Sky Reveals Its 2026 Highlights

Ahead of losing HBO Max mid-year, Sky has doubled-down on what viewers and subscribers can expect from its pay- and free-to-air channels over the next year.

Here’s the refreshingly comprehensive media release:

Sky reveals a standout slate of premium sport, entertainment and local originals

24 February 2026

Sky lifted the curtain on its 2026 slate today, showcasing an incredible line-up of premium storytelling and unmissable sport. New Zealanders can look forward to world-class franchises, global hits, a stand-out collection of homegrown originals and the biggest moments in live sport, across a slate that spans drama, action, movies, crime, factual, reality, news and sport.

Across Sky, NEON, Three, ThreeNow, Sky Open, Bravo, Rush, eden, HGTV and more, audiences will have more choice on Sky than ever before.

Sky 2026 slate

Original commissioned content

Sky is doubling down on local content in 2026, delivering over 30 new locally commissioned primetime titles – a 20% uplift on last year.^[1]

Local Scripted

Bust Up – Morgana O’Reilly and Roimata Fox star in an all-new crime drama following two police partners – and exes – who are forced to partner up again as cops on the beat in Northland. Can these two ex-lovers survive 10-hour shifts together while taking on the likes of bank robbers, drug dealers and car thieves?

Crackhead – An edgy dark comedy series which blends humour with the very serious topic of mental health and addiction; telling the story of a young woman who is sentenced to a stint in rehab after burning down her sister’s house while under the influence.

Good Bones – From the award-winning producers of After The Party and INSiDE, starring comedian Josh Thomson, comes a comedy about a chronic procrastinator who attempts to renovate a rundown house to save his marriage. When his amateur handiwork uncovers a historic crime scene, he gets a lot more DIY than he bargained for.

Happiness, S2 – The award-winning musical series returns as unlikely optimists Sam and Jane face a new set of personal hurdles, discovering that choosing happiness is harder, funnier and far messier the second time around.

Head Girl – An edgy modern series set in present-day Wellington following a young, urban Kiwi woman’s struggle of learning how to love, and live, with the multitude of thoughts inside her head. It is an adaptation of the sold-out poetry collection ‘Head Girl’ written by Freya Daly Sadgrove.

The Sanctuary – Starring Hollywood-heavyweight Adam Pally, this comedy series tells the story of an eccentric American billionaire hiding from the law in New Zealand who is forced to convert his lavish private island into a conservation sanctuary to avoid extradition.

Ms X – When stay-at-home mother of two, Mia Bennett, played by Melissa George, suspects her husband is cheating, she enlists the help of an old high school friend, who is now an inexperienced Private Investigator, to scare him straight.

Secrets of Red Rocks, S2 – The Emmy award-winning live-action family adventure series will return for a second season with fresh characters, deeper mysteries and higher stakes.

Local Entertainment

7 Days, S18 – New Zealand’s longest-running comedy panel show returns with a new season of fast banter, quick-fire rounds and a line‑up of the country’s top comedians taking on the week’s news with their usual irreverence.

Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont-Spelling Bee, S3 – The outrageously funny spelling showdown is back! Guy Montgomery once again puts celebrity contestants under pressure as they face leftfield words, absurd clues and Guy’s signature comic mischief.

Best Foods Comedy Festival Gala – Comedy’s biggest night in NZ is back. A powerhouse line-up of local and international talent takes the stage for an unmissable evening of bold sets, fresh punchlines and crowd-pleasing chaos.

Local Reality and Lifestyle

My House, My Castle, S12 – After 162 episodes, the 2026 season brings a fresh new twist and contemporary approach to the smash-hit series. A mix of relatable consumer stories, jaw-dropping home transformations, aspirational designs, and a masterclass of expert opinions, hosted by Aotearoa’s own Hayley Sproull.

Nadia’s Farm Kitchen, S2 – New Zealand’s favourite foodie Nadia Lim is back, sharing deliciously home cooked dishes inspired by everyday life with her family on the farm. Each week Nadia invites local chefs and foodies to join her in the kitchen.

