PBS is heading toward the end of 2026 with a seriously mixed bag of TV news. While one major news program has already been canceled and several beloved dramas are preparing to say goodbye, MASTERPIECE is also doubling down on some of its biggest mysteries and period dramas.
The result is a dramatic reshuffling of the PBS lineup: familiar favorites are closing their stories, while shows including The Forsytes, Unforgotten, All Creatures Great and Small and more are securing their futures.
| Series | 2026 Status | Key Official Detail |
| PBS News Weekend | Canceled | Final broadcast aired January 11, 2026 |
| Grantchester | Ended | Completed its 11-season run |
| Miss Scarlet | Final season | Season 7 will be the series finale |
| Marble Hall Murders | Final installment | Premieres September 6, 2026 |
| The Forsytes | Renewed | Confirmed through Season 3 |
| All Creatures Great and Small | Renewed | Picked up for Seasons 7 and 8 |
More Long-Awaited Comebacks: PBS isn’t the only place fans are watching for a beloved series to be reborn, one cult sci-fi favorite is also inching its way back after decades away. For more, read our story on Firefly Revival Is Still Happening, But Nathan Fillion Warns Fans the Wait Could Take Years.
PBS and MASTERPIECE Renewals and Cancellations Bring Big Changes in 2026
One of the biggest winners in the current PBS renewal cycle is The Forsytes. The Victorian drama premiered on MASTERPIECE in March 2026 and follows the wealthy Forsyte family as they navigate tradition, ambition, wealth and personal happiness. Inspired by John Galsworthy’s Forsyte Saga novels, the show has already been confirmed for Season 3, with the next chapter taking viewers beyond London and toward the French Riviera. Season 2 is also already part of the production plans.
Miss Austen is also returning for Season 2. Based on Gill Hornby’s novel, the drama explores Jane Austen’s relationship with her sister Cassandra and will continue by drawing largely from Hornby’s The Elopement. Susanne Simpson, MASTERPIECE Head of Scripted Content and Executive Producer, said:
“After the success of Miss Austen, I am thrilled to be working again with the incredible author Gill Hornby, and the impressive team of Andrea Gibb and Christine Langan, who created the first series that was such a moving experience and a joy to watch. I am pleased to be able to announce the return of the series just as we are about to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth.”
The renewal arrived around the wider cultural spotlight surrounding the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth in 2025, although PBS has not announced a Season 2 premiere date.
Unforgotten
Meanwhile, Unforgotten is heading into Season 7, with filming already underway. Sanjeev Bhaskar returns as DCI Sunny Khan alongside Sinéad Keenan as DCI Jess James, continuing the award-winning drama’s emotionally intense cold-case investigations.
Mystery fans are getting even more good news with The Marlow Murder Club, which has been renewed for both Seasons 3 and 4. Season 3 premieres September 6, 2026, bringing Judith Potts, Suzie Harris and Becks Starling back for new cases involving a mayor’s sudden death, a murdered celebrity chef and an eerie university reunion where Becks becomes a suspect.
Maigret, starring Benjamin Wainwright as Jules Maigret, will also return for Season 2 on October 18, 2026. The six-episode season follows three major crimes while Maigret faces pressure within his police unit and questions his future with La Brigade Criminelle. His relationship with wife Louise and their attempts to have a child will also remain central.
Perhaps the biggest long-term win belongs to All Creatures Great and Small, which has secured both Seasons 7 and 8. Season 7 premieres January 17, 2027 and moves the story into 1946, after World War II, as changes in veterinary medicine and the arrival of a new veterinarian shake up life at Skeldale House.
PBS has also renewed environmental documentary series Hope in the Water for Season 2, expected in 2027, featuring Shailene Woodley alongside Kristen Kish and Andrew Zimmern.
But not every familiar title is getting a happy continuation.
More Franchises Riding High: PBS isn’t alone in celebrating a wave of good renewal news, another cable favorite has a returning Hollywood star anchoring its own next chapter. For more, check out our post on ‘Tulsa King’ Season 4 Release Date Mystery: Sylvester Stallone Is Returning, but Paramount+ Is Still Holding One Big Secret.
Miss Scarlet and Other PBS Favorites Are Heading Toward Their Final Chapters
Miss Scarlet will return for Season 7, but PBS has confirmed it will be the series finale. Kate Phillips and Tom Durant-Pritchard announced the news in an official PBS video, with Phillips saying:
“This will be our last season.”
She quickly added:
“But do not fret because we will be going out with a bang.”
The final season, expected in 2027 and already filming, will continue Eliza Scarlet’s complicated professional and personal journey as she builds her relationship with Inspector Alexander Blake.
Another major finale is Marble Hall Murders, premiering September 6, 2026. PBS describes it as the third and final installment of the Susan Ryeland mystery series following Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders. Lesley Manville returns as Susan Ryeland, with Tim McMullan reprising Atticus Pünd. The new mystery takes Susan into another dangerous literary puzzle involving Corfu, a new Atticus Pünd novel and writer Eliot Crace.
Grantchester, however, has already reached the finish line. The beloved period crime drama ended with Season 11 after more than a decade on television. Set during the summer of 1963, the final season explored major changes for Rev. Alphy Kottaram, Geordie Keating and Leonard, with PBS teasing themes of family, forgiveness, identity and faith.
The biggest outright cancellation is PBS News Weekend, whose final broadcast aired January 11, 2026. Anchor John Yang told viewers:
“As you may know, this is the last broadcast of PBS News Weekend, at least for the foreseeable future.”
He explained:
“PBS canceled the show due to the loss of federal funding for public media.”
Originally launched in 2013 as PBS NewsHour Weekend, the program ended because of financial pressures rather than a planned creative conclusion.
Two other dramas remain in uncertain territory. Annika has not been officially canceled, but UKTV previously stated:
“We are incredibly proud of the success of Annika on U&Alibi, but there are no current plans for a third series.”
Marie Antoinette is also in limbo after its second season aired in 2026, with no official Season 3 announcement from PBS.
PBS may be losing some major favorites, but 2026 is clearly more of a reshuffle than a retreat. While Grantchester, Miss Scarlet, Marble Hall Murders and PBS News Weekend mark the end of important eras, The Forsytes, Miss Austen, Unforgotten, The Marlow Murder Club, Maigret, All Creatures Great and Small and Hope in the Water ensure there is still plenty waiting for viewers.
More Series Endings Explained: PBS isn’t the only network sending a beloved show toward its conclusion this year, one dystopian drama’s latest finale left viewers with plenty to unpack. For more, dive into our story on ‘Silo’ Season 3 Episode 9 Ending Explained: Bernard’s Final Sacrifice, the Nuclear Blast and What the Silos May Have Known All Along.
Disclaimer: This article is based on thorough research from the verified information provided by PBS, MASTERPIECE, relevant broadcasters and the sources listed below. Renewal, cancellation and finale decisions can change as new announcements are made. Series including Annika and Marie Antoinette are not described as officially canceled because no formal cancellation announcement has been confirmed. The information reflects the status available as of August 31, 2026.
Sources:
PBS / MASTERPIECE official site
Just Jared — PBS renewals and cancellations article
Featured Image Credit: PBS Masterpiece
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