tvN announced its lineup, mentioning anticipated works for 2026. However, Signal 2, returning after 10 years, was omitted. This has raised questions about whether the omission was made in consideration of controversy surrounding leading actor Cho Jin-woong.
On the 12th, tvN announced its 2026 lineup. According to the announcement, tvN, which achieved a triple crown in buzz, global reach and ratings, will continue its run as the No. 1 K-content channel by delivering the largest number of IPs among single channels in 2026.
During 2025, tvN set notable records and received much love. First, according to Good Data Corporation's FUNdex 2025 TV-OTT buzz survey, tvN dramas ranked first among TV channels in buzz, and ranked the most titles overall in the top 10 for drama end-of-series buzz when including TV and OTT. In addition, tvN drama casts achieved the highest number of ranks in the performers' buzz No. 1 category, proving the channel's storied reputation for generating buzz.
Global reaction was also explosive. The biggest K-drama hit of 2025, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, which was serviced on Netflix in the second half of '25, ranked third globally by viewing time across all series content on the platform. Its final episode recorded a metropolitan average rating of 17.4% and a peak of 20%, and a nationwide average of 17.1% and a peak of 19.4%, making it the clear No. 1 among all mini-series (12–16 episode dramas) released across channels in 2025. In addition, TIME's 'Top 10 best K-dramas of 2025' included two works from tvN—the only domestic TV channel to do so (Our Unwritten Seoul; Resident Playbook)—underscoring the IP power of tvN, which is setting the standard for K-dramas.
This has raised expectations for the 2026 lineup as well. tvN said it will refer to its core audience as 'tvN New Adult,' considering viewer preferences and viewing patterns, and plans to strengthen a content strategy targeted at this core demographic. tvN New Adult, the channel's core audience, is defined as adults who, despite real-world responsibilities, do not miss trends and emotions and provide positive energy. They are people who flexibly consume content across multiple media, select valuable content with excellent discernment, and have the energy to share it with others. Based on these traits, they have created the standard for K-content success. The content keywords they expect and prefer are #dopamine that makes you forget reality #valuable empathy #comfort and healing #proven laughter. tvN will plan and produce content that meets the needs of 'tvN New Adult,' and the 2026 lineup will be developed in a direction aligned with these keywords.
# dopamine that makes you forget reality
A wealth of overwhelmingly dopamine-inducing works that create extreme immersion and make viewers forget reality are being prepared. Starting with the fatal romance thriller Siren, which premieres at 8:50 p.m. on March 2, the debt-strapped landlord's fake kidnapping suspense story Mad Concrete Dreams will premiere on March 14. In the second half of the year, the occult romance 'Spooky Love,' about a chaebol heiress who sees ghosts and a passionate prosecutor, is expected to capture viewers' hearts at once.
Also on the 2026 lineup are PD Lee Woo-hyung's new show, a chef business survival program Street Restaurant Fighter (working title), and Universe Tteokjip, which expands the stage of Earth Arcade members to a rice cake shop. In addition, the third season of Iron Girls, which has shown earnest challenges each season, and the working-title Kill It: Style Creator Wars, which selects the next-generation style icons, are expected to deliver dopamine.
# valuable empathy
Works that deliver realistic empathy and comfort with various sensibilities are also prepared. On the 4th, the youth cohabitation romance Our Universe began its smooth run. Secret Gratitude, starring Shin Hae-sun and Gong Myoung, which will depict a secret and sweet office scandal, and Four Hands, starring Song Kang, Lee Junyoung and Jang Gyuri, which will portray youths entangled through music, will bring deep empathy and fun to viewers' daily lives. In variety programming, Kim Taeri's one-and-only after-school theater class After-school Teacher Taeri is set to premiere on the 22nd.
# comfort and healing
The heartwarming healing variety show Bogum Magical, which is warm enough to make viewers forget the cold, continues its full operations amid favorable reviews. Next, Ensemble, a choral challenge featuring musical director Kim Moon-jung and children from diverse cultural backgrounds, and Gugi-dong Friends, which follows strong-willed single peers living together, will offer comfort and healing. In addition, the third season of Fresh off the Sea, which has established itself as tvN's representative healing program as a harmless seasonal variety show, will provide warm enjoyment with sincerity and emotion.
# proven laughter
Works that add tvN-style fun with trendy and diverse themes to deliver proven laughter are also in preparation. The office romance drama based on a popular webtoon Tomorrow Is Work! and the office growth romance of rising youth stars Employee of Choice have secured slots. Also, My Guilty Human, which offers reverse-cliché humor, and Retired Agent + Management Team, a bromance between a retired agent and a super ace, will bring proven laughter to viewers.
Unpredictable fun will be delivered by Predictable(家), featuring Kim Sook and Song Eun I remodeling an abandoned house in Jeju, and the more sophisticated fake-finding travel show Sixth Sense: City Tour season three is expected to air in the second half of the year. In addition, Egg Is Coming's new project and a new variety show by producer Na Young-seok will offer plenty of proven laughs.
The spy romance 100 Days of Lies, set at the Japanese general government office and involving a spy and an interpreter, will satisfy all the needs of tvN New Adult as a well-made blockbuster drama. In addition, Tving originals such as Yumi's Cells 3 and Cook with Legend will also be available on tvN.
Regarding this, Park Sang-hyuk, head of media business unit at CJ ENM, said, "tvN has secured numerous hit IPs amid viewers' interest and love, proving its unrivaled buzz and influence as the 'No. 1 K-content channel.'" He added, "In 2026, having defined the core audience that has become the standard of K-content success as 'tvN New Adult,' we will listen to market changes and needs and deliver diverse enjoyment. Especially this year, as we will present the largest number of in-house planned and produced IPs even by single-platform standards, you can look forward to it."
However, Signal 2, long touted as tvN's most anticipated work this year, was omitted. With leading actor Cho Jin-woong retiring over past issues and scheduling discussions ongoing amid the aftershocks, attention is focused on the project's future.
[Photo] OSEN DB, provided by tvN.
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