Calendars may flip, but never our fealty to our favorite shows. This January, fans of several acclaimed and long-running titles have plenty of reasons to celebrate with new episodes streaming on Disney+.
Make the most of the anticipation by channeling the excitement into the energy you want to manifest this 2026. Do you want your year to be fast-paced and thrilling like 9-1-1, or laid-back and amusing like Phineas and Ferb? The choice, and the vibe, is entirely up to you, based on your watchlist staples returning from winter hiatus.
Sharp and electrifying
If your 2025 felt stale, ramp up the pace for a more exciting year. Think of the extraordinary and eccentric Morgan Gillory, a cleaning lady for the LAPD recruited as an investigative consultant in the crime-dramady series High Potential. Played by the brilliant Kaitlin Olson, the single mother of three with a genius-level IQ of 160 finds herself solving crimes using her photographic memory and impeccable calculations. High Potential returned on Disney+ with its midseason now available to stream, picking up from the cliffhanger involving the stolen $20-million Rembrandt painting.
Other shows that inspire you to go full throttle this year are the returning 9-1-1 and its newest spinoff, 9-1-1: Nashville,with new episodes, respectively, now available on Disney+. The high-octane drama franchise follows different first responders in their day jobs as life-savers and personal lives as normal people with complex relationships. The flagship series 9-1-1 returned with the 7th episode of Season 9, where long-kept secrets come to light. Meanwhile, 9-1-1: Nashville circled back to the massive cyberattack that debilitated the entire city in the latest episode of its debut season.
Wholesome and amusing
Being more relaxed and open to new experiences ranks among the most popular New Year’s resolutions. Even when things don’t go our way, there’s still triumph in struggles, a valuable lesson promoted in the critically-acclaimed mockumentary Abott Elementary. Created by and starring Quinta Brunson, the show centers on a group of dedicated, underfunded teachers in a fictional public school in Philadelphia, who do their best despite having limited resources. They make their way back with a new episode, titled “Mall,” this January on Disney+, which introduces a major shift in the series’ status quo.
Then there’s the returning animated musical-comedy series Phineas and Ferb, which is also a vibe inspiration for 2026, by teaching everyone to make the most of every moment. The show is about two inventive stepbrothers with boundless imagination who try to make their 104 days of summer vacation the best one ever. Phineas and Ferb returned after a ten-year hiatus last June, and dishes out new episodes on Disney+ starting January 16.
Esteemed and enduring
If you’re entering 2026 with big plans, forget short-term resolutions and go for major milestones. Separate yourself from the rest of the field and build a lasting legacy, just like the much-loved, long-running shows The Simpsons and Grey’s Anatomy.
Homer and the rest of Springfield show no signs of slowing down as they present fresh content on their 36th year, with the latest episode streaming on Disney+ since January 4. Then, Grey’s Anatomy extends its title of “longest-running scripted prime-time medical drama” to 2026 with the 7th episode of its 22nd season, titled Skyfall. It’s another high-stakes story that takes off from Jo Wilson’s sudden cardiac collapse during the winter finale.
This January, Disney+ proves how your favorite returning shows can also double as your mood board for the entire year. Check out the new offerings and more by subscribing today. Follow Disney+ Philippines on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, and TikTok.
