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HBO MaxJanuary 2026·tv shows·3 picks
HBO Max January 2026: The Pitt Season 2, Industry Season 4, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
HBO Max opens 2026 with three of the most anticipated series of the month. The Pitt Season 2 kicks off on January 8th, returning to the relentless, real-time tension of a Pittsburgh emergency department — a ticking-clock medical drama that critics and audiences ranked as the single biggest must-watch premiere across all streaming services this January. Industry Season 4 follows on January 11th, sending Harper and Yasmin into a globe-trotting cat-and-mouse game with a new fintech rival.
Then on January 18th, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms arrives to expand the Game of Thrones universe in an entirely different direction. Based on George R.R. Martin's Dunk and Egg novellas, it's a smaller, warmer, more character-focused story set 90 years before the original series — a hedge knight and his young squire travelling Westeros through tournaments and moral dilemmas, with none of the dynastic carnage fans might expect.
If you only have time for one series this month, The Pitt is the critical consensus pick. Industry rewards viewers who've already invested in its characters and world. And A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the rare Game of Thrones entry that might actually please viewers who burned out on the franchise — recommend it to anyone who wanted more heart and less war.
1
The Pitt Season 2
2025star8.7SeriesHBO Max
Drama
Returning to the high-stakes corridors of a Pittsburgh hospital, The Pitt kicks off its second season on January 8th on HBO Max. This gritty medical drama continues to follow Dr. Michael Pittman and his resilient team as they navigate a gruelling 15-hour shift where the line between life and death is razor thin. By blending modern healthcare crises with deeply personal character arcs, the show maintains a breathless ticking-clock energy that feels incredibly authentic. Personal struggles collide with professional responsibility throughout the season's relentless, intense drama.
“Ranked the number one must-watch premiere of the month across HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, and Paramount+ combined.”
4
Industry Season 4
2020star6.8SeriesHBO Max
Drama
The high-finance sharks of Pierpoint are back for more toxic dealings when Industry Season 4 arrives on January 11th on HBO Max. This season shifts focus to a globe-trotting cat-and-mouse game involving a splashy new fintech darling and the ever-complicated duo of Harper and Yasmin. As the pressure of money and power threatens to ignite their twisted friendship, ambition intensifies as characters risk everything to stay on top. Every deal carries consequences and loyalty is constantly tested as the show sharpens its dark tone and relentless energy.
“The sharpest, most cynical portrait of modern corporate greed on television just got more dangerous.”
8
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
2026star8.5SeriesHBO Max
DramaSci-Fi & FantasyAction & Adventure
Westeros grows a little more intimate with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, premiering January 18th on HBO Max. Based on George R.R. Martin's Dunk and Egg novellas, this Game of Thrones prequel follows a humble hedge knight and his young squire as they travel the seven kingdoms nearly a century before the main series. Unlike its predecessor's sprawling scale, this show offers a more character-focused chivalric adventure filled with heart and honour — smaller in scale, with a slower novella-like rhythm emphasising humor, moral dilemmas, and buddy-adventure vibes between Dunk and Egg.
“The Game of Thrones universe finally gets the intimate, character-driven prequel fans have been waiting for.”
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