First look: From Westeros to the Winter Olympics – what to watch on Sky and Now in 2026

Sky’s 2026 programme slate is a tantalising mix of recognisable franchises, new originals and returning favourites.

Leading the content charge is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a new chapter in the Game of Thrones universe set a century before the events of the original series, here swapping dragons strafing armadas for a smaller show about a knight and squire wandering into trouble.

It will be joined by crime drama Under Salt Marsh, the latest outing from Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan, a second season of Matlock, and the return of Landscape Artist of the Year. It’s quite a spread. 

Here’s what Sky Q, Sky Glass and NOW subscribers will want to keep an eye on…

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

If you’ve ever wondered what Westeros looked like before the fall of great houses and the political bloodsport of Game of Thrones, we now have an answer. Set a century before those events, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on George R.R. Martin’s beloved Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, follows Ser Duncan the Tall, earnest, brave, slightly too tall for his own good, and Egg, the squire with far more royal significance than his nickname suggests.

The cast is stacked with rising and established talent: Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan, Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg, and a regal supporting roster including Daniel Ings, Bertie Carvel, Sam Spruell, Danny Webb, Finn Bennett, Tanzyn Crawford, Henry Ashton, Youssef Kerkour, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor and Daniel Monks. If you fancy a character driven wander around the quieter corners of Westeros, this could be your next favourite fantasy adventure. Expect chivalry, mischief, and a ripple of Targaryen politics.

This six episode series lands in January 2026.

Under Salt Marsh

A brooding six-part mystery from writer and creator Claire Oakley, Under Salt Marsh takes us to the fictional Welsh town of Morfa Halen,  perched precariously between mountains and an encroaching sea, where a once-in-a-generation storm is gathering.

When teacher and ex-detective Jackie Ellis (Kelly Reilly) discovers the body of her eight-year-old pupil, the shock tears open an older wound: the unsolved disappearance of her niece, Nessa, three years earlier.

Jackie’s former partner, Detective Eric Bull (Rafe Spall), returns to lead the investigation he once failed to crack. As the storm edges closer, old loyalties fray and the town’s secrets begin to seep to the surface.

Atmospheric, intimate, and grounded in character. Reilly and Spall promise a pairing worth clearing the schedule for.

Rob & Romesh vs Winter Olympics

If prestige fantasy and coastal tragedy seem a little heavy, Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan are here to restore balance. Their eighth series sees the duo doing what no responsible governing body should allow: training with Team GB ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

With help from legends like Eddie the Eagle and Eve Muirhead, plus 2026 hopefuls Mia Brookes and Team Mouat, the pair attempt everything from bobsled to biathlon, skiing to curling, travelling from St Moritz to Fredericton in search of a winter sport that won’t hospitalise them. This is warm-hearted escapism, a bit silly, a bit competitive, a bit chaotic, and one of Sky’s most reliably entertaining staples.

Matlock Season 2

Kathy Bates returns as Madeline ‘Matty’ Matlock, the wry, razor-sharp attorney who re-enters the legal arena at a prestigious firm and promptly outmanoeuvres everyone around her. Season two picks up with Matty questioning the paternity of the man claiming to be Alfie’s father, while her partner Olympia grapples with ex-husband Julian’s involvement in the Wellbrexa case.

If you enjoy courtroom drama with a twist of humour and a lead who’s always three moves ahead, this continues to be a quietly addictive watch.

Landscape Artist of the Year 2026

Now entering its eleventh year, Landscape Artist of the Year returns with brushes flying and canvases flapping in the British breeze. The 2026 competition takes artists to some of the UK’s most striking locations: Dover Castle, the Lake District, the Thames from HMS Wellington, the Ouse Valley Viaduct, and the Falkirk Wheel.

A new face joins the judging panel: Eva Langret, Director of Frieze London, stepping in alongside regulars Tai Shan Schierenberg and Kathleen Soriano. Stephen Mangan resumes hosting duties with his usual deadpan charm.

28 Years Later

Director Danny Boyle, and writer Alex Garland, return to the world of the Rage virus nearly three decades after its original outbreak. In this new chapter, set three decades after the initial outbreak, survivors cling to existence under a harsh quarantine, with one isolated group living on a small island linked to the mainland by a single, heavily guarded causeway.

When a member ventures into the mainland, he uncovers mutated horrors, splintered communities and new threats that have evolved far beyond the virus itself. Expect Boyle’s signature tension, kinetic pacing and unnerving atmosphere.

A sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, is released theatrically in January 2026.

The Naked Gun

Yes, Liam Neeson has stepped into the shoes of Frank Drebin’s son, Lt. Frank Drebin Jr, in a new chapter of Police Squad absurdity. Charged with solving a murder that could shutter the department, Drebin Jr brings the Neeson gravitas to a world filled with pratfalls, mistranslations and the kind of physical comedy you shouldn’t try at home.

The Toxic Avenger

A cheerfully chaotic revival of Toma’s cult classic, The Toxic Avenger follows janitor Winston Gooze (Peter Dinklage), who becomes the radioactive vigilante known as Toxie after a catastrophic accident. He finds himself battling corrupt corporate overlords (Kevin Bacon and Elijah Wood) while protecting his son, friends and community. It’s messy, moral, and proudly over-the-top.

The Ballad of Wallis Island

A gently eccentric comedy starring Tim Key as Charles, a lottery winner living alone on a remote island. His dream? Reuniting legendary musicians McGwyer Mortimer (played by Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan) for a private performance. When the bandmates, and former lovers, accept the invitation, old tensions flare and Charles’ fantasy gig begins to unravel.