12 Upcoming K-Dramas to Watch in 2026: Release Dates & Cast

The upcoming K-drama lineup is packed with exciting stories, major stars, romance, mystery, action, fantasy, historical settings, and intense thrillers. Several highly anticipated dramas already have teasers and casting news creating excitement among fans, while others are keeping their premiere details under wraps.

From the star-studded The Remarried Empress to the mysterious Portraits of Delusion and the second season of Study Group, there is plenty to look forward to in the coming months.

Here are 12 upcoming dramas that deserve a place on every K-drama fan’s watchlist.

1. The Remarried Empress

The Remarried Empress is one of the most anticipated upcoming Korean dramas, especially among fans of webtoon adaptations and complicated palace romances.

The story centers on Navier, the Empress of the Eastern Empire. Intelligent, elegant, and respected, Navier has spent years beside her husband, Emperor Sovieshu. The two grew up together and once shared dreams of building a powerful and prosperous empire.

Everything changes when Sovieshu brings Rashta, a runaway slave, into the palace and makes her his mistress. This breaks the promise he made to Navier that he would never take a concubine.

At the same time, Prince Heinrey, heir to the Western Kingdom, arrives in the Eastern Empire. He meets Navier and gradually develops feelings for her.

As Sovieshu’s relationship with Rashta becomes stronger, he eventually seeks a divorce from Navier. Rather than allowing the divorce to destroy her future, Navier makes an unexpected decision. She asks for permission to marry Prince Heinrey, transforming the divorce into the beginning of a completely new chapter in her life.

Cast

• Shin Min Ah as Navier
• Ju Ji Hoon as Emperor Sovieshu
• Lee Se Young as Rashta
• Lee Jong Suk as Prince Heinrey

Release Date

November 4, 2026

Streaming Platform

Disney+

With its royal setting, complicated relationships, political tension, and revenge-driven storyline, The Remarried Empress is shaping up to be a major drama for fans of historical fantasy romance.

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2. 100 Days of Deception

Set during the Japanese colonial period, 100 Days of Deception combines historical drama, espionage, romance, and resistance.

The story follows Lee Ga Kyeong, a highly skilled pickpocket in Gyeongseong who dreams of leaving her difficult life behind and starting over in the United States.

Her plans change when she receives an offer from Yoo So Ran, a sniper working for the anti-Japanese organization Gugukdan.

The organization is preparing to assassinate Sato Shinichi, the Director-General of Political Affairs of the Government-General of Korea. Ga Kyeong agrees to participate in the resistance and accepts a dangerous undercover mission.

She disguises herself as an interpreter trainee and infiltrates the Government-General of Korea.

Inside the organization, she encounters Kim Tae Woong, a newly appointed elite interpreter and the adopted son of Sato Shinichi.

Their relationship becomes increasingly complicated as secrets, deception, political tension, and dangerous missions begin to surround them.

Cast

• Kim Yoo Jung as Lee Ga Kyeong
• Kim Hyun Joo as Yoo So Ran
• Jin Sun Kyu as Sato Shinichi
• Park Jin Young as Kim Tae Woong

Release Date

October 10, 2026

Streaming Platform

Netflix

The combination of historical action, undercover missions, resistance activities, and romance makes 100 Days of Deception one of the dramas to keep an eye on this October.

3. Doctor X

Doctor X brings a medical setting together with a strong central character and a story about challenging a flawed medical system.

The drama follows Kye Su Jeong, a genius surgeon who believes that being a true doctor is about skill and saving lives rather than following the absurdities and problems surrounding the medical establishment.

As she confronts a medical system filled with contradictions, Su Jeong uses her exceptional surgical abilities to prove herself.

Main Cast

• Kim Ji Won as Kye Su Jeong

Release Date

October 9, 2026

Streaming Platform

Netflix

For viewers who enjoy medical dramas with strong protagonists and conflicts involving the healthcare system, Doctor X offers an intriguing premise.

4. Merry Berry Love

If you prefer romance with beautiful scenery and a warmer atmosphere, Merry Berry Love could be one of the upcoming dramas to watch.

The story takes place on a remote Japanese island filled with picturesque landscapes.

