PBS March 2026 TV Schedule: Masterpiece, Nova, Frontline & Must-Watch Documentaries
PBS March 2026 TV Schedule

PBS NewsHour (Weekdays – 6:00 PM ET)

Official site: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/

Program: PBS NewsHour
Anchor team continues weekday national coverage with extended reporting blocks.

March coverage typically includes:

  • U.S. federal budget developments

  • Supreme Court session analysis

  • Global diplomacy updates

  • Economic outlook reporting

Unlike commercial network evening news, PBS NewsHour runs a full uninterrupted hour with long-form interviews.

Sunday Primetime: Masterpiece (9:00 PM ET)

Official site: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/

Confirmed and ongoing Masterpiece titles in early 2026 include:

  • “All Creatures Great and Small” (Season continuation)

  • “Miss Scarlet” (New season episodes)

  • “Grantchester” (Latest season run)

March episodes typically represent midseason turning points or penultimate episodes before spring finales.

Masterpiece remains PBS’s most-watched scripted block and often drives Passport streaming subscriptions.

Wednesday Science Block

Nature (8:00 PM ET)

Official site: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/

Recent and continuing Nature titles include:

  • “Nature: Big Cats, Small World”

  • “Nature: Arctic Drift”

  • “Nature: Equus – Story of the Horse” (rebroadcast cycle)

March programming frequently aligns with seasonal environmental themes and wildlife migrations.

Nova (9:00 PM ET)

Official site: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/

Current and recurring Nova titles include:

  • “Nova: AI Revolution”

  • “Nova: Secrets of the Sun”

  • “Nova: Ancient Builders of the Amazon”

March episodes often focus on science innovation, space research updates, or climate modeling.

The back-to-back Nature and Nova pairing creates PBS’s strongest educational primetime block.

Investigative Documentary: Frontline

Official site: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/

Recent and continuing Frontline investigations include:

  • “Frontline: Inside the U.S. Border Crisis”

  • “Frontline: Putin and the West” (updated editions)

  • “Frontline: America’s Medical Supply Crisis”

Frontline episodes typically run 60–120 minutes and are heavily cited in academic and policy discussions.

March often features newly produced investigative specials rather than reruns.

Arts & Performance Programming

Great Performances

Official site: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/

Recent and ongoing titles include:

  • “Great Performances: Purlie Victorious”

  • “Great Performances at the Met”

  • “Great Performances: Broadway’s Best”

These specials usually air Friday evenings or Sunday afternoons depending on station.

American Masters

Official site: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/

Recent documentary profiles include:

  • “American Masters: Little Richard – The King and Queen of Rock and Roll”

  • “American Masters: Buffy Sainte-Marie”

March programming may include artist retrospectives aligned with cultural observances.

History & Cultural Documentary Strands

American Experience

Official site: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/

Recent episodes include:

  • “American Experience: The Sun Queen”

  • “American Experience: Plague at the Golden Gate”

March programming often features historical deep-dives tied to education curricula.

PBS Kids Daily Lineup

Official site: https://pbskids.org/

Popular titles continuing into 2026 include:

  • “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood”

  • “Wild Kratts”

  • “Arthur” (specials and reruns)

  • “Alma’s Way”

  • “Work It Out Wombats!”

PBS Kids remains commercial-free and research-based, distinguishing it from commercial children’s blocks.

Sample Weekly PBS Schedule (Eastern Time)

Monday–Friday
6:00 PM – PBS NewsHour

Tuesday
8:00 PM – Frontline

Wednesday
8:00 PM – Nature
9:00 PM – Nova

Friday
Evening – Great Performances or American Masters

Sunday
9:00 PM – Masterpiece

Morning (Daily)
PBS Kids block featuring Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Wild Kratts, Alma’s Way and others

Note: Local station variations may apply.

How to Watch PBS in March 2026

Free via antenna:

PBS member stations broadcast nationwide in HD.

Streaming:

https://www.pbs.org/
PBS Video app
PBS Kids app

Passport membership (donor-supported) unlocks extended seasons and archives.

Why PBS’s March Lineup Stands Out

In March 2026, PBS offers:

  • Long-form journalism through PBS NewsHour and Frontline

  • International prestige drama via Masterpiece

  • Science and environmental storytelling via Nova and Nature

  • Cultural depth through Great Performances and American Masters

  • Research-backed children’s education via PBS Kids

While commercial networks focus on ratings spikes and live competitions, PBS prioritizes educational value and long-form storytelling.