Summer TV Preview 2026: Inside Must-Watch New and Returning Shows From ‘Elle’ to ‘DWTS: The Next Pro’

The summer TV schedule is overflowing with highly anticipated premieres and returns including Legally Blonde‘s Elle, a spinoff of Dancing With the Stars, Every Year After and more.

Based on Every Summer After by Carley Fortune, Every Year After follows Percy (Sadie Soverall), who grew up vacationing in Barry’s Bay and spending all her time with the Florek brothers: Sam (Matt Cornett) and Charlie (Michael Bradway).

ABC, meanwhile, will be preparing the search for a new pro on Dancing With the Stars with a highly anticipated spinoff.

Scroll on for more new and returning shows this summer:

‘Every Year After’

Prime Video remains in the romance business with Every Year After (out now). Based on Carley Fortune’s bestseller, the show follows childhood friends Percy and Sam (Sadie Soverall and Matt Cornett), who are hoping for a second chance at love.

‘I Will Find You’

Bestselling mystery writer Harlan Coben is back at it with this Netflix miniseries (June 18), about a father, David (Sam Worthington), who’s wrongly imprisoned for the murder of his son. Britt Lower and Milo Ventimiglia also star.

‘Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness’

The Larry David–created HBO sketch-comedy series (June 26) is a lighthearted celebration of America’s 250th birthday executive produced by former president Barack and first lady Michelle Obama. It’s a star-studded, silly romp through centuries of U.S. history. Much more interesting than a textbook.

‘Elle’

Elle Woods rides again in this Prime Video prequel (July 1) that explores the high school life of the future lawyer. Newcomer Lexi Minetree plays Elle in the Reese Witherspoon–produced series, which hopes to extend the life of one of the most popular movie characters ever. What, like it’s hard?

‘Little House on the Prairie’

The legendary series of the 1970s and ’80s based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books gets new life with a nine-episode Netflix adaptation (July 9) that has already been renewed for season 2. Ten-year-old Alice Halsay plays Laura, with Luke Bracey as her pa, Charles.

‘The Five-Star Weekend’

Want to feel inspired? This Peacock series (July 9) follows widowed food influencer Hollis (Jennifer Garner), who invites her besties — D’Arcy Carden, Regina Hall, Chloë Sevigny and Gemma Chan — to Nantucket for a few days of girl fun and healing.

‘Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro’

DWTS season 34 winner Robert Irwin hosts this ABC spinoff! In the high-stakes competition (July 13), up-and-coming dancers try to wow judges Mark Ballas and his mom, Shirley. The prize? A pro spot on season 35, which will feature Ciara Miller and Maura Higgins.

‘Lucky’

Everyone’s looking for Lucky (Anya Taylor-Joy), a con artist on the run in this intense Apple TV tale (July 15). Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Annette Bening and Timothy Olyphant also star.

‘House of Stassi’

Vanderpump Rules star Stassi Schroeder — now a married mom — makes her triumphant return to reality TV with House of Stassi (Freeform and Hulu, July 29) to chronicle her comeback and the challenges that come with it.

‘Anna Pigeon’

From the streets of Chicago P.D. to a national park, Tracy Spiridakos is still solving crimes as the title character in this series based on the novels of Nevada Barr (August 9, USA).