The Traitors New Zealand, S3 – Hosted by Madeleine Sami, the hit psychological strategy game returns with more twists and betrayals. Follow the cast of 21 Kiwi players as they compete with their eyes on the rising prize money.

Local Factual

David Lomas Breakthrough – A new spin-off series, helping people find their missing loved ones – delivering big emotions and authenticity in David’s utterly compelling way.

Devotion: Inside Gloriavale – This three-part limited series from Dame Julie Christie sees the community defiantly open their doors for the first time in more than a decade. Disarmingly honest about past crimes and deeply affected by how the outside world now views them, this all-access series takes viewers into another world.

Home of Hope – Step inside the Grace Foundation, Aotearoa’s largest rehab and accommodation facility for people rebuilding life after prison. With strong doses of aroha (love), manaaki (care) and tautoko (support), this is a raw and hopeful look at how you can change the course of your waka (canoe).

Lessons on Living with John Aiken – Married At First Sight relationship expert, John Aiken, presents this show, conceived by the late Nigel Latta, which uses social experiments to spark conversations about resilience and navigating life’s hardest moments

Licence to Drive, S2 – a second instalment of the unique series that follows a cast of Kiwi learner drivers – each with a disability – as they navigate the realm of the road. It captures their triumphs, challenges, and occasional mishaps with a generous dose of heart and humour.

Stalked – Jazz Thornton presents a true crime series exploring three haunting victim-led stories exposing the realities of New Zealand’s stalking epidemic and what has led to an overhaul of our stalking laws.

NEON and Sky Entertainment

International Scripted

NEON and Sky will offer audiences an exceptionally strong slate of drama and entertainment in 2026, including:

A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story – This compelling true crime story sheds new light on the life of infamous murderess Ruth Ellis, Britain’s last woman to hang, revealing truths about the case that have remained hidden for decades. Starring Bohemian Rhapsody’s Lucy Boynton.

Amandaland – A spin-off of BBC’s critically acclaimed sitcom Motherland, created by Sharon Horgan, starring Lucy Punch as formerly affluent, alpha-mum Amanda, featuring Joanna Lumley as her mother. Following a divorce, Amanda relocates to South Harlesden with her teenagers, navigating a sharp decline in social status, financial struggles, and the chaos of modern parenting.

American Hostage – Starring Emmy Award winner Jon Hamm, this tense series follows a high stakes abduction case, delving into media, fear and public perception as the crisis unfolds.

Bookish, S2 – Following its acclaimed debut, Bookish returns with a fresh set of post-war mysteries as Gabriel Book and Trottie navigate new criminal intrigues and deepen their unconventional partnership in 1946 London.

Crystal Lake – A chilling prequel series expanding the Friday the 13th universe, reimagined with A24’s signature cinematic style.

Dutton Ranch – A major new chapter in the Yellowstone universe, following Rip Wheeler and Beth Dutton as they fight to protect their land and legacy on their 7,000-acre ranch.

FBI, S8 – In its latest season, FBI returns with a major shift in team dynamics following the near collapse of the New York field office and a new run of cases that begin just days after last season’s shock finale.

Grace, S4 – The latest season of the Brighton-set crime drama, following Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, a hard-working police officer who has given his life to the job, as he gets drawn into investigating cold cases in his own brilliantly unconventional way.

Heated Rivalry, S2 – Following the runaway success of season one, LGBTQ+ ice hockey drama Heated Rivalry will return for a second instalment.

How Are You? It’s Alan Patridge – Leaving behind a lucrative career voicing radio commercials, Steve Coogan’s fictional comedic alter ego Alan Partridge makes a bravely personal and personally brave return to television, to make Britain’s first-ever documentary about mental health

Marshals – In this highly anticipated Yellowstone spinoff, Kayce Sutton leaves Yellowstone Ranch to join the US Marshals, using a mix of military training and cowboy instincts to take on crime in Montana.

Outlander, S8 – Claire and Jamie’s epic love story will conclude with a bang in the final season of this beloved genre-bending historical drama series. When Jamie and Claire find war has followed them home to Fraser’s Ridge. they must confront what they are willing to sacrifice for the place they call home and to stay together.

