8 Best New Series on Netflix in October 2026

Get your watch lists ready, folks! Out of the 50+ new releases for October 2026, we’ve chosen 8 series that we’re most excited about. Here’s the rundown. 

Netflix’s much-anticipated adaptation of John Steinbeck’s magnum opus East of Eden undoubtedly leads the way for the streamer in October, but that’s far from all. We’re also seeing the return of fan-favorites Lupin and The Diplomat,as well as international arrivals and big licensed dramas.

Be sure to check out here for the full list of everything new coming to Netflix throughout October. 

East of Eden

Distribution: Netflix Original 

American author John Steinbeck penned dozens of classics in his lifetime — from Of Mice and Men toThe Grapes of Wrath — but his multigenerational epic East of Eden is his self-proclaimed magnum opus work. Spanning generations and set around the turn of the 19th-century and into the First World War, the novel follows the intertwined lives of the Trask and Hamilton families, serving as both a period piece and a biblical allegory. It depicts the stories of both Adam and Eve, and Cain and Abel.

Adapting East of Eden into a 7-episode limited series is no easy feat, but the responsibility fell to showrunners Zoe Kazan (The Savages) and Jeb Stuart (Vikings: Valhalla). The series boasts an all-star cast, including Florence Pugh (Little Women) as Cathy Ames, Christopher Abbott (Kraven the Hunter, Poor things)  as Adam Trask, Mike Faist (West Side Story) as Charles Trask, Hoon Lee (Warrior) as Lee, and Ciarán Hinds (Belfast, Game of Thrones) as Samuel Hamilton.

Out of all the new Netflix series of 2026, East of Eden is undeniably one of the most ambitious. Will it succeed? Well, all eyes are on it to begin October with a bang.

Mayor of Kingstown (Seasons 1-4)

Distribution: Licensed by Netflix (Global addition)

Gritty, high-stakes crime drama Mayor of Kingstown is created by Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone, Landman) and headlined by Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye, Mission: Impossible). Renner plays Mike McLusky, a power broker and fixer who acts as the de-facto mayor of Kingstown Prison. Beginning in 2021, Mayor of Kingstown lasted for 5 seasons, telling a complete story and wrapping up earlier this year. 

The first four seasons are headed to Netflix. It’s worth noting that the fifth and final season is not included, and will continue streaming on Paramount Plus. With a solid 8.2/10 score on IMDb, it’s one of the streamer’s biggest licensed pickups in recent months. This marks the first time that the series will air on Netflix, coming as part of a non-exclusive licensing deal between Netflix and Paramount Global, which sees around 20 titles come to the streamer.

Below

BELOW. (L to R) Willow Kean as Ruth, Rohan Campbell as Jay Penney, Charlie Heaton as Wade, and Ruby Stokes as Mary in episode 106 of Below. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix

Distribution: Netflix Original

Headlined by Josh Hartnett (Verity) and Charlie Heaton (Stranger Things), Belowis a suspenseful six-part supernatural thriller set in a remote coastal town in Newfoundland, where the residents are terrorized by a mysterious, otherworldly creature that lurks in the water. The 6-episode series comes from showrunner Jesse McKeown, who previously worked as a writer on The Umbrella Academy at Netflix.

A few weeks back we posted an early review of the opener when it premiered at TIFF. “Belowisn’t without heart, making it all the more promising to invest in the compelling mystery the first two episodes set up.,” we wrote. “Hartnett, sea horror, and a killer Danzig needle drop – what else does a series really need to kick things off with a bang?”

Below is absolutely one to have on your radar in October.

Haunted Hotel (Season 2)

Distribution: Netflix Original 

Created by Matt Roller — one of the creatives behind fan-favorite Rick & Morty — animated comedy Haunted Hotel debuted on Netflix back in 2025. The series set up a fun premise, following a single mother, Katherine (Eliza Coupe), and her two children who inherit the haunted hotel that her deceased brother left behind. However, his ghost remains at the hotel… along with dozens of other ghosts that haunt the halls. It’s a lot more than a simple hotel that Katherine needs to manage.

