dramas, Bloodhounds is gearing up for a bigger, darker, and far more dangerous second season. The new season is expected to dive deeper into the brutal underworld it only started exploring in its debut season, raising the stakes on crime, loyalty, and survival.

Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi are confirmed to return. With production promising bigger action set pieces and a heavier emotional toll, Season 2 has all the ingredients to build on what made Bloodhounds season 1 a hit.

Gold Land (Disney+)

Release Date: TBD, 2026

A gritty thriller from acclaimed screenwriting talent, Gold Land focuses on greed and survival in a lawless region driven by ambition. Disney+’s upcoming K-drama is built around a high-stakes smuggling plot that shows what happens when ordinary people are tempted by extraordinary wealth. Written by Hwang Jo-yoon, Gold Land leans heavily into psychological tension. Actress Park Bo-young is taking on one of her grittiest roles to date as Kim Hee-ju, a woman who becomes entangled in a criminal underworld.

Show Business (Netflix)

Release Date: TBD, 2026

Set during a transformative historical period of the 1960s through to the 1980s, Show Business dives into Korea’s entertainment industry. The series explores fame, glamor, and exploitation, long before K-pop and global fandoms became polished machines.

With a cast that includes Squid Game's Gong Yoo, viewer interest is strong, and if it delivers on its premise, Show Business could stand out as one of Netflix’s most revealing K-dramas yet.