The competition has never been so tough in the television and streaming industry. Ratings decide everything in this war for viewers’ attention, which means even a good TV show could fall victim to the network’s or streamer’s harsh decisions. In 2026, several TV shows got the short end of the stick, either due to their low viewership numbers or the network’s decision to turn its focus elsewhere.
From NBC’s medical procedural to The CW’s Leighton Meester-led police drama, here are 10 TV shows that were canceled this year. Some of these stories were left on a cliffhanger, making the cancellations frustrating for viewers who invested their time in these TV shows.
Spoiler Alert !!!Since we discuss how these canceled shows end, there are major spoilers ahead!
1. Brilliant Minds (NBC)
Zachary Quinto as Oliver Wolf in Brilliant Minds | Credits: NBC
Star Trek star Zachary Quinto‘s medical drama Brilliant Minds has been canceled after two seasons at NBC. The announcement came on May 1, 2026, as the network decided not to renew the show for the 2026–2027 season (via Deadline). It appears that the show did not have enough standout factors to compete with long-running dramas like Grey’s Anatomy or the sensational Emmy-winning show The Pitt.
The show followed a gifted neurologist, Dr. Oliver Wolf, who leads a team of interns and treats patients with complex neurological and psychological conditions at Bronx General Hospital. The final six episodes of the show will air from May 27 to July 1, 2026.
2. Law & Order: Organized Crime (NBC/Peacock)
Christopher Meloni’s return as Elliot Stabler was cut short after NBC announced the cancellation of Law & Order: Organized Crime. The primary reason NBC did not move forward with a new season was the show’s fading viewership. Frequent leadership changes might have also contributed to the decision.
Earlier, the fifth-season finale ended with a major tragedy for the Stabler family. Elliot’s brother, Joe Jr., was murdered by crime boss Julian Emery for working with the police. However, he had mailed a flash drive to Stabler that proved Emery’s criminal activities. Joe Jr.’s final act before his death helped Stabler to arrest Emery and put him away in prison. Meloni’s latest appearance as Stabler came in the Law & Order: SVU Season 27 premiere, where he and Olivia Benson were met with the tragic news of the passing of their old unit captain, Donald Cragen.
3. Spartacus: House of Ashur (Starz)
This Spartacus sequel is not moving beyond a single season. Starz canceled the series, which followed Ashur in an alternate timeline in which he was not killed on Mount Vesuvius. While Steven S. DeKnight confirmed that they had a written script for Season 2, the show was canceled on May 22, 2026 (via TV Insider).
The season finale saw the ultimate betrayal from Caesar, who reneged on his promise to build a grand arena. An enraged Ashur attacked Caesar, resulting in a long fight between the two. Ashur killed Caesar by stabbing him and then striking his head with a sword. Ashur then uttered the iconic line, “Hail, Caesar,” hinting at the massive consequences that would follow. However, we will never get to see what happens after that in this alternate timeline.
4. Good Cop/Bad Cop (The CW)
Leighton Meester in Good Cop/Bad Cop | Credits: The CW
Good Cop/Bad Cop had no chance, given the wide variety of police procedurals on television right now. Nevertheless, we loved seeing Leighton Meester in the lead role in this genre. Neither her appeal nor the show’s fresh approach to the genre helped it survive The CW’s network overhaul plans.
Lou and her brother Henry come upon a shocking cold case that could lay bare some of Eden Vale’s darkest secrets. While the events are interesting, we never see the case resolved, as the show ends on a major cliffhanger. We really hope the show gets picked up by another network, even though the possibility is slim.
5. Watson (CBS)
Morris Chestnut in Watson | Credits: CBS
Inspired by the world of Sherlock Holmes, Watson followed the famous sidekick, Dr. John Watson, as the protagonist, solving medical mysteries. Morris Chestnut took on the central role, and the show ran for two seasons before CBS pulled the plug. It just didn’t draw enough viewers to justify its continuation amid CBS’s programming refresh.
The real Sherlock Holmes reappears before the finale with amnesia. Watson tries to figure out the cause of Sherlock’s condition before he goes into surgery for a brain tumor. He eventually discovers that they were both exposed to radioactive material, causing their respective ailments. Watson’s condition worsens, and his chances of survival are slim. The ending cuts to an epilogue in which Watson and his ex-wife reunite to live happily together.