The series was a hit not only for its hilarious story, but it also contained a surprising amount of emotional depth for a show of its kind. There’s plenty of loose ends for the show to draw on in its sophomore outing: Katherine will continue to struggle to run the hotel, Nathan (Will Forte) will continue to explore how and what led him to suicide, and so much more is on the horizon. 

The Diplomat (Season 4)

Distribution: Netflix Original 

Fan-favorite, Emmy-nominated political thriller The Diplomat returns for its fourth instalment in October. All the stars are back alongside Keri Russell, including Rufus Sewell, Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford. This season, Kate has her work truly cut out, balancing relations between the U.S. and U.K. (keeping a secret that could trigger a war) and navigating a strained marriage to Hal.

“This season is built on the foursome that is Kate, Hal, Grace, and Todd,” creator Debora Cahn teased to Netflix. “They’re two couples strapped together in one car on a crumbling roller coaster. Each of them has a professional, public role that’s upending their ability to function as a married person. And there’s a change-partners thing that happens, where the growing bond between Grace and Hal creates a not-so-functional alliance between Kate and Todd.”

One of the most highly anticipated returning dramas of the month, the 8-episode fourth season debuts on Netflix on October 15.

Cyberpunk Edgerunners 2

Distribution: Netflix Original 

Cyberpunk Edgerunners was a certified hit when it arrived on Netflix in 2022. Produced by Studio Trigger, the show was everything Cyberpunk fans had hoped for: Night City was vibrant, fast-paced, and bursting with character. As a result, it swept awards ceremonies, claiming ‘Anime of the Year’ at the 2023 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, and was raved about by critics, still boasting a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.3/10 on IMDb. 

In October, the fan-favorite series returns for another 10-episode instalment. This season moves away from continuing David and Lucy’s story in favour of following a new cast of characters, including washed-up veteran Edgerunner Weak Kingsley (Clancy Brown), ruthless netrunner D (Nazeeh Tarsha), and Night City filmmaker Roman Carax (Valeria Rodriguez). 

Lupin: Part 4

Distribution: Netflix Original 

Lupin is the biggest Netflix series to ever come out of France — by quite some distance, too. A modern retelling of the French story about gentleman thief Arsène Lupin, the series returns for its 8-episode fourth season this October. The next batch of episodes takes place four years after the end ofLupin Part 3, with Assane (Omar Sy) still in prison. He’s determined to serve his sentence in full, but when a copycat frames him for museum heists, he finds himself with no choice but to act to prove his innocence. 

While not every cast member is retuning, such as Etan Simon (Raoul), the new season has added a couple of new additions including French stars Théo Christine (Infested) and Laika Blanc-Francard (Cassandre). 

Distribution: Netflix Original 

The fall season has already proven hugely impressive for international shows at Netflix with the release of Dutch series The Perfect Lie, which we gave a perfect 5-star review. Looking ahead to October, Spanish comedyFading Grandeur has all the hallmarks for another hit. 

The six-part series is headlined by Antonio de la Torre (known for two Netflix projects‘The Motive’ and ‘The Endless Trench’) and Alexandra Jiménez (Known for Netflix’s The Innocent, 100 Meters, and  Go Team).

We follow Don Leandro (Antonio de la Torre) , a ruined — perhaps disillusioned — marquis who lives on appearances and dreams of being named a Grandee of Spain. He eyes only one way out of his financial disaster, simply by selling his decaying family mansion in Madrid. When wealthy businesswoman Sofía Carrington (Alexandra Jiménez) takes an interest in the property, there seems no better time to sell. However, as the negotiations gain ground, it becomes clear that they are not who they appear to be.

Which of these series are you most excited about? Again, check out our full list of series coming to Netflix in October here.