Outlander: Blood of My Blood, S2 – The latest adventures in the prequel to epic time travel romantasy, Outlander.

Saint-Pierre, S2 – The story pushes deeper into the island’s darkest secrets as Fitz and Arch face the fallout of last year’s cliffhanger and hunt a revived serial killer in their most complex investigation yet.

Superfakes – All-new crime-drama from Emmy Award winner Alice Ju (Beef), starring Lucy Liu as a small-time Chinatown luxury counterfeit dealer who enters the dangerous black-market underworld to fund her life.

The Agency – Academy Award nominee Michael Fassbender leads a star-studded cast in this espionage thriller series, playing a CIA agent suffering from burnout who is set to abandon undercover life when his old love reappears.

The Audacity – From Succession writer Jonathan Glatzer comes a sharp, character driven drama built around ambition, pressure and the pursuit of influence.

The Good Daughter – Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy star in this all-new thriller wrapped in a deeply emotional story about survival and the complex bond between sisters.

The Lady – A four-part drama charting the extraordinary rise and fall of former royal dresser Jane Andrews, who entered Buckingham Palace as Sarah Ferguson’s aide before her life unravelled in a tragic and notorious murder case.

The Madison – A sweeping, multigenerational family drama from the Taylor Sheridan universe starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell, exploring power, family conflict and buried secrets across decades.

The Woman in the Wall – Ruth Wilson stars in this six-part gothic thriller as Lorna Brady, a woman in a fictional Irish town haunted by her past in one of Ireland’s infamous Magdalene Laundries.

Movies

Sky and NEON continue to be the home of blockbuster movies, with major new titles landing weekly, such as the forthcoming DC Universe reboot ofSuperman, dystopian action thriller Running Man from acclaimed director Edgar Wright and comedy The Naked Gun, starring Liam Neeson.

International Factual

Sky and NEON are strengthening the slate of factual programming to brings audiences inside some of the world’s most interesting stories, with more titles being revealed later this year.

Attenborough and the Jurassic Sea Monster – In 2026, BBC Earth will celebrate 100 years of Sir David Attenborough with a collection of fabulous documentaries showcasing his legacy’s work, including Attenborough and the Jurassic Sea Monster in which he examines the spectacular fossilized remains of a giant pliosaur.

K Everything: The Rise of Korean Culture – Follow Tony Award nominated actor, director, producer, and social advocate Daniel Dae Kim on his quest to discover how South Korea has sparked a global pop culture movement, driving trends in music, food, TV and film, and more. From Busan to Seoul, Kim will trace the roots of Korean culture, featuring cameos from some of the biggest names driving South Korea’s creative renaissance.

Life Below Zero, S4 – In its final season, Life Below Zero delivers an intense closing chapter as Alaskans face brutal new winter threats before the long running Emmy winning franchise officially comes to an end.

The Secret Life of Trees – Three trillion trees cover a third of our planet’s surface: join Michael Palin as he tells their story. Palin explores their beauty and wonder and delves into how they grow so strong and live so long. 

THREE & THREENOW Entertainment

This year our free-to-air audiences will enjoy a mix of amazing international programming, including global franchises, returning seasons, and premium scripted dramas.

International Reality

Lego Masters Australia – Bricktacular – The special event series featuring 12 legendary LEGO Masters who have their creativity, teamwork, and technical expertise pushed to the absolute limit.

Married at First Sight Australia (MAFS), S13 – The global relationship experiment phenomenon continues to generate massive audience engagement and social conversation.

MAFS: After The Dinner Party – The source for viewers to find immediate participant interviews, exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, expert analysis and fan commentary.

Millionaire Hot Seat – In a change to the 7pm line up after Easter, Kiwi favourite Rebecca Gibney will host this revived weeknight quiz show – fast, warm and designed for family co-viewing.

SAS Australia vs UK – Decades of rivalry are set to be tested to the limit as fourteen British and Australian celebrities face the most punishing challenge of their lives.

The Block Australia – The renovation mega format is bigger than ever, delivering high stakes builds, compelling contestants and consistently strong commercial performance.

