2026 has been a banner year for television, with a slew of new and returning favorites capturing audiences' attention. From the gripping second season of Your Friends & Neighbors to the surprising cancellation of Marvel's Wonder Man, and the stylish Spider-Noir on Prime Video, there's been no shortage of must-see TV. Yet, according to fresh data from Nielsen, the year's most-watched series didn't even premiere a new episode in 2026.
That honor belongs to Netflix's sci-fi phenomenon Stranger Things, which concluded its epic run on December 31, 2025. The Duffer Brothers' masterful blend of horror and science fiction has continued to captivate viewers long after its finale, amassing a staggering 23.26 billion minutes of viewing time between December 29, 2025, and June 28, 2026. This monumental figure includes a record-breaking 8.65 billion minutes in the week the final episode dropped, cementing its place in streaming history.
The show's dominance didn't stop there. It held a spot in Nielsen's weekly top 10 for nearly three months, only dropping out in early March after accumulating almost 20 billion minutes. Even after that, it kept pulling in viewers, adding another 3.81 billion minutes to its tally. The Season 5 premiere in November was nothing short of spectacular, earning the biggest premiere week ever for an English-language series on Netflix with an eye-popping 59.6 million views.
While Stranger Things leads the pack, it's not the only series making waves. The beloved animated show Bluey secured the second spot with 22.81 billion minutes, followed closely by the gripping medical drama The Pitt at 21.12 billion minutes. The Pitt has been a consistent performer, staying in the weekly top 10 for 21 straight weeks. Other original hits include Bridgerton (17.15 billion), Taylor Sheridan's Landman (12.4 billion), and The Lincoln Lawyer (10.53 billion).
Acquired series also made a strong showing, with Grey's Anatomy (20.41 billion), The Big Bang Theory (20.4 billion), and SpongeBob SquarePants (16.89 billion) joining Bluey in the upper echelons of the rankings. This mix of originals and library titles underscores the diverse viewing habits of audiences in 2026.
For fans of Stranger Things, the entire series is available to stream on Netflix. If you're looking for more sci-fi gems, you might want to check out this ambitious sci-fi series that Netflix canceled too soon. And for those who can't get enough of The Pitt, there's a worthy replacement hitting Netflix that might just fill the void.
As we move into the second half of 2026, it will be interesting to see if any new series can challenge Stranger Things' reign. With a packed slate of upcoming releases, including Ridley Scott's sci-fi return and a binge guide for the week of August 3, the competition is heating up. But for now, the crown belongs to the kids from Hawkins.
