• 11 high-profile crime dramas arrive in 2026 across Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC, ITV, Sky and Apple TV.
  • Big names include Nicole Kidman (Scarpetta), Tobias Santelmann (Harry Hole), and the return of Line of Duty.
  • Key release dates: Under Salt Marsh (Jan 30), Vanished (Feb 27), Scarpetta (Mar 11), Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole (Mar 26).
  • Expect serial-killer mysteries, forensic thrillers, and tightly wound psychological dramas — great new shows to watch this year.

What to expect: a year of star-studded crime dramas

A wave of crime dramas and thrillers lands in 2026, from Nordic noir to domestic psychological mysteries. Major streamers and UK broadcasters are delivering series with high-profile casts and tightly plotted cases — perfect if you’re hunting a new show to watch.

January–March: early must-sees

Under Salt Marsh (Sky & NOW TV) — Jan 30
Kelly Reilly leads this six-part Claire Oakley drama about a former detective drawn back into a three-year-old cold case as a once-in-a-generation storm threatens to wash away evidence.

Vanished (Amazon Prime) — Feb 27
Kaley Cuoco and Sam Claflin star in a claustrophobic thriller about a woman who uncovers dark secrets after her boyfriend disappears on a train through France.

Scarpetta (Amazon Prime) — Mar 11
Nicole Kidman plays Patricia Cornwell’s famed medical examiner Dr Kay Scarpetta in a forensic thriller that revisits a career-defining case while unmasking a serial killer.

Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole (Netflix) — Mar 26
Tobias Santelmann leads this nine-episode adaptation promising a serial-killer mystery and a tense cat-and-mouse between Harry Hole and his nemesis.

March onwards: psychological and character-driven drama

Imperfect Women (Apple TV) — starting Mar 18
Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington and Kate Mara headline this adaptation of Araminta Hall’s novel about guilt, retribution and a crime that fractures a decades-long friendship.

I Will Find You (Netflix) — 2026
Based on Harlan Coben’s novel, Sam Worthington plays a man wrongfully imprisoned who believes his supposedly dead son may be alive — a truth-seeking thriller.

UK TV highlights and returning favourites

The Cage (BBC One) — 2026
Sheridan Smith and Michael Socha star in a heist-tinged drama set around casino workers whose thefts collide with local crime and police.

Line Of Duty Series 7 (BBC One) — 2026 (date TBD)
AC-12 is reborn as the Inspectorate of Police Standards. The long-running cop drama returns with new challenges and a sensitive case that promises familiar tension.

Believe Me (ITV1) — 2026
Daniel Mays fronts a tough, real-world drama about the victims of John Worboys and the police failures that allowed his crimes to continue.

The Good Daughter (Sky & NOW TV) — 2026
Meghann Fahy and Rose Byrne play sisters confronting a violent past when another attack shatters their small town.

Gone (ITV1 & ITVX) — 2026
Eve Myles and David Morrissey star in a chilling mystery set around a private school, a missing wife, and a detective chasing the truth.

Which one should you pick first?

If you want a new show to watch right away, start with Under Salt Marsh (Jan 30) or Vanished (Feb 27). For forensic fans, Scarpetta (Mar 11) is the standout. Netflix’s Jo Nesbø adaptation is the top pick for Scandi-noir lovers.

Short, binge-ready and packed with suspense, these 11 series offer plenty of options for every crime-drama appetite in 2026.

Image Referance: https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/culture/g69991059/crime-dramas-2026/