MBC has officially unveiled its high-profile 2026 drama lineup, continuing its legacy as a “drama kingdom” with a diverse slate spanning romance, melodrama, comedy, thriller, action, and even sports-themed stories.
With a mix of award-winning creators and A-list actors, the network is setting strong expectations for the upcoming year.
1. The Judge Returns
- Cast: Ji Sung, Park Hee-soon, Won Jin-ah, Tae Won-seok, Baek Jin-hee, Oh Se-young
- Broadcast: Premieres January 2, 2026
- Creators: Planning Jang Jae-hoon / Directors Lee Jae-jin, Park Mi-yeon / Writer Kim Kwang-min
- Genre: Time-slip legal thriller
Opening the year is The Judge Returns, a dramatic time-slip thriller based on a popular web novel. Ji Sung plays Lee Han-young, a corrupt judge who escapes his life as a “slave to a mega law firm” by traveling 10 years into the past. There, he reinvents himself to stand against powerful evil symbolized by Kang Shin-jin (Park Hee-soon).
Fans are already anticipating the explosive acting synergy between the two “trustworthy actors.”
2. In Your Radiant Season
- Cast: Chae Jong-hyeop, Lee Sung-kyung, Lee Mi-sook, Kang Seok-woo, Han Ji-hyun, Oh Ye-ju
- Creators: Planning Namgoong Sung-woo / Directors Jung Sang-hee, Kim Young-jae / Writer Cho Sung-hee
- Genre: Warm, unpredictable romance
A healing romance perfect for winter: a man who lives every day like summer break meets a woman who has locked herself inside winter. Their encounter melts frozen time and opens a warm, tender love story that spans the cold months into spring.
3. The Grand Princess of the 21st Century
- Cast: IU, Byeon Woo-seok, Noh Sang-hyun, Gong Seung-yeon
- Creators: Planning Kang Dae-sun / Directors Park Joon-hwa, Bae Hee-young / Writer Yoo Ah-in
- Genre: Fantasy romance, status-breaking love
One of 2026’s most anticipated titles. Set in a fictional 21st-century constitutional monarchy, IU plays Seong Hee-ju, a wealthy heiress annoyed by her “commoner” legal status. Byeon Woo-seok stars as Yi Ahn-daegun, a prince who owns nothing despite his royal blood.
Their “destiny-twisting, status-breaking” romance is already generating massive buzz, especially with director Park Joon-hwa (Alchemy of Souls, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim) at the helm.
4. Fifties Professionals
- Cast: Shin Ha-kyun, Oh Jung-se, Heo Sung-tae
- Creators: Planning Kwon Sung-chang / Director Han Dong-hwa / Writer Jang Won-seop
- Genre: Action comedy
A gritty yet comedic action series about three middle-aged men who once had serious swagger but life wore them down. Fate pulls them back into motion, leading to chaotic chases, loyalty-driven missions, and the raw charm of “real professionals” halfway through life. Directed by Han Dong-hwa (Bad Guys 2, Navillera, The Good Detective).
5. Married Woman Killer
- Cast: Gong Hyo-jin, Jung Jun-won
- Creators: Planning Kwon Sung-chang / Director Yoon Jong-ho / Writer Kim Eun-hee
- Genre: Lifestyle-action drama
A massive webtoon hit brought to life. Gong Hyo-jin plays Yoo Bo-na, a working mom and five-year wife who is secretly a lethal assassin targeting vicious criminals. After three years of childcare leave, she returns to her dangerous job while juggling family chaos and killer missions.
Jung Jun-won plays her curious husband determined to uncover her secret.
6. Liar
- Cast: Yoo Yeon-seok, Seo Hyun-jin
- Creators: Planning Jang Jae-hoon / Director Cho Young-min / Writer Baek Jae-young
- Genre: Psychological thriller
Yoo Yeon-seok and Seo Hyun-jin reunite after Dr. Romantic in this intense thriller about a man and woman who claim opposite truths about a single shared memory. The two collide mentally and emotionally as they chase the real truth. Directed by Cho Young-min (Eunjong and Sang-yeon), known for delicate, immersive storytelling.
7. Your Ground
- Cast: Gong Myung, Han Hyo-joo
- Creators: Planning Namgoong Sung-woo / Director Lee Sang-yeob / Writer Hwang Hae-yeon
- Genre: Youth sports romance
A once-promising baseball player who quit after a devastating failure meets a former-lawyer-turned-sports-agent. Together, they embark on a journey toward a second chance on the field. The premise draws comparisons to Jerry Maguire and aims to blend sports passion with heartfelt romance. Director Lee Sang-yeob previously helmed Yumi’s Cells.
A Year Built on Ambition and Diversity
An MBC representative stated: “We curated the 2026 lineup with the goal of delivering the highest-quality dramas across varied genres. With top-tier actors and production teams, we will continue our legacy as the ‘drama kingdom.’”
The year will officially kick off with the premiere of Judge Lee Han-young on January 2, 2026.
Sources: Sports Donga,MBC