The Floor Australia – Combining intense strategy, high-stakes trivia, and edge-of-your-seat suspense, The Floor is a gripping game of wits and endurance that every family member can get involved with.

International Scripted

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, S2 – The addictive YA crime hit returns with a gripping new case, bringing back the smart, twist-driven storytelling that made season one an international success.

Big Mood, S2 – Nicola Coughlan is back for a bold and bitingly funny new season as best friends Maggie and Eddie navigate their early 30s while exploring themes of mental health.

High Country, S2 – The acclaimed rural mystery thriller returns, expanding its world of landscape driven drama and character-rich storytelling.

Secret Service – A high profile, premium drama featuring an elevated cast and cinematic production values. Described as suspenseful, timely and cinematic, Secret Service follows senior MI6 officer Kate Henderson (Gemma Arterton) as a covert investigation uncovers evidence that a high-ranking UK politician may be working as a Russian asset.

The Assassin, S2 – Keely Hawes and Freddie Highmore Jr return to this hit drama series which sees retired assassin, Julie, and her estranged son, Edward, forced to work together in a fight for survival, testing their dysfunctional relationship to its limits.

News & Current Affairs

Alongside Sky’s international news offering, which includes Sky News, CNN, Fox News, BBC News, CNBC, Sky is strengthening and expanding partnerships with news organisations New Zealanders trust.

Herald NOW Business with Garth Bray – Delivering sharp, trusted business reporting in the mornings.

Ryan Bridge TODAY – Now live on ThreeNow and later in the year on Three, bringing a fresh, conversation‑led morning format to viewers.

Paddy Gower Has Issues – Paddy Gower and Karen O’Leary bring their journalistic powers together in the third season of this popular show. This series will focus on responding to the real concerns of Kiwis with investigations that make a difference.

ThreeNews – Delivering the evening news bulletin on Three and ThreeNow, in partnership with Stuff.

Sport

Sky is delivering an extensive and diverse year of sport in 2026, with world-class competitions, beloved local leagues, New Zealand national teams in action across codes, and the biggest global tournaments, all available Live and On Demand.

Rugby: a massive year across all levels

Rugby sits at the heart of Sky’s 2026 line-up with more than ten premium competitions and series across the men’s and women’s games.

• Internationally, a full calendar of All Blacks and Black Ferns action. This includes the first ever Nations Championship, and a hotly-anticipated All Blacks tour of South Africa, an exciting calendar of test rugby, and the Pacific Four Series.
• Super Rugby Pacific runs from February to June, joined by Super Rugby Aupiki from June to August.
• Every match from the National Provincial Championship (NPC), selected matches from the Farah Palmer Cup and the finals of the Heartland Championship.
• European rugby fans can follow the Men’s Six Nations, Women’s Six Nations, U20 Six Nations, and Premiership Rugby.

Rugby League: wall to wall action

Sky is the long-standing home of the NRL, offering:

• The Rugby League World Cup 2026
• NRL 2026 and NRLW 2026 in full
• Men’s and Women’s State of Origin, including U19 Origin
• The NSW Cup and NZRL National Premiership

The headline global multisport event of the year:

• Commonwealth Games 2026, live and exclusive on Sky

Cricket: global tournaments and major tours

A massive cricket year includes:

• ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
• ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
• The TATA Indian Premier League season
• The India tour of New Zealand as local international cricket returns to Sky later in the year
• Blackcaps tour of Australia (including this year’s Boxing Day Test)
• Tours including India Women’s Tour of Australia and ongoing coverage of Marsh One Day Cup, WNCL, and Sheffield Shield.

Football: top leagues and national competitions

Sky offers extensive season-long football coverage across the world’s biggest leagues:

• English Premier League 25/26
• Women’s Super League
• Men’s and Women’s A-League

Motorsport: every corner, every code

Every major series is on Sky across the full motorsport spectrum, bringing fans continuous high-speed action:

• Formula One, F2, F3 and Porsche Supercup
• Supercars
• IndyCar, MotoGP, NASCAR
• Formula E, D1NZ, Asian Le Mans, AUS SBK, AUS PROMX, and mor 

Cycling: the pinnacle of world tours

Sky has a huge array of cycling coverage with:

• Tour de France, Tour de France Femmes, La Vuelta, Paris–Roubaix, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Critérium du Dauphiné, Volta a Catalunya, Vuelta Femenina, Deutschland Tour and more.

