What’s Airing This Month on TV

January television leans heavily on stand-alone storytelling and event-driven programming, and 2026 is no exception. As the industry transitions out of the holiday season, networks and streamers fill the calendar with made-for-TV movies, one-night comedy and music specials, and timely documentaries.

Cable outlets open the month with a steady run of romance-driven TV movies, led by multiple Hallmark Channel premieres spaced across consecutive weekends, along with Lifetime thrillers and relationship dramas. These titles anchor the schedule and provide reliable, appointment-style viewing throughout the month.

At the same time, January brings a noticeable uptick in documentary and performance specials. Public television contributes historical and cultural one-offs, while premium cable and streaming platforms roll out music documentaries, comedy hours, and live or event-style programming designed to cut through the quieter winter landscape.

The final stretch of the month shifts toward awards-season coverage and high-profile live events, including behind-the-scenes specials tied to major ceremonies and sports-entertainment programming that traditionally lands in late January.

What follows is a date-by-date guide to all TV movies and specials confirmed to air this month, organized clearly by category, network, and genre.

Read more:

- The Most Anticipated TV Shows of 2026 (Based on Confirmed Releases)

- Netflix TV Shows to Watch in Early 2026: New Seasons, Finales, and Debuts

- New TV Shows Premiering in January and February 2026: What to Watch First

- TV Shows Ending in 2026: Every Series Confirmed to Wrap Up So Far

- Full List of TV Shows Canceled (So Far), What’s Already Set to End in 2026

Quick breakdown by category

TV Movies (confirmed)

  • Hallmark Channel: Lost in Paradise (Jan. 3), A Melbourne Match (Jan. 10), Love on the Amazon (Jan. 17), Caught by Love (Jan. 24), Missing the Boat (Jan. 31)

  • Lifetime: Stolen Girl (Jan. 3), Accused: The Karen Read Story (Jan. 10), Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted 2 Love (Jan. 31)

One-night specials and event programming (confirmed highlights)

  • PBS: Bombshell (Jan. 6); Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire (Jan. 27)

  • HBO: 33 Photos From the Ghetto (Jan. 27)

  • Netflix: Good Night, and Good Luck: Live from Broadway (Jan. 7); Marcello Hernández: American Boy (Jan. 7); Skyscraper Live (Jan. 23); Take That (Jan. 27); Mike Epps: Delusional (Jan. 27)

  • CBS: Inside the 68th Annual Grammy Awards (Jan. 30)

TV Premiere Schedule for January 2026: Full List of Movies and Specials Airing
Lost in Paradise

January 2026 Schedule: TV Movies and Specials

January 1

Holiday and Event Programming

Date Title Network Category Genre
Jan. 1 New Year’s Day Special Programming Broadcast networks Event Holiday / Live

January 3

TV Movies

Date Title Network Genre
Jan. 3 Lost in Paradise Hallmark Channel Romance
Jan. 3 Stolen Girl Lifetime Thriller / Drama

January 6

Documentary Specials

Date Title Network Category
Jan. 6 Bombshell PBS Documentary

January 7

One-Night Specials

Date Title Network Category
Jan. 7 Good Night, and Good Luck: Live from Broadway Netflix Performance
Jan. 7 Marcello Hernández: American Boy Netflix Comedy

January 10

TV Movies

Date Title Network Genre
Jan. 10 A Melbourne Match Hallmark Channel Romance
Jan. 10 Accused: The Karen Read Story Lifetime Drama

January 17

TV Movies

Date Title Network Genre
Jan. 17 Love on the Amazon Hallmark Channel Romance

January 19

Documentary Specials

Date Title Network Category
Jan. 19 Hoops, Hopes & Dreams Hulu Documentary

January 23

Live / Event Specials

Date Title Network Category
Jan. 23 Skyscraper Live Netflix Live Event

January 24

TV Movies

Date Title Network Genre
Jan. 24 Caught by Love Hallmark Channel Romance

January 27

Documentary and Comedy Specials

Date Title Network Category
Jan. 27 Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire PBS Documentary
Jan. 27 33 Photos From the Ghetto HBO Documentary
Jan. 27 Take That Netflix Music Documentary
Jan. 27 Mike Epps: Delusional Netflix Comedy

January 30

Awards-Season Specials

Date Title Network Category
Jan. 30 Inside the 68th Annual Grammy Awards CBS Entertainment

January 31

TV Movies and Event Programming

Date Title Network Category
Jan. 31 Missing the Boat Hallmark Channel Romance
Jan. 31 WWE Royal Rumble ESPN app Live Event
Jan. 31 Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted 2 Love Lifetime Romance / Drama

Final Take

January 2026 may not deliver blockbuster series premieres, but it offers a steady and varied slate of TV movies and specials. Romance titles dominate cable, documentaries and comedy specials fill midweek gaps, and live events close out the month with momentum heading into February.

As networks finalize additional programming, this schedule will continue to evolve — but this list reflects everything confirmed so far, clearly laid out for easy viewing.