Lee Yoo Bin, a Korean spatial designer, was once highly successful in his field. However, he suddenly loses everything and leaves Korea for Charo Island.

A perfectionist by nature, Yoo Bin’s life begins to change when he meets Shirahama Karin, a passionate and lovable Japanese strawberry farmer.

The two come from very different worlds, but their unexpected meeting gradually changes Yoo Bin’s outlook on life.

Cast

• Ji Chang Wook as Lee Yoo Bin
• Imada Mio as Shirahama Karin

Release Date

October 7, 2026

Streaming Platform

Disney+

The island setting, cross-cultural romance, and contrasting personalities of the leads make this drama particularly interesting for romance fans.

5. kiDnap GAME

kiDnap GAME takes the concept of kidnapping and turns it into a dangerous international survival game.

Simultaneous kidnappings take place across several Asian cities, including:

• Tokyo
• Seoul
• Taipei
• Singapore
• Bangkok
• Manila
• Naha

After their loved ones are kidnapped, the victims’ families receive mysterious invitations to participate in a game.

The message presents them with a terrifying choice: only one person can be saved.

Seven participants from different cities, nationalities, religions, and backgrounds are each assigned a mission. To rescue their kidnapped loved one, they must complete their task before the others.

One participant is Nīide Toshiro, a dedicated detective with a strong sense of justice and an impressive arrest record. His peaceful family life comes to an end when his wife is kidnapped.

Another participant is Han Ki Joo, a retired doctor from Seoul. Once considered a world-class surgeon, he left medicine because of a personal matter. His quiet life is destroyed when his daughter is abducted.

Cast

• Sakaguchi Kentaro as Nīide Toshiro
• Lee Joon Gi as Han Ki Joo

Release Date

October 6, 2026

Streaming Platform

Viu in select regions

With multiple countries involved, kidnapped loved ones, deadly missions, and characters with different backgrounds, kiDnap GAME has the ingredients for a tense thriller.

6. Final Table

Final Table moves the drama world into the competitive culinary scene.

The story follows Korean chefs from around the world as they gather for “The Table: K Chef 2026,” a competition designed to determine the best Korean chef.

The drama combines fierce culinary competition with the personal stories of the chefs participating.

Kang Han is an internationally experienced chef who joins the competition as the representative of Familia following an unexpected incident.

At Familia, Choi Song Yi works as a hall manager. She is determined to save the restaurant founded by her late father, and her path eventually crosses with Kang Han.

Meanwhile, Cha Woo Jin leads the renowned restaurant Exception. A perfectionist chef with an intense competitive spirit, he enters the competition as one of Kang Han’s strongest rivals.

Sun Jeong Won, the executive producer of the competition, becomes increasingly connected to the participating chefs while managing the show.

Cast

• Ahn Hyo Seop as Kang Han
• Hong Hwa Yeon as Choi Song Yi
• Chang Ryul as Cha Woo Jin
• Jung Eugene as Sun Jeong Won

Release Date

October 24, 2026

Streaming Platform

Amazon Prime Video

The combination of food, competition, ambition, personal struggles, and romance gives Final Table a distinctive premise.

7. Between Steps

Between Steps tells an emotional story about people who lose their direction in life and attempt to find a new path.

The drama follows Park Min Jae, who was a swimmer during high school. His life changes dramatically after an illness causes him to lose one of his legs.

The story also focuses on Im Yoo Jin, who has lost her way in life and begins searching for a new direction.

Their stories come together as they navigate challenges, relationships, and the process of rebuilding their lives.

Cast

• Choo Young Woo as Park Min Jae
• Kim So Hyun as Im Yoo Jin

The drama is also notable as the latest and final work of late director Ahn Pan Seok.

Release Date

October 5, 2026

Streaming Platform

Disney+ in select regions

With its emotional premise and character-focused story, Between Steps could appeal to viewers looking for a more grounded and heartfelt drama.

8. Take Charge of My Heart

Take Charge of My Heart offers one of the most unusual premises among the upcoming dramas.

The story follows Baek Ho Rang, whose artificial heart depends on a battery that is running out, and Na Bo Bae, a woman who developed a mysterious electric ability after being struck by lightning.

