Netflix horror series hailed as the best show of 2026 is ideal for a late-night binge
If you’re looking for something suitably eerie to watch late into the night, Netflix has a strong contender. Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire has returned with a new season in 2026, and fans online are already calling it one of the best shows of the year.
With wet weather putting a dampener on bank holiday plans in many parts of the country, settling down with a gripping horror series could be the perfect alternative. And for viewers who want something atmospheric, dramatic and unsettling, this vampire saga has plenty to offer.
The series first premiered in 2022, but its latest chapter has pushed it back into the spotlight. Fans discussing their favourite television releases of 2026 have singled it out as a standout, with one viewer even describing the new season as their favourite show of the year.
Fans name it among their top shows of 2026
The praise came during a discussion on Reddit, where one viewer asked for recommendations for the best five series released so far in 2026. They specifically said that continuing shows should also be included and explained that they wanted something absorbing enough to help them switch off from the outside world for the weekend.
One of the recommendations was The Vampire Lestat, the title given to the show’s third season.
Another fan immediately agreed, writing: “Came here to say this! My favourite of this year!”
The response is perhaps unsurprising given the show’s reputation. Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire is based on Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles, the same book series that inspired the well-known 1994 film Interview with the Vampire.
The television series, however, is a completely separate adaptation and has no connection to the 1994 movie.
What is Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire about?
At the heart of the series are two vampires: Louis de Pointe du Lac and Lestat de Lioncourt.
Much of the story is told through Louis recounting his past, including his complicated and often turbulent relationship with Lestat and the consequences that follow when an interview between Louis and journalist Daniel Molloy is published without his permission.
Louis is a 145-year-old vampire who brings Daniel Molloy, played by Eric Bogosian, back to revisit an interview they conducted 49 years earlier.
Their original meeting took place in 1973. During that interview, Daniel is attacked. He eventually publishes a second interview with Louis as the book Interview with the Vampire, despite Louis not giving him permission to do so.
Lestat, meanwhile, is a French vampire who falls in love with Louis after arriving in New Orleans. He is responsible for turning Louis into a vampire.
Following the publication of Daniel’s book, Lestat forms a rock band called The Vampire Lestat.
The story expands in season three
Jacob Anderson plays Louis de Pointe du Lac, while Sam Reid takes on the role of Lestat de Lioncourt.
The first two seasons draw primarily from Anne Rice’s first novel, Interview with the Vampire. The third season, released in 2026, moves on to the second book in The Vampire Chronicles, The Vampire Lestat.
The story is set to continue beyond the current season. A fourth season has already been confirmed under the title Anne Rice’s Queen of the Damned, which will adapt the third novel in the series.
That means there is already another chapter waiting for fans, although it has not yet been released.
A darker and more faithful take on Anne Rice’s work
The television adaptation also explores aspects of Rice’s original work more openly than the 1994 film.
In particular, the series embraces the queer elements of the novels that were largely left to implication in the movie adaptation. It also tackles subjects including race and abuse.
The show has received praise for several elements beyond its story, including its writing, costumes and soundtrack. The performances from its leading cast have also been widely praised.
With its gothic atmosphere, complicated relationships and focus on vampires, the series offers plenty for viewers looking for something darker than a typical weekend drama.
Where can you watch Interview with the Vampire?
All three seasons are currently available on Netflix.
UK viewers also have another option. All three seasons can be watched for free and without adverts on BBC iPlayer, provided viewers have a TV licence.
The fourth season, Anne Rice’s Queen of the Damned, has been confirmed but does not yet have a release date.
There has been a two-year gap between each of the first three seasons. If that pattern continues, season four could arrive in 2028, although that remains an assumption rather than a confirmed release date.
For anyone wanting a horror series that can carry a late-night binge, there are already three seasons to work through, with the latest chapter giving fans another reason to return to the world of Louis and Lestat.