2026 is looking like an excellent year for game show fans. Networks and streaming platforms have loaded their schedules with new shows, celebrity-hosted revivals, and returning favorites. Here's what you need to watch for.

New Network Premieres

Hollywood Squares (CBS, Nate Burleson and Drew Barrymore) — The celebrity-panel game show returned to CBS in January 2025 with Nate Burleson as host and Drew Barrymore in the center square (she is also an executive producer). Season 2 premiered January 7, 2026, with episodes streaming on Paramount+.

Match Game (ABC, Martin Short) — The comedy-panel game show gets another reboot with SNL legend Martin Short stepping into the host's chair. The show pairs celebrities with contestants in a word-association format. Short's decades of comedic experience make him perfectly suited to manage the banter and energy that Match Game demands.

The Greatest Average American (ABC, Nate Bargatze) — Comedian Nate Bargatze hosts this new trivia game show focusing on everyday American knowledge rather than specialized expertise. The premise: questions are designed to be answerable by the "average" American. It's a fresh take on trivia, emphasizing common knowledge over obscure facts.

Returning Shows

Deal or No Deal (no network announced) — Deal or No Deal Island was cancelled by NBC in December 2025 after two seasons (Season 2 produced David Genat's record $5.8 million win), and its producers have been shopping a revival of the classic studio format to networks since. As of September 2026 no network, date, or host has been announced.

Wheel of Fortune (Syndicated, Ryan Seacrest) — Now into his third season, Ryan Seacrest continues as host of the world's most-watched game show. Expect the same winning format that has sustained the show for over 40 years.

The Price Is Right (CBS, Drew Carey) — Still going strong. Drew Carey's tenure continues, and the show maintains its position as the longest-running game show in American television history (the original daytime version has aired continuously since 1972).

Jeopardy! (Syndicated, Ken Jennings) — Ken Jennings continues as host of the king of quiz shows. Expect tournament play, celebrity Jeopardy episodes, and the usual parade of champions.

Family Feud (Syndicated, Steve Harvey) — Steve Harvey's viral-moment-machine continues to dominate syndication with its simple, survey-based format.

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (ABC, Ryan Seacrest) — ABC has renewed the primetime celebrity edition for a seventh season, premiering Friday, October 2 at 8:00 pm ET, with Vanna White still turning letters and celebrities playing for charity. An earlier run of episodes streamed exclusively on Disney+ before this broadcast season.

Streaming Exclusives and Originals

Peacock — Continuing with its original content strategy, Peacock now carries next-day episodes of Wheel of Fortune (alongside Hulu) and is the streaming home for Deal or No Deal Island reruns. The Floor, meanwhile, is a FOX show, and its sixth season premieres September 23, 2026.

Netflix — Netflix has signaled more game show investment. While specific titles haven't been announced yet, expect at least one or two new originals to premiere in 2026.

Amazon Prime Video — Amazon's Prime Video launched Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? with Travis Kelce in October 2024; no second season has been announced.

What Happened to Some Shows

Card Sharks (ABC) — The 2020s reboot was cancelled after a brief run. The format, while beloved by fans, struggled to find a modern audience.

Why Game Shows Are Hot Again in 2026

Game shows have experienced a genuine renaissance. Several factors are driving this: (1) They're cheap to produce compared to scripted dramas. (2) They're endlessly rebootable — format franchises can be revived with a new host and fresh marketing. (3) They're appointment viewing — families watch together, creating communal moments increasingly rare in the streaming era. (4) They're adaptable to streaming platforms, which lack traditional "appointment viewing" but benefit from binge-friendly catalog content. (5) Celebrity hosts elevate the prestige — when an A-lister hosts a game show, it becomes an event.

The Format Trend

Notice a pattern? Many new shows blend elements from multiple formats. The Greatest Average American takes trivia but focuses on accessibility rather than expertise. Deal or No Deal Island blends reality TV survival with game show luck. The Floor combines trivia with a grid-based strategy element. Networks are experimenting with hybrid formats — game shows that don't fit neatly into the old "quiz show" or "pricing game" or "word game" boxes.

What This Means for Fans

If you're a game show enthusiast, 2026 is stacked. You'll have access to beloved classics (Wheel, Jeopardy, Family Feud, Price Is Right), recent hits (The Floor, Hollywood Squares, Deal or No Deal Island), and brand-new experiments. The streaming wars have made quality game show content a competitive advantage, so expect more investment, bigger budgets, and celebrity talent involved.

New Game Show Formats in 2026

The most visible format changes this year are inside the classics rather than in brand-new titles: Wheel of Fortune's 30-second Fortune Frenzy (Season 44), The Price Is Right's first-ever live episode and Wild Wheel Wednesdays (Season 55), Family Feud's $50,000 Fast Money for its 50th anniversary, and Jeopardy!'s postseason qualification reset. Among newer formats, The Floor (grid-based trivia), The Greatest Average American (common-knowledge trivia), and the ESPN edition of Jeopardy! hosted by Joe Buck are the ones to watch.

Fall 2026 Update (September 5, 2026)

A lot has happened since this guide was first published in March. Deal or No Deal Island was cancelled by NBC in December 2025; a revival of the classic studio version is being shopped to networks, with nothing announced as of September 2026. Wheel of Fortune opens Season 44 on September 14 with a new 30-second Fortune Frenzy round and an interim announcer following Jim Thornton's exit. Jeopardy! returns the same night with a refreshed set, and Family Feud celebrates its 50th anniversary starting September 28 with a $50,000 Fast Money. On the celebrity side, Ben Affleck and Jamie Ding won $1 million on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in July. For every date in one place, see our fall 2026 premiere guide.

Sources (checked September 2026): ABC fall 2026 premiere dates, TV Series Finale (Celebrity Wheel of Fortune renewal), BuzzerBlog