Get ready, K-drama fans! Disney+ is gearing up to make 2026 an unforgettable year filled with stories that will make your heart race, your mind spin and your binge-watch skills truly shine. From swoon-worthy royal romances to gripping thrillers and exciting Korea-Japan collaborations, these 7 new dramas are already stealing the spotlight and begging to be added to your watchlist.
Perfect Crown
IU and Byeon Woo-seok team up in Perfect Crown, a romance set in an alternate version of modern Korea that runs under a constitutional monarchy. The story follows two people who live completely different lives but carry the same hidden wounds.
IU plays Sung Hee-joo, a chaebol heiress known for her beauty, intelligence and ambition. She has everything except one thing. Her status is that of a commoner, and it keeps her trapped behind an invisible line. Determined to break through it, she decides to enter a contract marriage. Byeon Woo-seok portrays Grand Prince Yi-wan, a royal who technically has everything but lives with nothing. As the second son, he grew up forbidden from outshining or even speaking louder than the crown prince. He spends his life holding back his true thoughts while hiding a passionate heart.
Hee-joo and Yi-wan come from opposite worlds but share the same frustrations. As their paths cross, they face the pain they have carried alone and discover emotions they have never allowed themselves to feel. The drama is directed by Park Joon-hwa of What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim and Alchemy of Souls. Writer Yu Ain, who earned the Excellence Award at the 2022 MBC Drama Script Competition for this project, penned the script.
Perfect Crown premieres on MBC and Disney+ in 2026.
Portraits of Delusion
Suzy and Kim Seon-ho reunite in Portraits of Delusion, a period mystery thriller based on the popular webtoon. The story takes place in 1935 Gyeongseong and centers on the secrets hidden inside a strange hotel.
Suzy plays Song Jeong-hwa, the mysterious owner of the Nammoon Hotel. She has not been seen in public for over 50 years, and people whisper endless rumors about her true identity. Her beauty and eerie charm only thicken the mystery. Kim Seon-ho plays Yun Iho, a struggling artist commissioned to paint her portrait. As he spends more time with Jeong-hwa, his passion for art returns. Although he’s trapped inside the hotel while fear and confusion consume him, he finds himself drawn to her in ways he cannot explain.
Director Han Jae-rim, known for The King, Emergency Declaration and The 8 Show, leads the project. Fans of Start-Up (2020) will recognize this as a long-awaited reunion between Suzy and Kim Seon-ho.
Portraits of Delusion is currently in production and is set for release in the second half of 2026. Read here to know more about the Portraits of Delusion!
The Remarried Empress
The Remarried Empress is based on the bestselling web novel and tells a fantasy romance within a powerful monarchy.
Shin Min-ah stars as Navier, the beloved and perfect empress of the Eastern Empire. She is intelligent, graceful and admired by all. But her world crumbles when Emperor Sovieshu, who grew up with her and once promised loyalty, demands a divorce after breaking his vow never to take a concubine. Although devastated, Navier quickly regains her footing and requests remarriage to Prince Heinrey of the Western Empire. Ju Ji-hoon plays Emperor Sovieshu, a powerful ruler with absolute authority shaped through years of education alongside Navier. His sudden decision to abandon his promise becomes the spark that changes their lives and the kingdom.
Lee Jong-suk plays Heinrey, the crown prince of the Western Empire. Surrounded by rumors and carrying a secret, he approaches Navier with hidden motives. But over time, he finds himself genuinely falling for her. Lastly, Lee Se-young completes the main cast as Rashta, a runaway slave known for her beauty. When she discovers that the man who saved her in the hunting grounds is none other than the Emperor Sovieshu, she begins longing for a life she never thought possible.
The Remarried Empress will stream exclusively on Disney+ in the second half of 2026.
A Shop for Killers 2
Based on a novel by The Killer’s Shopping List author Kang Ji-young, A Shop for Killers 2 revealed returning cast and an expanded world full of new enemies.
The story continues after Jung Ji-an, played by Kim Hye-jun, protects her uncle’s inheritance in Season 1. Season 2 throws her back into danger as skilled killers target her once again. Lee Dong-wook returns as Jung Jin-man, with even greater mystery and even bigger action. Viewers who celebrated his unexpected return at the end of Season 1 will finally learn the reason behind it. The production team also described how Kim Hye-jun trained with real firearms loaded with blanks and how Lee Dong-wook pushed himself through grueling action scenes that demanded everything from him.
Season 2 expands its plot through the hidden organization, Babylon. Viewers will meet the Japanese mercenary siblings sent by Babylon, who share a past connection with Jin-man and are now hunting him. New cast members include Hyunri from Pachinko, who plays Q, the leader of Babylon East Asia’s mercenary division. Masaki Okada from Oscar-nominated Drive My Car joins as her younger brother and co-leader, J. Lastly, Jung Yun-ha (Exhuma, Big Bet and Trunk) appears as Kusanagi, the head of Babylon’s East Asia branch.
A Shop for Killers 2 arrives on Disney+ in the second half of 2026.
Gold Land
Park Bo-young, Kim Sung-cheol and Lee Hyun-wook come together in Gold Land, a tense drama about greed.
The story follows Kim Hee-joo, played by Park Bo-young, a security screening officer at an international airport. Her life changes when gold bars tied to an illegal smuggling ring accidentally fall into her possession. Even though she knows the gold is not hers, a quiet voice inside her starts to wonder what would happen if she keeps it. That small thought slowly grows and pulls her deeper into danger.
Kim Sung-cheol plays Jang-wook, also known as Woo-gi, a debt collector and a low-level member of a loan shark ring. When he learns that Hee-joo has the smuggled gold, he approaches her pretending to help, masking his own plan to grab the gold for himself. Lee Hyun-wook plays Lee Do-kyung, a co-pilot and Hee-joo’s lover. He unintentionally drags her into the smuggling case. His motive makes us question if he genuinely loves her or if she’s only a tool in his plan. His character highlights how greed can drive a person to choices they never imagined.
Gold Land will premiere on Disney+ in 2026.
Merry Berry Love
Merry Berry Love brings together Ji Chang-wook and Japanese rising star Imada Mio in a Korea-Japan joint drama co-produced by CJ ENM, Nippon TV and Disney+.
The story takes place on a mysterious Japanese island and follows the romance between Korean space planner Lee Yoo-bin and Japanese strawberry farmer Shirahama Karin. Ji Chang-wook plays Yoo-bin, whose once-promising career completely falls apart. Imada Mio plays Karin, who lives a simple life as a farmer.
Merry Berry Love will stream on Disney+ and Nippon TV.
Made in Korea
Made in Korea confirmed its premiere schedule and Season 2 production, which will air next year, making it one of the most anticipated Disney+ dramas of the year.
The series follows Baek Ki-tae, played by Hyun Bin, a man chasing wealth and power in the turbulent 1970s. He clashes with prosecutor Jang Geon-young, played by Jung Woo-sung, who sacrifices everything to stop him. Their conflict leads them straight into a major historical event. Meanwhile, Woo Do-hwan takes on the role of Baek Ki-tae’s younger brother.
This project is the first OTT (over-the-top) series for director Woo Min-ho (Harbin), Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung. It is also Hyun Bin’s first drama since Crash Landing on You in 2019.
Season 1 will premiere on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) with two episodes, two more on New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31), and the remaining episodes will be released weekly.
Watch Made in Korea’s first teaser below:
Which of these Disney+ K-dramas is jumping straight onto your 2026 watchlist? Let us know on Instagram and Twitter/X!
Featured Image Credit: Disney+