6. The Copenhagen Test (Peacock)
Simu Liu in The Copenhagen Test (2025) | Credits: Peacock
The Copenhagen Test starred Simu Liu and Melissa Barrera in the lead roles. In the first season of this Peacock original, Liu’s central character is subjected to psychological testing intended to explore human behavior under pressure. In the finale, Alexander learns that his brain wasn’t hacked by Schiff, but by his mentor, Victor.
He orchestrated the hack to maneuver Alexander into position inside The Orphanage, and Victor was also the one who set the original Copenhagen Test. He shows Alexander an underground bunker that monitors many similarly hacked individuals. One of them is shown watching Michelle. The discovery that there are more hacked people within the agency could have made for a compelling Season 2. Despite the positive feedback for its niche concept, low viewership resulted in its cancellation.
7. Palm Royale (Apple TV)
Leslie Bibb in Palm Royale Season 2 (2025) | Image via Apple TV
Palm Royale had solid content and a talented group of leads, but Apple TV didn’t allow it to run past two seasons. Kristen Wiig‘s 1960s-set drama explores her character’s ambitions to elevate her social status and join elite high society. While the series received a lot of recognition, it didn’t perform well with general audiences, and the streamer eventually canceled it (via THR).
Season 2 ended on a cliffhanger after giving everyone the happy ending they deserved. Ricky Martin’s Robert and Wiig’s Maxine get married so that he can gain custody of his son. We meet Robert’s son, Rafael, only briefly in the series, but the finale reveals the twist that Rafael might not be who he appears to be. We will never know what the story behind Rafael would have been.
8. Going Dutch (Fox)
Denis Leary and Danny Pudi in a still from Going Dutch | Credits: Fox
The army-based sitcom Going Dutch, starring Denis Leary, Taylor Misiak, Danny Pudi, Laci Mosley, and Hal Cumpston, has been canceled after two seasons on Fox. The premise of the show explores Leary’s Colonel Patrick Quinn, who is reassigned to lead Garrison Stroopsdorf, the least important army base in the world, in the Netherlands. He has to work with the base’s former leader, who also happens to be his estranged daughter, Maggie.
The show’s likable ensemble had potential for more seasons, but the viewership didn’t sway things in its favor. In the finale, Maggie comes up with a plan to thwart General Martin’s attempts to seize control of the base and fire the entire staff. It shows how the team unites to save their base and their jobs.
9. The Abandons (Netflix)
Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson butting heads in this 1850s-set Western drama caught everyone’s attention at one point. However, what Netflix’s The Abandons offered was a lackluster genre experience. The characters were poorly written, and the story lacked originality. Eventually, the streamer canceled the show after just one season.
The land war between the Abandons family and the powerful Van Ness dynasty in Angel’s Ridge reached an explosive finale. In the final episode, Fiona and Constance engage in a brutal fight amid the burning Van Ness estate. In an ambiguous final shot, only one of the women makes it out alive. We will probably never know who survived that battle.
10. Gen V (Prime Video)
A still from The Boys spinoff Gen V | Credits: Prime Video
Gen V was a promising spinoff from The Boys universe throughout its two seasons. It followed a group of young supes training at the Vought-run Godolkin University. It never lived up to the hype of its original series, and Prime Video decided not to move forward with the show. While the series seemed poised to have a larger impact on Homelander’s fate, the Gen V story arc ultimately proved irrelevant in The Boys series finale.
In the Gen V Season 2 finale, Marie and her team unite to take down Thomas Godolkin, the founder of their university, who tries to mind-control the student body. Marie’s powers evolve during the final battle with Godolkin, and she makes him explode. She and the rest of her team go into hiding and join Starlight’s resistance.
Canceled TV ShowsNetwork/StreamerBrilliant Minds NBCLaw & Order: Organized CrimeNBC/PeacockSpartacus: House of AshurStarzGood Cop/Bad CopThe CWWatsonCBSThe Copenhagen TestPeacockPalm RoyaleApple TVGoing DutchFoxThe AbandonsNetflixGen VPrime Video
Which of these shows do you think was unfairly canceled? Let us know in the comments below!
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