BBC confirms the future of Doctor Who with a 2026 Christmas special written by Russell T Davies following Disney+ partnership ending.
The BBC has officially confirmed that Doctor Who will return for a brand-new Christmas special in 2026, ensuring the beloved sci-fi series remains a cornerstone of British television for years to come. The special episode will once again be written by showrunner Russell T Davies, continuing his acclaimed run at the helm of the long-running franchise.
Following confirmation that Disney+ will no longer partner with the BBC on future Doctor Who seasons, the network emphasized its full commitment to keeping the Doctor’s adventures alive. The BBC will reveal detailed plans for the next series soon, guaranteeing that the TARDIS remains firmly at the heart of the broadcaster’s drama slate.
Lindsay Salt, Director of Drama at the BBC, expressed gratitude toward Disney+ for its collaboration over the past two seasons, including the upcoming Doctor Who special “The War Between the Land and the Sea.” She reaffirmed that the BBC has no plans to slow down the iconic series, saying, “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.”
Before next year’s holiday return, Doctor Who fans still have plenty to look forward to. The upcoming special The War Between the Land and the Sea is set to debut on BBC iPlayer and BBC One later this year. Additionally, a new animated series for CBeebies is currently in development, promising to introduce younger audiences to the world of the Doctor in a whole new way.
The 2026 Doctor Who Christmas special will be produced by Bad Wolf and BBC Studios for the BBC. With Davies once again writing the festive adventure, anticipation is already high for what promises to be another unforgettable journey through time and space.