Bo Bae’s unusual power causes anyone she touches to receive an electric shock. Because of this, she has spent much of her life keeping her distance from other people.

Then she meets Baek Ho Rang.

For some mysterious reason, her electric ability has no effect on him.

Ho Rang is the executive director of TS Resort and is facing not only a medical procedure to replace the battery in his artificial heart but also a succession battle within the TS Group.

Things become even stranger when his artificial heart battery runs out during a hospital power outage on the day of his surgery.

He later discovers that his artificial heart begins recharging whenever he is close to Bo Bae.

Bo Bae is also a writer whose contract is nearing its end. When she realizes that her strange connection with Ho Rang could provide inspiration for her next story, she approaches him with a proposal.

Ho Rang makes her an unusual offer: she must stay beside him and keep his artificial heart charged for three months until his next surgery.

Cast

• Kim Young Kwang as Baek Ho Rang
• Chae Soo Bin as Na Bo Bae

Release Date

October 9, 2026

Streaming Platform

Netflix

The combination of fantasy, romance, science-fiction elements, and comedy makes Take Charge of My Heart one of the more unusual titles in the upcoming lineup.

9. Sacred Jewel

Set in 1258 during the Goryeo Dynasty, Sacred Jewel takes viewers back to a turbulent period when the kingdom was facing defeat after years of war with the Mongols.

The story follows a heroic expedition unit that embarks on a dangerous search for a sacred relic.

The relic is believed to possess the power to protect the nation.

Alongside the expedition is a princess who is determined to save the people involved in the mission.

The drama promises a historical setting filled with war, adventure, mystery, and a search for a powerful sacred object.

Release Date

December 2026

Further details about the cast and exact premiere date are expected to provide more information about the drama as its release approaches.

10. Portraits of Delusion

Portraits of Delusion is set in 1935 Gyeongseong and follows an artist who becomes involved with a mysterious woman surrounded by rumors.

The story centers on painter Yoon Yi Ho, who receives a commission to paint Song Jeong Hwa.

Jeong Hwa is an enigmatic woman who has remained hidden from the outside world for more than half a century.

When Yi Ho meets her, his encounter with the mysterious woman reignites his passion for genuine art.

However, things take a darker turn when he becomes trapped inside a secretive hotel.

As he tries to understand Jeong Hwa and the strange environment surrounding her, fear and confusion begin to take over.

Cast

• Kim Seon Ho as Yoon Yi Ho
• Bae Suzy as Song Jeong Hwa

Release Date

To be announced

The 1930s setting, mysterious female lead, painter protagonist, and secretive hotel give Portraits of Delusion a distinctive atmosphere.

11. Study Group Season 2

Fans of Study Group have another reason to be excited with the upcoming second season.

The original series follows Yun Ga Min, a high-school student who desperately wants to become good at studying but happens to be much better at fighting.

He enrolls at a notorious school where bullies dominate the environment. Determined to improve academically, he creates a study group with his friends.

However, studying is not easy when they are constantly forced into violent confrontations.

The first season combines school action, comedy, friendship, and fights.

In Season 2, Yun Ga Min and the other members of the study group have grown even closer. Together, they face a much larger threat—an enormous force of evil that threatens students across the country.

Main Cast

• Hwang Min Hyun as Yun Ga Min
• Returning study group members are expected to continue the story.

Release Date

To be announced

The second season is particularly interesting for viewers who enjoyed the friendship and action of the original series.

12. The Perfect Lie

The Perfect Lie revolves around a fascinating mystery: two people remember the same event completely differently.

The drama follows a man and a woman who make opposing claims about the same memory. Both insist that their version of events is correct, creating an intense conflict as they search for the truth.

The leads are played by Yoo Yeon Seok and Seo Hyun Jin, who previously appeared together in Dr. Romantic.

Cast

• Yoo Yeon Seok as Min Jun Ho
• Seo Hyun Jin as Kang Ji Seon

The two characters become locked in a battle after giving completely different accounts of the same memory.

As the story progresses, the central mystery raises questions about memory, truth, perception, and what really happened.

