- Eleven high-profile crime dramas arrive in 2026 across Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC, Sky and ITV.
- Big names include Nicole Kidman in Scarpetta, Tobias Santelmann in Jo Nesbo’s Detective Hole, and Line Of Duty series 7.
- Expect serial-killer mysteries, forensic thrillers, tense domestic dramas and institutional investigations.
Top crime dramas to add to your “new show to watch” list
2026 shapes up as a banner year for crime drama fans. Major streamers and UK broadcasters are lining up tense mysteries, forensic thrillers and large-cast adaptations. Here are the must-watch titles, with platforms and release windows to help you plan your next binge.
Scarpetta (Amazon Prime) — March 11
Nicole Kidman headlines as Dr Kay Scarpetta in this Patricia Cornwell adaptation. The series centers on a dogged medical examiner determined to unmask a serial killer and revisit a career-defining case from 28 years earlier. Jamie Lee Curtis, Bobby Cannavale and Ariana DeBose co-star.
Jo Nesbo’s Detective Hole (Netflix) — March 26
Tobias Santelmann plays Harry Hole in Netflix’s adaptation of Jo Nesbo’s novels. The nine-episode run is billed as a dark serial-killer mystery about obsession, betrayal and the thin line between justice and revenge.
Imperfect Women (Apple TV+) — starts March 18
Based on Araminta Hall’s novel, this thriller stars Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington and Kate Mara. The story follows a decades-long friendship torn apart by a crime that forces each woman to confront guilt, retribution and buried secrets.
Vanished (Amazon Prime) — February 27
Kaley Cuoco and Sam Claflin lead this twisty thriller about a disappeared boyfriend on a train in France. Amazon positions Vanished as a weekend-binge mystery filled with secrets about the person you thought you knew.
Under Salt Marsh (Sky & NOW TV) — January 30
Kelly Reilly stars in this six-part series about a storm, a reopened cold case and a community haunted by secrets. Former detective Jackie Ellis is drawn back into an investigation that fractured her life and career.
Line Of Duty — Series 7 (BBC One) — filming 2026
The BBC confirmed a seventh series after AC-12’s supposed finale. The team returns under the rebranded Inspectorate of Police Standards for another sensitive, high-stakes case. Filming begins this spring.
Other notable entries
Also watch for Netflix’s I Will Find You (Harlan Coben adaptation), BBC’s The Cage, ITV’s Believe Me and Gone, and Sky’s The Good Daughter. Each promises emotional stakes, institutional scrutiny or chilling mysteries that should keep viewers gripped all year.
What to expect
From forensic procedure in Scarpetta to Scandinavian noir influences in Detective Hole and domestic conspiracy in Imperfect Women, 2026 delivers variety for crime drama fans. Add these to your radar if you’re searching for a new show to watch with serious twists and strong performances.
Image Referance: https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/culture/g69991059/crime-dramas-2026/