2026 promises to be a blockbuster year for entertainment, with an exciting lineup of movies, new seasons, and series set to drop.

Words Gerie Marie Consolacion
Photos courtesy of TheaterFans, Tanghalang Pilipino, PhilStar Life, Wikipedia, Variety, and IMDB
January 12, 2025

2026 is shaping up to be a good year, not just the “manifest your goals” kind, but the cancel-your-plans, book-your-tickets, charge-your-laptop kind.

Months before the year even officially arrived, movie trailers were already topping the internet, series teasers were taking over timelines, and theater tickets went on sale, daring us to plan our lives around opening nights.

Whether you love the hush before a curtain rises, the collective reactions inside a packed cinema, or the dangerous promise of “just one more episode,” at 3 a.m? This year is for you.

Where the magic hits live

There’s something undeniably electric about live theater. The raw vocals, the sweat, the split-second silence before applause erupts. And 2026 opens its doors wide for theater lovers.

Kicking things off is the much-awaited return of Les Misérables, running from January 20 to March 1 at The Theatre at Solaire. This isn’t just another revival; it’s a powerhouse production fueled by Filipino excellence.

Lea Salonga steps into the deliciously wicked role of Madame Thénardier, Rachelle Ann Go brings heartbreaking depth as Fantine, and Red Concepcion rounds out the chaos as Thénardier. Even if you know every lyric by heart, hearing it live again… just hits differently.

January continues the theater high with Bagets the Musical at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, a nostalgic yet timely reminder of youth, friendship, and growing pains that somehow never age.

By the end of the month, audiences looking for something more introspective can catch Quomodo Desolata Es? Isang Dalamhati at Hyundai Hall in Ateneo de Manila University, a production that leans into grief, memory, and quiet reckoning.

March brings bold imagination with Mabining Mandirigma: A Steampunk Musical at Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, blending history with speculative flair. And just when you think the theater season has peaked, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 4: Oh Sh*t! It’s Live sa Cheter! storms the PETA Theater Center from June to August, proving once again that satire, chaos, and Filipino humor thrive best onstage.

Cinematic feast

If your love language is the smell of popcorn and a darkened theater, 2026 is not holding back.

The year screams into action with Scream 7 in February, reminding us that Ghostface still knows how to haunt a new generation. Valentine’s Day leans dramatic with Wuthering Heights, because nothing says romance like emotional devastation. March keeps the momentum going with Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, finally giving fans the cinematic chapter they’ve been waiting for.

Led by the ever-captivating Anne Hathaway, Mother Mary is poised to be one of this year’s most talked-about releases. With Hathaway at the helm, the film promises drama, intensity, and star power that’s already sparking serious excitement ahead of its debut.

From there, the year turns into a cinematic marathon. Fashion, nostalgia, and childhood tears collide with The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Toy Story 5. Summer belongs to heroes and legends—Supergirl, The Odyssey, Moana, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day promise spectacle, heart, and moments designed for collective cheering.

As the year winds down, prestige and fantasy take over. A new Sense and Sensibility arrives in September, followed by the dark intrigue of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. November opens the wardrobe once more with Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, and December ends the year with the ultimate mic drop: Avengers: Doomsday.

Just one more episode…

If you’re more of a binge-watcher than a theater hopper, 2026 might actually be dangerous.

Bridgerton returns with a split release that guarantees two separate waves of obsession. Game of Thrones: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms offers a quieter, character-driven return to Westeros, while House of the Dragon continues its fiery exploration of power, blood, and betrayal.

Romance lovers are well-fed with a new Pride and Prejudice series and Heartstopper Forever, while nostalgia hits hard with the final season of Stranger Things. There’s also a Legally Blonde prequel centered on Elle Woods, the midseason return of Grey’s Anatomy (Rooting for you, Jo), and whispers of a brand-new Harry Potter series that already has fans cautiously hopeful—and emotionally guarded.

Ready?

Let’s be honest. 2026 is about to ruin productivity.

Between opening nights, midnight premieres, and “accidentally” watching five episodes in one sitting, this year is built for obsession. It’s the kind of year where your calendar fills up with reminders like buy tickets, avoid spoilers, and re-watch immediately.

So whether you’re crying in a theater seat, applauding until your hands hurt, or whisper-screaming at your screen at 1 a.m., one thing’s clear: 2026 isn’t just entertaining us. It’s fully committing to the bit and we’re happily along for the ride.

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