Doctor Who fans around the world can relax as the Doctor isn’t going anywhere, for now.
The BBC has officially confirmed a brand-new holiday special is coming in 2026, with Russell T Davies once again at the helm as writer.
While Disney+ will not be partnering on the next season, the BBC made it clear they remain fully committed to the iconic sci-fi series and will reveal future plans soon.
In the meantime, there’s still plenty to look forward to.
The War Between the Land and the Sea, a major new episode, is set to drop later this year on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK. It will still air as planned in the US and elsewhere outside the UK on Disney+.
Plus, a brand-new animated series aimed at younger fans is in development for CBeebies, giving a whole new generation a way into the Whoniverse.
Russell T Davies’ return to Doctor Who has brought fresh energy to the long-running series, and fans can expect more of his signature storytelling in the upcoming Christmas special.
Produced by Bad Wolf and BBC Studios, the 2026 holiday episode promises to be another event fans won’t want to miss.
Lindsay Salt, Director of Drama, BBC said: “We’d like to thank Disney+ for being terrific global partners and collaborators over the past two seasons, and for the upcoming The War Between the Land and the Sea.
“The BBC remains fully committed to Doctor Who, which continues to be one of our most loved dramas, and we are delighted that Russell T Davies has agreed to write us another spectacular Christmas special for 2026.
“We can assure fans, the Doctor is not going anywhere, and we will be announcing plans for the next series in due course which will ensure the TARDIS remains at the heart of the BBC.”
