Honestly, there was a minute there where it felt like Australian TV was just a never-ending loop of people crying over a fallen souffle or trying to sell a house in Bondi. But something shifted. Walking into 2026, the local slate looks weirdly ambitious. We’re moving past the "safe" small-town mysteries—though, let’s be real, we still love a dead body in a scenic coastal town—and diving into some genuinely gritty, funny, and high-concept stuff.
If you're looking for new Australian TV shows, the 2026 calendar is basically a fever dream of big-name returns and "I can't believe they made that" premises.
The Big Returns and the "Tropic Noir" Pivot
You’ve probably seen Anna Torv in everything from The Newsreader to The Last of Us. She’s basically the gold standard for Aussie drama right now. She’s coming back to the ABC in a series called Dustfall. Based on Vikki Petraitis’s novel The Unbelieved, it follows a detective named Tig who heads back to her hometown, North Gap. The network is calling it "tropic noir." Basically, think dark, sweaty, and intense, filmed right on the Gold Coast.
It’s not just about the mystery, though. It’s about that specific Australian brand of trauma—the kind that happens in a place where the sun is too bright and everyone knows your business.
Then there’s the big one. Deadloch Season 2.
Mark your calendars for March 20th.
Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan managed to do the impossible with the first season: they made a parody of a Scandi-noir that was actually a better mystery than the shows it was mocking. Dulcie Collins and Eddie Redcliffe are back, and if the first season’s chemistry is anything to go by, it’ll be the biggest thing on Prime Video this year.
Comedy is Getting Actually... Funny?
For a while, Aussie sitcoms felt a bit like a school play. A bit stilted. A bit too "oath."
But 2026 is leaning into the heavy hitters. Sam Pang—who is currently everywhere from the Logies to Have You Been Paying Attention?—is finally leading his own scripted sitcom called Ground Up. He plays an AFL rep trying to sell a billion-dollar stadium to Tasmania. It feels very The Games—that dry, cynical, bureaucratic humor that we actually do better than anyone else.
And then there’s Bad Company.
Kitty Flanagan and Anne Edmonds.
That’s it. That’s the pitch.
If you loved Fisk, this is your next obsession. It’s set behind the scenes of a crumbling theatre company on the edge of bankruptcy. Edmonds plays a volatile artistic director, and Flanagan is the corporate "fixer" brought in to clean up the mess. It’s going to be chaotic.
A Quick Look at the 2026 Standouts
| Show Title | Platform | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dalliance | Paramount+ | Hugo Weaving and Heather Mitchell in a "Secret Life of Us for pensioners." |
| Apocalypse | Binge | A reality show that's a cross between Survivor and 28 Days Later. |
| Shakedown | ABC | A dramatized retelling of the Robodebt saga. |
| The Killings | Stan | Mia Wasikowska in a horror-mystery at a remote research station. |
| Dog Park | ABC | Celia Pacquola in a comedy about, well, people at a dog park. |
The Reality TV Shakeup
We need to talk about Apocalypse.
This isn't your standard "sit in a house and talk about your feelings" reality show. Co-commissioned by Binge and the UK’s Channel 4, it drops contestants into a "post-apocalyptic abandoned city." No supplies. No smartphones. Just vibes and survival. It’s supposed to look cinematic and huge. Honestly, after years of dating shows, seeing people struggle in a fake wasteland feels refreshing.
Speaking of dating, The Golden Bachelor is finally hitting the Nine Network this year. It’s exactly what it sounds like, but if the US version taught us anything, it’s that people in their 60s and 70s have way more drama than 20-somethings.
On Network 10, The Celebrity Traitors Australia is returning with a massive twist. It’s being hosted by Gretel Killeen—the GOAT of Aussie reality hosting—and they’ve moved the filming to New Zealand. The cast includes everyone from Olympic swimmer Shane Gould to Drag Race star Kween Kong.
The Shows That Might Surprise You
There are a few "under the radar" projects that sound kind of insane in the best way.
- The Chaplain (SBS): Inspired by a real-life encounter at Melbourne Airport, this follows a chaplain working the terminal. It sounds niche, but SBS usually nails these character studies.
- Once In A Lifetime (Seven): Dr. Chris Brown is back, but instead of just being a vet, he’s taking people like Mick Molloy and Amanda Keller on global wildlife journeys as his "unqualified assistants."
- Tina Arena: Unravel Me: A landmark documentary on Seven that’s supposed to be "unfiltered." It’s got interviews with everyone from Katy Perry to Celine Dion.
What This Means for Your Watchlist
The trend for new Australian TV shows in 2026 is clearly "prestige but local." We aren't just making shows for the sake of it anymore; we're making shows that can actually sit next to the big HBO or Netflix dramas without looking like the budget-brand version.
The move toward "Tropic Noir" and high-concept reality shows like Apocalypse suggests that networks are finally trusting that Australian audiences want something more than just another season of The Block.
If you're trying to figure out where to start, keep an eye on the ABC's drama slate. They've traditionally been a bit safe, but Shakedown—the Robodebt drama—shows they're willing to tackle some really uncomfortable, recent history. That’s a good sign for the health of the industry.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your Prime Video subscription before March 20 for the Deadloch Season 2 premiere.
- Keep an eye on ABC iview for Dustfall; "tropic noir" is usually best binged in one go to keep the atmosphere alive.
- If you’re into reality TV, watch for the Apocalypse trailer on Binge—it’s the first of its kind for Australian production.
- Set a reminder for Bad Company on ABC if you’re a fan of Fisk or Kitty Flanagan’s dry delivery.