While summer is traditionally synonymous with travel, outdoor escapades, and blockbuster cinema, this year’s formidable television slate makes a compelling argument for staying in and unwinding. From high-profile franchise continuations to ambitious new spinoffs, there is no shortage of must-watch content to anchor your summer viewing.
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Polygon 2026 Summer Preview Your essential guide to the next three months in gaming, cinema, television, and beyond. |
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Nostalgic superhero thrills return with X-Men ‘97 on Disney Plus and the high-octane Reign of the Supermen adaptation in My Adventures with Superman on Adult Swim. Elsewhere, high-stakes drama defines the season: Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender ventures deep into the Earth Kingdom, while the Targaryen civil war reaches a boiling point in House of the Dragon season 3. Rounding out the excitement are the episodic wonder of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and the signature chaos of The Legend of Vox Machina.
We’ve curated the most anticipated titles through Labor Day to help you map out your binge-watching schedule—whether you’re unwinding on vacation or seeking refuge from the summer heat.
1 Star City (May 29, Apple TV)
The visionaries behind For All Mankind are shifting their lens to the inception of the Space Race, this time exploring the Soviet perspective. Set within a secretive, high-stakes base, the series trades typical sci-fi wonder for the claustrophobic tension of a Cold War thriller. Here, cosmonauts and engineers navigate constant KGB surveillance, where trust is a luxury and the pressure to outpace American rivals is relentless. Notably, showrunners have confirmed a more continuous narrative approach, steering away from the massive time jumps that characterized their previous hit.
2 The Legend of Vox Machina season 4 (June 3, Prime Video)
Image: Prime Video/Critical RoleAs this adaptation of Critical Role’s seminal D&D campaign nears its conclusion, the stakes reach an apocalyptic fever pitch. This penultimate season introduces the series’ ultimate antagonist: the Whispered One. Alongside the return of the full Critical Role cast, fans can look forward to the debut of Taryon Darrington, voiced by Wayne Brady, as the team grapples with dark cults and otherworldly threats.
3 The Vampire Lestat (June 7, AMC)
Image: AMCBlurring the line between a sequel and a bold new direction, The Vampire Lestat dives headfirst into the flamboyant lore of Anne Rice’s second novel. Sam Reid returns as the titular rockstar vampire, whose unfiltered narrative is captured in a documentary by Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian). Expect a heady mix of glam-rock anthems, internal vampiric politics, and the messy fallout of Lestat and Louis’s public reveal.
4 My Adventures with Superman season 3 (June 13, Adult Swim)
Image: Warner Bros. AnimationThis vibrant, anime-inspired take on the Man of Steel faces new complexities as Kal-El and Supergirl form a protective partnership over Metropolis. The introduction of Hank Henshaw, fueled by Lex Luthor’s sinister tech and xenophobic rhetoric, promises a formidable clash. With the addition of Superboy and a cameo from Green Lantern Jessica Cruz, the scope of this universe is rapidly expanding.
5 House of the Dragon season 3 (June 21, HBO Max)
Following a season two finale that pushed Westeros to the brink, the third season arrives as the penultimate chapter in this Targaryen saga. With Queen Rhaenyra’s forces mobilizing and dragonriders taking flight, the stage is set for a catastrophic reckoning. Fans are eager to see if the series will shift focus back to Daemon Targaryen, whose internal struggles in Harrenhal were a slow-burn highlight of the previous season.
6 Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 (June 25, Netflix)
Image: NetflixAang’s journey toward mastering the elements reaches a critical turning point in the Earth Kingdom. The arrival of Toph Beifong, a blind prodigy with unrivaled earthbending mastery, adds dynamic energy to the group. As they traverse the capital of Ba Sing Se, they’ll face dark conspiracies and the relentless Princess Azula. With the third and final season already produced, the narrative momentum here is undeniable.
7 Silo season 3 (July 3, Apple TV)
Image: Apple TVSilo returns to deepen its post-apocalyptic mystery by alternating between the grim reality of Silo 18 and the tumultuous “Before Times.” Juliette Nichols, having miraculously survived, finds her memories of Silo 17 elusive, forcing her to rediscover her identity while navigating a landscape where she is both a target and a symbol of rebellion. With a fourth and final season confirmed, the tension is mounting.
8 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4 (July 23, Paramount Plus)
Photo: Jan Thijs/Paramount PlusIn its final full season, Strange New Worlds is leaning into the character-driven, episodic storytelling that defines classic Trek. While the season promises imaginative detours—including a Wild West planet and a unique puppetry episode—the emotional stakes remain high. As we approach the eventual bridge to Captain Kirk’s era, the survival of some Enterprise crew members remains a poignant uncertainty.
9 Lanterns (Aug. 16, HBO Max)
Trading cosmic bombast for gritty procedural beats, Lanterns is poised to be DC’s most atmospheric series yet. Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre star as Hal Jordan and John Stewart, respectively, in a narrative that plays more like a hard-boiled detective thriller set in the heartland of Nebraska. After initial concerns about the grounded tone, recent teases have confirmed the presence of iconic ring-slinging powers and potential ties to the wider DC universe.
10 X-Men ’97 season 2
Image: Marvel AnimationFollowing a massive cliffhanger that saw the X-Men scattered across space and time, the long-awaited second season is finally on the horizon. The team faces the ultimate threat: Apocalypse. As the villain orchestrates his “Four Horsemen” and the group grapples with their fragmented reality, this season promises to delve deep into the origins of the franchise’s most formidable foe.
Source: Polygon