UFC: the biggest Fights

• Every UFC Numbered Event live via Pay-Per-View.

ESPN: the home of US sports

Two dedicated channels, showing an iconic range of American sport, including:

• Major League Baseball (MLB)
• NFL, including the Super Bowl
• NBA, including All-Star Weekend and Finals
• NCAA Basketball & Football, including March Madness
• Australian NBL: Every game of the season, including all New Zealand Breakers matches
• FIBA: The biggest matches from international basketball, including the New Zealand Tall Blacks and Men’s and Women’s FIBA Basketball World Cups
• National Hockey League (NHL) 

Basketball: the best of local

Coverage includes:

• Sal’s NBL 2026
• Tauihi Women’s Basketball Aotearoa.

Golf: a comprehensive calendar

Sky brings fans:

• The four majors: PGA Championship, The Masters, US Open and The Open Championship
• The main professional golf tours: PGA Tour, DP World Tour (including the Ryder Cup in 2027), LPGA and PGA Champions Tour
• The New Zealand Open, an annual local highlight.

Sailing

• Action from every Sail GP live and On Demand on ThreeNow

Darts, snooker, bowls, pool and more

Sky carries the full year of global championships and touring events across:

• Darts: World Series, Premier League, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Players Championship, and more
• Snooker: Champion of Champions and Championship League
• Bowls and Pool: Australian Open Bowls, World Pool Championship, World Pool Masters, UK Open, World Cup of Pool.

Free-to-air sport

In 2026, Sky is making our free-to-air sport more visible than ever before, taking it to the widest audience we’ve ever reached, across Sky Open, Three, and ThreeNow. This includes:

• NRL and Super Rugby Pacific every Friday and Saturday night on Sky Open
• Rugby League World Cup key matches live or live-to-delayed on Three and ThreeNow
• Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games live 23 hours a day across Three and ThreeNow
• Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix live-to-delayed on Sky Open
• Selected coverage from A‑League, Supercars, NZ Open and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
• NASCAR, MotoGP & SailGP continue exclusively on ThreeNow

Sport entertainment programming

To accompany Sky’s strong schedule of live sport, in 2026 Sky will share an array of programming to keep audiences engaged throughout the week. This includes:

Forever Auckland FC, S2 – The hit all‑access football docuseries is returning for a second season, taking viewers deep inside the inner workings of Auckland FC. Executive produced by Dame Julie Christie, witness big stakes, big personalities and big plays as their A‑League journey intensifies.

League Lounge with Shaun Johnson, S2 – The weekly League Lounge is back with smart analysis, star guests and straight‑talk insight on the Warriors and everything NRL. Moving into a live show at a prime timeslot of Mondays at 7:30pm, this is the league show Kiwi have been dreaming about.

Game Of Two Halves, S2 – The re-boot of New Zealand’s iconic sport panel quiz show is back with rapid‑fire trivia and plenty of laughs. Laura McGoldrick will be quizmaster, with a rotating line-up of panellists testing their sporting smarts. Airing on Sky Sport and for the first time on Three & ThreeNow.

The Breakdown – The ultimate weekly rugby debrief show is back, with host Kirstie Stanway joined by All Black legends Jeff Wilson and Mils Muliaina to discuss and analyse all the hot topics.

The Crowd Goes Wild – Aotearoa’s favourite cheeky sports show is celebrating its twentieth anniversary, having served up the stories, highlights and quirky moments from across the sporting week since 2006. Fronted by Andrew Mulligan and Storm Purvis alongside a crew of stars and reporters, this is your alternative dose of sports news.

[1] Year on year comparison of total number of commissions for primetime across both Sky Originals and Sky Free. Numbers do not include commissioning for programming intended for outside of primetime, such as kids content.