There are so many upcoming LGBTQIA+ films and TV shows to have on your radar
BY NIC CROSARA, IMAGE BY NETFLIX
Attention all screen buffs! It’s that time of year again. A new year is around the corner, and with it comes an abundance of new and exciting LGBTQIA+ films and TV shows. There’s a lot of ground to cover when it comes to these releases. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at what’s ahead so you can keep these on your radar.
A Friend Of Dorothy: 1 January
Starting your year off by watching Miriam Margolyes on your TV? There’s no better way to spend the first day of 2026. This short film is sure to tug at your heartstrings and provide plenty of laughter along the way. Save the date, and add this must-seen short to your watch list.
Streaming platform TBA
The Traitors UK and The Traitors US: January
This tense psychological competition, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, has become a favourite among LGBTQIA+ viewers. Over the scenes, the show has cast many LGBTQIA+ civilians, as well as queer celebs, in Celebrity Traitors.
The Traitors UK season four is set to launch on New Year’s Day, with The Traitors US – hosted by Alan Cumming – will be coming out on 8 January. Celebrity Traitors is also expected to return later in the year.
You can watch The Traitors on BBC iPlayer
A Thousand Blows: Season 2: 9 January
This Victorian drama is inspired by the real-life stories of a group of characters battling for survival in the brutal East End of London in the 1880s. The cast features Malachi Kirby, Stephen Graham and DIVA-favourite Erin Doherty, who openly identifies as a lesbian.
A Thousand Blows is available to stream on Disney+
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy: January 15
Queer sci-fi lovers are excited for this one. Alex Kurtzman’s expanded Star Trek universe has greatly pushed the needle forward when it comes to queer rep in the hugely popular sci-fi show. We were introduced to the franchise’s first-ever non-binary character in Star Trek: Discovery, and then in Star Trek: Lower Decks, Dr Julian Bashir and Elim Garak became a canon queer ship. Suffice to say, we can’t wait to see what this new series will offer LGBTQIA+ fans.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will be streaming on Paramount+
Bridgerton Season 4: January and February
This season will be told to audiences in two instalments. Part one will be coming out on 29 January with part two coming out on 26 February. It was great to see Benedict’s fluid sexuality explored in the last season, so we’re excited that season four will be focused on his love story. And we, of course, are interested in how the show will continue to explore Francesca’s queerness.
Bridgerton is available to stream on Netflix.
The Moment: 30 January
Are you ready for Brat Winter? Because popstar and ultimate LGBTQIA+ ally Charli XCX is the star of this new mockumentary film. Charli will share the screen with Rosanna Arquette, Kate Berlant, Jamie Demetriou, Hailey Benton Gates, Isaac Powell, and Alexander Skarsgård. The film has been teased as being a 2024 period piece. Okay, I’m seated.
Coming to cinemas on 30 January
The Chronology Of Water: 6 February
Whether it’s playing a vampire or a butch gym manager, Kristen Stewart has always captivated us with her performances. And now she’s ready to show us what she can do from behind the camera with this feature directorial debut, where she adapts Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir of the same name. Imogen Poots (Hedda) fully embodies Lidia as we see her come to terms with her bisexuality and struggles with abuse and addiction. Kristen proves herself as a compelling writer-director in this feminine rage-filled adaptation.
The Chronology Of Water is coming to UK cinemas on 6 February
Mother Mary: April
This A24 psychological thriller is one of my most anticipated releases of the year. The film stars Anne Hathaway, Michaela Coel, FKA twigs and Hunter Schafer. Now that’s what we call a star-studded cast. Anne plays the titular Mother Mary character who is a star with the height of fame of the like of Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift. Meanwhile, Michaela plays Mary’s former best friend, Sam, who helped the star craft her image. While an official date is yet to be confirmed, this exciting release is set to hit theatres in April.
Euphoria: Season 3: April
The wait is almost over for the long-awaited third season of this show. It has been confirmed that there will be a time jump of about five years between when we saw the characters last. Rue (Zendaya) will be south of the border in Mexico, trying to come up with ways of paying off her debt. Jules (Hunter Schafer) will be in art school. Maddy (Alexa Demie) is working for a talent agency, and her ex-bestie Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) will be living int he suburbs with Nate (Jacob Elordi). We are definitely intrigued.
Euphoria can be streamed on NOW TV
Forbidden Fruits: April
Sapphics, prepare to be fed with this one. The cast includes bisexual star Lili Reinhart, pansexual actor Alexandra Shipp, ultimate DIVA crush Victoria Pedretti, as well as Lola Tung, Emma Chamberlain and Gabrielle Union. The film follows a witch femme cult run by Apple (Lili) in the basement of the mall store after hours. When new hire Pumpkin (Lola) challenges their performative sisterhood, the witches are forced to face their own poisons or face a bloody fate. A theatrical release is expected in April, with streaming to follow on Shudder.
The Boys: April 8
As if there weren’t enough exciting releases in April, we’re also getting the final season of the hugely popular superhero show The Boys. The show has featured queer characters, with even more introduced in its spin-off series Gen V. We are all extremely stressed to find out how the showrunners and writers will wrap this one up and what fates await all our favourite characters. One thing is guaranteed: It’s sure to be a bloody ride.
The Boys and Gen V are both available to stream on Prime Video
The Devil Wears Prada 2: 1 May
Oh, no big deal, Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci are all returning for the sequel we never thought we’d be lucky enough to get. The cast also includes DIVA favourites such as Simone Ashley, Lucy Liu, Rachel Bloom and Lady Gaga. We can’t wait for these actors to change our lives all over again.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is coming to cinemas from 1 May
Practical Magic 2: 18 September
While not queer, we have to include this long-awaited sequel on this list. I mean, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are ultimate celeb crushes for many of our readers, especially when they are playing witch sisters. The original cast will be joined by new faces, including Joey King, Xolo Maridueña, Maisie Williams, and Lee Pace.
Doctor Who Christmas special: December
While there will sadly be no Doctor Who Christmas special in 2025, we are pleased to know that there will be one in 2026. The BBC will no longer be partnering with Disney+ for the sci-fi show for its next season. It already looks like Ncuti Gatwa regenderated into Billie Piper in the series finale back in May, but with Doctor Who, we can’t be sure that this means she will be the 16th Doctor. Suffice to say, we have a lot of questions.
Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer
TBA
The following shows and films are said to be returning in 2026, but, at the time of writing their official release date is yet to be announced. Rest assured, when we know more, we’ll be shouting it from the rooftops.
Hacks: Season 5 | Interview With The Vampire/The Vampire Lestat: Season 3 | The Hunting Wives: Season 2 | Yellowjackets: Season 4 | House Of The Dragon: Season 3 | Buffy The Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale: Season 1 | Heartstopper: Forever | Vision Quest | Ginny & Georgia: Season 4 | Ted Lasso: Season 4 | XO, Kitty: Season 3 | Cry To Heaven | Teenage Sex And Death At Camp Miasma | The Housekeeper | Wednesday: Season 3 | Good Omens: Season 3
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