Those of you who have New Year’s Day off can celebrate by kicking back on the couch and enjoying some good TV. Netflix, in particular, has many new and classic series in its digital library that you can watch to enjoy the holidays and prepare for 2026.
Some of these Netflix shows are simple watches that have long been part of perfect television. Others have new seasons scheduled to be released later in the new year. Whatever your 2026 resolution, be sure to check out these must-watch shows on Netflix on January 1st.
Stranger Things (2016–2025)
Netflix will start the new year with the end Stranger Things. This sci-fi streaming sensation is set to release its final episode, The right side upon December 31st. While some of you may be planning to go out on New Year’s Eve, you can still catch this exciting series finale on Netflix the next morning.
Until now, Stranger Things Season 5 featured the return of Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) as he begins kidnapping children all over Hawkins, including Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Nancy’s (Natalia Dyer) little sister Holly (Nell Fisher). We’ve also seen Will (Noah Schnapp) gain psychic powers and Eleven reunite with her “sister” Kali (Linnea Berthelsen), while Vecna and his monsters rampage through Hawkins.
Even though so much happened in Season 5, the show clearly has many more surprises in store for the audience. The latest trailer for Stranger Things 5, Volume 2 suggests that we’re about to learn so much more about The Upside Down and disprove everything we thought was true in this show. One can only imagine what an overwhelming, heartbreaking ending the two-hour series finale has in store for everyone.
Electricity Stranger Things on Netflix.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (since 2024)
With Season 2 of this live-action remake scheduled to premiere in 2026, there’s no better time to catch up on this story with Season 1 so far. Based on the acclaimed animated series of the same name, Avatar: The Last Airbender reimagines the epic story of young Avatar Aang (Gordon Cormier) as he travels the world with his friends, training to master all four elements to protect the world from the Fire Nation and the evil Fire Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim).
In the first season, Aang, Katara (Kiawentiio) and Sokka (Ian Ousley) traveled to the North Pole to defend the Northern Water Tribe against Admiral Zhao (Ken Leung). As in the original series, next season will introduce Team Avatar to blind earthbender Toph (Miya Cech), who travels the Earth Kingdom and confronts the evil Princess Azula (Elizabeth Yu).
Electricity Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix.
Breaking Bad (2008–2013)
Acclaimed author Vince Gilligan’s latest show, Too manyhas recently become a streaming sensation after premiering on Apple TV in November. Fans of Gilligan’s surreal sci-fi show will also want a look breaking Badthe gritty crime drama that made him a household name.
Many viewers were captivated by the rich, harrowing story of how Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and his former chemistry student Jesse (Aaron Paul) built an illegal drug empire from the ground up. Although it tells a completely different story Too many, breaking Bad remains one of the most gripping and profound television shows in history.
Electricity breaking Bad on Netflix.
Seinfeld (1989-1998)
Classic, nostalgic sitcoms like The honeymooners And The three henchmen are known for broadcasting TV marathons on New Year’s Eve. There’s one show on Netflix that’s sure to be a hilarious blast from the past, and that’s Seinfeld.
Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), George (Jason Alexander), Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Kramer (Michael Richards) have left their mark on popular culture with their hilarious antics and their memorable one-liners and catchphrases Seinfeld. While the show serves as a time capsule of the 1990s, much of the humor remains hysterical and timeless.
Many of you may have had this show in mind so close to Festivus. Regardless, this iconic “show about nothing” is the perfect choice for anyone looking to spend a relaxing day laughing out loud in front of the TV.
Electricity Seinfeld on Netflix.
Bridgerton (2020-present)
Netflix’s popular historical drama, Bridgertonis scheduled to return with the first volume of the fourth season at the end of January. Audiences still have time to learn about the history of the Bridgerton family and their romantic escapades in their alternate version of Regency-era England.
Each season of this series focuses on one of Edmund (Rupert Evans) and Violet Bridgerton’s (Ruth Gemmell) many children on their search for love. So far the series has followed eldest daughter Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor), eldest brother Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and third brother Colin (Luke Newton). The focus of the upcoming fourth season is Benedict (Luke Thompson), the second son of the Bridgerton family.
Electricity Bridgerton on Netflix.
