Apple TV+ Kicks Off 2026 With the Return of Tehran

Apple TV+ isn’t easing into 2026.

Its very first release of the year is the long-awaited return of Tehran, one of the platform’s most acclaimed international thrillers. Season three begins streaming today, with the premiere episode landing first and new episodes arriving every Friday through February 27.

For fans who’ve been waiting more than three years since the explosive season two finale, this finally brings one of Apple’s most intense shows back into the spotlight.

Season Three Has Been Waiting a Long Time

What makes this return especially strange is that season three of Tehran was filmed and completed more than four years ago. The season was originally expected to arrive sometime in 2023.

It didn’t.

The delay wasn’t about production problems or creative issues. It was about timing. The series deals directly with espionage, Mossad operations, and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and Apple chose to hold the release as real-world events in Israel and Palestine escalated.

Even now, with the Gaza conflict still ongoing, Apple has finally decided it’s time. The season has already aired in full on Israeli network KAN 11, which co-produces the show alongside Apple.

Now it’s finally getting its global Apple TV+ debut.

Hugh Laurie Joins the Cast

Season three adds a major new name to the show.

Hugh Laurie joins the cast as a South African nuclear inspector, a role that immediately raises the stakes in a series already built around international power, intelligence agencies, and nuclear threats.

Meanwhile, Niv Sultan returns as Tamar, the Mossad hacker who went rogue in the season two finale. This time around, she’s forced to navigate the consequences of her actions and find a way back into the organization she betrayed.

Alliances shift. Loyalties get tested. And the pressure is higher than ever.

Despite the long gap, Apple has already renewed Tehran for a fourth season, which tells you exactly how confident it is in the show’s continued appeal.

You Can Catch Up Right Now

If you haven’t seen Tehran yet, or need a refresher, seasons one and two are streaming now on Apple TV+. Season three will roll out weekly through the end of February.

And if you’re not already subscribed, Apple still offers a seven-day free trial, which is just enough time to get dangerously hooked.

The Bigger Apple TV+ Lineup for Early 2026

Tehran isn’t just a one-off return. It’s the opening move in Apple TV+’s packed 2026 slate.

Here’s what’s coming over the next few months:

Next week:
Hijack season two, starring Idris Elba, brings back Apple’s high-altitude thriller.
The week after:
Drops of God season two continues the acclaimed wine-soaked drama.
End of January:
Shrinking season three returns with more therapy, chaos, and emotional damage.
February:
The Last Thing He Told Me comes back.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters continues Apple’s Godzilla universe.
And A24’s romantic comedy Eternity arrives on February 13, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
March 18:
The first brand-new Apple TV+ series of the year premieres with Imperfect Women, starring Elisabeth Moss and Kerry Washington.

And that’s just the start.

Apple executives have already promised that new releases will arrive almost every week of 2026, with more originals set to be announced soon.

Why Tehran Is the Perfect Opener

Starting the year with Tehran sends a clear message.

Apple TV+ isn’t playing it safe. It’s leaning into global stories, political thrillers, and prestige international dramas right out of the gate.

After years of delays, Tehran is finally back. And now it’s leading Apple’s most ambitious content year yet.

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Jamie Spencer

Jamie has been blogging about tech, making money online and entrepreneurship for the past 12 years. He is the proud owner of hugely successful website makeawebsitehub.com and has helped over 20k people start their own blogs.