Release Date

October 2026

For fans of psychological mysteries and character-driven thrillers, The Perfect Lie offers an intriguing premise.

Upcoming K-Drama Release Schedule

Drama	Main Genre/Theme	Release Date	Streaming Platform
Merry Berry Love	Romance, healing	October 7, 2026	Disney+
kiDnap GAME	Thriller, survival	October 6, 2026	Viu
Between Steps	Emotional, romance	October 5, 2026	Disney+
Doctor X	Medical	October 9, 2026	Netflix
Take Charge of My Heart	Fantasy, romance	October 9, 2026	Netflix
100 Days of Deception	Historical, action, romance	October 10, 2026	Netflix
Final Table	Culinary, competition	October 24, 2026	Amazon Prime Video
The Remarried Empress	Historical fantasy, romance	November 4, 2026	Disney+
Sacred Jewel	Historical, adventure	December 2026	TBA
Portraits of Delusion	Mystery, period drama	TBA	TBA
Study Group Season 2	School, action, comedy	TBA	TBA
The Perfect Lie	Mystery, thriller	October 2026	TBA

 

Conclusion

The upcoming K-drama schedule for late 2026 is filled with dramas featuring major stars, unusual concepts, adaptations, historical stories, romances, mysteries, and action-packed plots.

The Remarried Empress brings palace intrigue and complicated relationships, while 100 Days of Deception combines undercover missions with historical tension. kiDnap GAME offers a dangerous international survival game, and Take Charge of My Heart brings a supernatural twist to romance.

Meanwhile, Portraits of Delusion, The Perfect Lie, and Sacred Jewel are keeping some details mysterious, giving fans even more reasons to stay tuned for future announcements.

With October bringing several premieres and more highly anticipated titles arriving in November and December, K-drama fans have plenty of new stories to add to their watchlists.

FAQs

1. What is the most anticipated upcoming K-drama on this list?

The Remarried Empress is among the major upcoming titles, featuring Shin Min Ah, Ju Ji Hoon, Lee Se Young, and Lee Jong Suk in the central roles.

2. When will The Remarried Empress premiere?

The Remarried Empress is scheduled to premiere on November 4, 2026, on Disney+.

3. Which upcoming K-drama stars Kim Yoo Jung?

Kim Yoo Jung stars in 100 Days of Deception as Lee Ga Kyeong.

4. When is 100 Days of Deception coming out?

100 Days of Deception is scheduled to premiere on October 10, 2026, on Netflix.

5. Which drama stars Ji Chang Wook and Imada Mio?

Ji Chang Wook and Imada Mio star together in Merry Berry Love, which is scheduled for October 7, 2026.

6. What is kiDnap GAME about?

kiDnap GAME follows seven people from different Asian cities whose loved ones have been kidnapped. They must complete dangerous missions in a mysterious game to save the person they love.

7. Is Study Group getting a second season?

Yes. Study Group Season 2 is in the upcoming lineup, with Hwang Min Hyun returning as Yun Ga Min. Its premiere details have not yet been announced.

8. Who stars in Take Charge of My Heart?

Kim Young Kwang plays Baek Ho Rang, while Chae Soo Bin plays Na Bo Bae.

9. Who are the leads of The Perfect Lie?

Yoo Yeon Seok and Seo Hyun Jin lead The Perfect Lie as Min Jun Ho and Kang Ji Seon.

10. When is Final Table premiering?

Final Table is scheduled to premiere on October 24, 2026, on Amazon Prime Video.

11. When will Sacred Jewel be released?

Sacred Jewel is currently scheduled for December 2026.

12. When will Portraits of Delusion premiere?

A premiere date for Portraits of Delusion has not yet been announced.

13. Which upcoming drama is set in 1935 Gyeongseong?

Portraits of Delusion is set in 1935 Gyeongseong and stars Kim Seon Ho and Bae Suzy.

14. Which upcoming drama has a medical storyline?

Doctor X is the medical drama on this list, starring Kim Ji Won as genius surgeon Kye Su Jeong.

15. Which upcoming drama has a fantasy romance premise?

Take Charge of My Heart combines romance with a supernatural concept involving Na Bo Bae’s electric ability and Baek Ho Rang’s artificial heart.