Searching for new Korean dramas in 2026 gives you a dozen lists that all say roughly the same thing and none of them tell you when anything actually airs. By the time you have cross-checked three articles, you have lost the evening.
What most people want is simpler. A month, a title, a platform, and whether it is out yet. Here is the second half of 2026 laid out that way.
The second half of 2026 is unusually crowded, with Netflix and Disney+ both expanding their Korean slates.
Confirmed dates run from July through November, with several titles still date-pending.
The Scandal on 18 September is the next major confirmed premiere.
Second half of 2026, month by month
| Date | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 18 July | Spooky in Love | Park Eun-bin, Yang Se-jong, Ong Seong-wu — weekly release |
| July | Agent Kim Reactivated | SBS title |
| August | Our Sticky Love | Jung Hae-in, Ha Young |
| 29 August | Four Hands Two Sonatas | Song Kang — 12 episodes, 70-minute runtime |
| August (expected) | Mousetrap | Crime thriller, webtoon adaptation |
| 18 September | The Scandal | Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook — 8 episodes |
| 30 Oct or 20 Nov | Untitled crime thriller | Son Suk-ku with Nagayama Eita |
| H2 2026 | Portraits of Delusion | Disney+ — Son Ye-jin as Madam Jo, late Joseon |
Two things stand out. Son Ye-jin appears twice in the same window — in The Scandal on Netflix and Portraits of Delusion on Disney+, both period pieces. And the October/November thriller still has two competing dates in circulation, which usually means the platform has not locked it publicly.
What has already aired
If you are catching up rather than looking forward, July and August are done. Spooky in Love released weekly from 18 July, so the full run is available by now. Four Hands Two Sonatas began 29 August with 70-minute episodes — a long runtime for a Korean drama, closer to a film per episode.
Song Kang’s return in that title is worth flagging for viewers who followed his earlier Netflix work. Twelve episodes at 70 minutes is a substantial commitment.
What is still coming
The Scandal on 18 September is the next dated premiere. Eight episodes, historical romance, adapted from a 2003 Korean film.
After that the calendar thins out into titles without firm dates. The Son Suk-ku international thriller has two candidate dates and a Japanese co-lead, which suggests a cross-market release rather than a Korea-first one.
Portraits of Delusion on Disney+ is set in the late Joseon period with Son Ye-jin as a noblewoman. This is the title to watch if you want sageuk rather than contemporary romance.
Why the platforms matter now
Until recently, tracking Korean dramas meant tracking Netflix. That is no longer sufficient. Disney+ has expanded its Korean slate for 2026 across romance, thriller and historical genres.
The practical effect is that a single platform subscription no longer covers the year’s notable releases. Deciding what to watch increasingly means deciding what to subscribe to.
How to read release dates
A few things save confusion later.
- Netflix originals release worldwide on the same date — no regional delay
- Broadcast titles (SBS, tvN, JTBC) may reach international platforms later
- Two competing dates in circulation usually means nothing is locked publicly
- Weekly vs full drop is often announced close to release, not at announcement
In short
The second half of 2026 runs from Spooky in Love in July through an untitled Son Suk-ku thriller in late autumn. The next dated premiere is The Scandal on 18 September.
The bigger shift is platform. Netflix no longer holds the calendar alone — Disney+ has a competing Korean slate, including a late-Joseon period drama with Son Ye-jin.
Frequently asked questions
What is the next major K-drama premiere?
The Scandal on 18 September 2026, starring Son Ye-jin and Ji Chang-wook. It runs eight episodes and is a historical romance adapted from a 2003 Korean film.
Is everything on Netflix?
No. Disney+ has expanded its Korean slate for 2026, including Portraits of Delusion, a late-Joseon period drama with Son Ye-jin. A single subscription no longer covers the year’s notable releases.
Do Netflix K-dramas release worldwide at the same time?
Netflix originals do. Broadcast titles that later reach international platforms may arrive weeks or months after the Korean airdate, so the distinction matters when tracking dates.
Why do some titles have two different dates listed?
Competing dates in circulation usually mean the platform has not locked the release publicly. Treat those entries as provisional until a single date is confirmed.
What is Four Hands Two Sonatas?
A music romance starring Song Kang that began on 29 August 2026. It runs twelve episodes with 70-minute runtimes, which is long for a Korean drama and closer to a film per episode.
Is Son Ye-jin in two dramas this year?
Yes. She leads The Scandal on Netflix and appears as the noblewoman Madam Jo in Portraits of Delusion on Disney+. Both are period pieces released in the same window.
