K-dramas and movies in 2026: the releases everyone is secretly waiting for

If you thought your K-drama obsession had peaked, think again. Netflix’s 2026 slate of South Korean dramas, films, and reality shows is set to keep binge-watchers glued to their screens well into next year. With record-breaking hits, returning favorites, and daring new stories, the platform’s upcoming lineup guarantees that your weekend plans will revolve around a remote, a snack stash, and plenty of subtitles.

K-Content Surges: Records, Romance, and Wild Stories

After the massive runaway success of Squid Game (still standing as Netflix’s most-watched series, outpacing Wednesday and Stranger Things—and even breaking new records with its second season), Netflix doubled down on Korean storytelling. Major hits like The Glory, 100% Physique, Parasyte: The Grey, The 8 Show, Queen of Tears (a viewership juggernaut in its own right), and Gyeongseong Creature stacked up on the global Top 10 lists. Demand keeps growing, and Netflix is delivering with a packed 2026 calendar spanning every genre imaginable.

From swoony romances (including several new series you can dig for with hidden viewing codes) to supernatural thrillers, lighthearted comedies, and serious dramas, the streaming giant’s South Korean content pipeline shows no sign of slowing. If you were looking for a reason to unapologetically skip social obligations, you won’t be short on options.

2026’s Most Anticipated Korean Series and Films

Some titles are already generating plenty of buzz:

Juste humaine (No Tail to Tell) stars Kim Hye-yoon, fresh off her acclaimed role in Lovely Runner, as a mythological being who has no interest in becoming human. Complications—and sparks—fly when she encounters a popular, narcissistic football player, played by Lomon (All of Us Are Dead). The show, broadcast first on SBS in Korea, is available on Netflix at the local weekly pace.

Boyfriend on Demand brings BLACKPINK’s Jisoo back to television, this time as a worn-out webtoon producer looking for an escape through a virtual dating app. There, she meets multiple potential boyfriends—including one played by Seo In-guk, who portrays both a colleague and a rival. Jisoo’s star power makes this one of the most anticipated series of the year.

For fans of classic romance with a twist, Our Sticky Love reunites Jung Hae-in and Ha-young. Jung plays a former boxing champion—and ex-gang member—trying to move on, only to cross paths with his first love, who doesn’t remember him. To protect her, he spins a lie that upends both their lives.

Netflix is also releasing a unique reimagining of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. In The Queen’s Beauty Revamped (working title), the “beast” is a young woman who’s secretly a werewolf. This new spin is directed by Jin Hyeok and written by Jin Han-sae, with leading roles for Moon Sang-min, Kim Min-ju, and Lomon.

Production began in 2026 on Long Vacation, directed by Lee Jeong-hyo (Crash Landing on You). The story follows a devil who takes a much-needed break in a quiet seaside village, only to fall in love with a local woman and discover he can feel real emotions. The lead roles are expected to go to Choo Young-woo—who had a breakout year in 2025—and Lee Se-young.

Meanwhile, Netflix is developing A Proper Romance, a romantic comedy focused on two workplace colleagues with an unlucky track record in love. Park Gyu-young (Squid Game) and Park Hyung-sik (Aux grands maux) are reportedly in talks to star.

Beyond these headline projects, 2026 also features a diverse slate, including:

Wish Your Death, a school horror series where five teenagers receive an app notification that they’re about to die—leading to a spiral of secrets and terror. Also slated is East Palace, where Nam Joo-hyuk, Roh Yoon-seo, and Cho Seung-woo battle ghosts and curses for a supernatural edge.

La Traque dans le sang returns for season 2, starring Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi after its first season ranked in 83 countries. Solo Leveling—adapted from a popular web novel, webtoon, and anime—follows ordinary hunter Sung Ji-woo (played by Byeon Woo-seok) as he transforms into a legendary hero. And after years of anticipation, the production for All of Us Are Dead season 2 began in July 2025, making it one of the most hotly anticipated returns on Netflix.

Romance, History, and More Mysteries to Solve

Love stories remain central with inventive new plots: from artificial hearts and electrifying powers to body-swapping couples in 1/24 (An Hour of Romance), K-romance continues to evolve. There’s also a period drama adaptation of Les Liaisons dangereuses set in the Joseon era, starring Son Ye-jin and Ji Chang-wook.

If you’re looking for chills and suspense, 2026 brings horror titles like Get Schooled (about an agency that helps teachers rein in unruly classes), a cryptic drama exploring jealousy, a South Korean-Japanese detective partnership, and supernatural hotel tales from the screenwriting Hong sisters—famous for shows like Hotel Del Luna and Alchemy of Souls.

Historical drama lovers can look forward to a series set during the Korean War, starring K-drama icons Gong Yoo and Song Hye-kyo, exploring the highs and lows of the film industry’s golden age. Not to mention stories set in casinos, family feuds, and period thrillers—some with production led by Hwang Dong-hyeok, the creator of Squid Game.

Films, Reality TV, and More K-Show Variety

The big screen gets its share as well. Upcoming films feature everything from a new Extraction Korean spin-off, with Lee Jin-wook, action star Ma Dong-seok, and BLACKPINK’s Lisa, to a comedic action film where an ex and a husband team up following a kidnapping, and Possible Love, which explores the tangled lives of two married couples (Jeon Do-yeon, Seol Kyeong-gu, Jo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong lead the cast).

Netflix’s reality lineup is expanding, too. Returning are celebrity adventure series, culinary shows (with teams of chefs battling it out this season), mystery-based competition programs, and unique talk shows fronted by major stars such as Yoo Jae-suk. New entries include winter hiking expeditions and continued appearances from popular personalities like KIAN84, Byeon Woo-seok, and Lee Kwang-Soo. Even cooking shows and legal dramas remain strong, with some series released in step with their Korean TV broadcast for an up-to-the-minute viewing experience.

Bottom line: If there’s one resolution worth making in 2026, it’s to make room on your Netflix queue for all this K-drama and movie greatness. Stock up on snacks, lock in your Wi-Fi, and prepare to spend more time than ever swept up in the twists, turns, and heartaches of South Korean storytelling—one episode at a time.