If you’re trying to decide what to binge this week, Screen Rant has you covered. These are the top five new and returning shows that will be making their season or series premiere this week, January 5–9, 2026.
Streaming audiences worldwide have been counting down the days to some of these major new releases. They include several record-setting reality competition shows, a few brand-new thriller series making their streaming debut, and the long-awaited return of last year’s beloved 5-time Emmy winner.
Beast Games
Prime Video, Season 2
Beast Games will return with its 3-part season 2 premiere on Wednesday, January 7, only on Prime Video. Now is the perfect time to binge the first season of Beast Games, which consists of 10 addictive episodes.
Beast Games season 2 is themed “Strong vs. Smart”, pitting 100 smart contestants against 100 strong contestants for a $5 million prize. If you’re a fan of classic survival competition series like Survivor, Beast Games is one of the best new shows to binge this week.
Girl Taken
Paramount+, Season 1
All 6 episodes of the brand new crime thriller Girl Taken will premiere on Thursday, January 8, only on Paramount+. The series is based on the novel by Hollie Overton and follows twin sisters whose lives change forever when one of them is kidnapped by their teacher.
With Taylor Sheridan series continuing to dominate Paramount+’s global streaming charts into 2026, Girl Taken offers some much-needed variety to the streaming platform. If you’re a fan of dark crime thrillers, especially those based on books, bingeing all 6 episodes of Girl Taken this week is a safe bet.
The Traitors
Peacock, Season 4
The Traitors season 4 will finally premiere on Thursday, January 8, exclusively on Peacock. The celebrated Emmy-winning reality competition series returns with three brand new episodes, followed by weekly episode drops leading to a late-February finale.
Alan Cumming returns to host The Traitors for its fourth season and its eventual fifth season, set to release next year. For truly binge-worthy television that everyone will be talking about this week, it doesn’t get much better than The Traitors.
His & Hers
Netflix, Season 1
His & Hers is a promising new Netflix limited series that drops on Thursday, January 8. The psychological thriller series stars Tessa Thompson (Westworld) as a journalist investigating a murder in her hometown and Jon Bernthal (The Bear), who plays a suspicious detective on the case.
If you were enthralled by 2025 crime thrillers like The Beast in Me and Task, consider His & Hers must-see TV this week. At just 6 episodes, the series was designed to be binged. Sure to make a splash on Netflix’s global viewership charts, this is one of the best new shows to watch from start to finish on Netflix this week.
The Pitt
HBO Max, Season 2
The most anticipated new season of television this week is The Pitt season 2 premiere, which will finally arrive on January 8 on HBO Max. Last year’s Emmy winner for Outstanding Drama Series and Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Noah Wyle, The Pitt will undoubtedly be one of the most-watched series on streaming this week.
There has never been a better time to binge-watch The Pitt season 1, whether it’s for the first time or a re-watch, than right now. Even if you aren’t necessarily a fan of medical dramas, The Pitt is so gripping and immersive that it just may make you one. Don’t miss the most anticipated new show on streaming this week that millions will be watching.
Looking for more binge options this week? Check out Screen Rant’s updated guides for Netflix, Prime Video, and Paramount+.