As 2026 dawns, January has a few shows that are going to be must-watch for any Game of Thrones fan!
As one can tell from the name of this site, Game of Thrones remains a key part of the fantasy genre fandom. Even years after the show’s end, its influence is felt, and that includes how many great TV shows can appeal to GOT fans. It helps that they also feature some famous GOT faces to further entice fans.
There are a few coming in 2026 across the sci-fi/fantasy genre, with January alone offering several must-watch that kick off the year in the right way for any GOT aficionado!
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
This, of course, is a must-see for the entire GOT fandom. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the newest spinoff, adapting George R.R. Martin’s novella, which is set decades before the main Game of Thrones series. The Targaryen dynasty still holds the Iron Throne, but dragons are seemingly dead, and their power is waning. The focus is on Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) as they try to live regular lives, unaware they’re about to be caught up in the grand drama to come.
The exploration of Westeros in this time period is the big draw of the show, as fans will see a time when the Targaryens are slowly but surely losing control of the land and the seeds of what becomes Robert’s Rebellion are being laid. It’s a fascinating era and the fact that Duncan and Egg will eventually become very important players in the Game makes it better. It’s a no-brainer for a must-watch for the entire GOT fandom and is ready to bring fans some powerful drama in 2026
Premieres Sunday January 18 on HBO Max.
Industry
If you love the in-fighting and intrigue of GOT, then Industry is a surprising and worthy watch. It helps that Kit Harington will be returning to the series in the upcoming fourth season.
The drama began as a typical series focusing on the young graduates of an investment bank in London, only to evolve into a sharply written, amazingly steamy and often shocking drama that’s become probably the best non-award-winning show on HBO.
Season 4 continues to amp things up as Yasmin (Marisa Abela) and Harper (Myha’la Herrold) continue their rise to success, no matter what shady moves they have to make to achieve their dreams. Yasmin’s relationship with tech guru Sir Henry Muck (Harington) provides some wild twists, while Harper gets involved with Whitney Halberstram (Max Minghella), a shady executive.
With new faces that include Kiernan Shipka and Kal Penn, combined with the fantastic cast, this show is a welcome addition to a GOT fan’s library. It helps that Harington is putting on a role even wilder than Jon Snow and proving that any HBO show he’s on is a must-see.
Premieres Sunday, January 11 on HBO Max
Ponies
Since her tenure on Game of Thrones as Daenerys concluded, Emilia Clarke has been busy avoiding being typecast as that royal warrior. Her latest work shows it in the new Peacock spy dramedy Ponies. The title stands for “persons of no interest” in the intelligence world and is set in 1977 when the Cold War between the U.S. and USSR was still hot. Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson play the wives of two men working as spies in Moscow.
When their spouses are killed, the pair are recruited by the CIA to pick up their work, using their covers as secretaries. The mismatched pair has to navigate this world of spies while uncovering a conspiracy that could rock the U.S.
The trailers promise some fun banter between Clarke and Richardson, with Clarke seeming to enjoy playing this role. The retro setting adds to the appeal, as fans of Clarke will enjoy seeing her get her spy game on in a new thriller with a few laughs.
Premieres Thursday January 15 on Peacock
Steal
Sophie Turner takes on a role much different than Sansa Stark in the new Prime Video thriller Steal. Turner is an employee of a London investment firm that’s invaded by a pack of crooks. As Turner tries to survive this, a detective on the outside investigates what the thieves are after, uncovering a plot to steal millions from pension funds.
Turner should be stellar in the role as a woman caught in the middle of this heist, using her wits to survive, with the hints that there’s more to the plot than there seems. The six-episode series may not be as epic as GOT, but Turner has proven herself a stellar actress in any role. Her presence, combined with the heist/hostage drama, should make this another series to check out for a GOT alumnus.
Premieres Wednesday, January 21, on Prime Video