Industry

Sky has lifted the curtain on its new 2026/2027 season, and today's pressbook confirms a clear editorial strategy: strengthen the identity of Italian original productions, lock in the franchises that already work, and keep bringing the most anticipated HBO international titles to Italian audiences on an exclusive basis. It's an offering that lives across Sky linear TV and NOW streaming, with entertainment, series, film and factual content forming an increasingly cross-platform mosaic.

Series: The Year of Italian Original Development

The scripted front is arguably where the most announcements are concentrated. Sky is doubling down on the sports-biopic genre with La Bella Stagione, a new original series in development inspired by the book by Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Mancini about Sampdoria's legendary run to the 1990-1991 Scudetto. Produced by Sky Studios and Groenlandia, directed by Marco Ponti (who also helmed the 2022 documentary of the same name) and written by a team led by Davide Lantieri and Michele Pellegrini.

Also debuting is Codice Nero, Sky's first original medical drama: set in a border hospital, it stars Lino Guanciale and Valentina Bellè, with artistic supervision by Francesca Manieri and direction by Lyda Patitucci. A Sky Studios, Paco Cinematografica and Zucco Film production.

Confirming last season's ratings success, Avvocato Ligas has been renewed for a second and third season, both starring Luca Argentero and shot back-to-back, with filming set to begin by year-end.

Among the most anticipated first-looks is Gucci – Fine dei Giochi, a portrait of the iconic Italian fashion family directed by Gabriele Muccino and based on Allegra Gucci's memoir, starring Miriam Leone, Francesco Scianna and Matilda Lutz. Also on the way: Quelli della Mala (set in 1970s-80s Milan, starring Elia Nuzzolo), Fuori Menù – Una brigata dietro le sbarre (a dramedy led by Maurizio Lastrico), and Il Sospetto, a crime thriller with Claudia Pandolfi and Alessandro Gassmann.

The big autumn event remains Nord Sud Ovest Est – La leggendaria storia degli 883, premiering October 9, chronicling the golden years of Max Pezzali and Mauro Repetto. Sky also reaffirms its partnership with HBO: returning titles include The Last of Us, The White Lotus, The Gilded Age, Dune: Prophecy and the highly anticipated War, starring Sienna Miller and Dominic West, while The Day of the Jackal brings back Eddie Redmayne as the elusive assassin.

International debuts also include Kill Jackie, a revenge thriller starring Catherine Zeta-Jones — who also serves as producer — in the role of a former drug trafficker reinvented as an art dealer, coming exclusively to Italy on Sky and NOW; and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the first TV adaptation of Stieg Larsson's bestselling novel.

Entertainment: Sky Uno's Pillars Return, TV8 Bets on New Access Formats

On the entertainment side, Sky Uno kicks off in September with its signature titles: 4 Hotel with Bruno Barbieri (from September 6) and X Factor 2026 (from September 10), the latter confirming Giorgia as host and welcoming Irama to the judging panel alongside Gabbani, Jake La Furia and Paola Iezzi. New seasons follow of MasterChef Italia (in December, with Barbieri, Cannavacciuolo and Locatelli), 4 Ristoranti with Alessandro Borghese, and Pechino Express with Costantino della Gherardesca.

The real new format is Taste of Italy, expected in spring 2027: a travel-cooking show with Antonino Cannavacciuolo, chef Chiara Pavan, and Anna Zhang, winner of MasterChef Italia, in search of Italy's best amateur cooks.

On TV8, alongside confirmed returns of GialappaShow, Foodish, and Alessandro Borghese Celebrity Chef, two new formats arrive: Cooking Grandmas (working title), a new grandmother cooking challenge hosted by Borghese, and Italia per Due – Consigli disordinati di viaggio, a new access-time travel show pairing Benedetta Parodi and Fabio Caressa. Notably, for the first time, the free channel will air the latest seasons of X Factor and Pechino Express.

Film and Factual: International Auteurs and Big Italian Stories

Sky Cinema is moving on two tracks: international auteur titles (Chloé Zhao's Hamnet, Almodóvar's Amarga Navidad, Wicked – Part 2) and original Italian productions, including the return of Piedone – Uno sbirro a Napoli and the fourteenth season of I delitti del BarLume. On the factual side, notable titles include a Sky Original docu-series on President Sergio Mattarella and new productions featuring Alessandro Barbero, Pablo Trincia (on the 2001 Genoa G8), and Luciano Ligabue.

Sports and News, in Brief

On the sports front, Sky reaffirms its position as Italy's "Home of Sport," with over 15,000 hours of live coverage and 3,000 events spanning football (Champions League, Europa League and Conference League through 2031), motorsport, tennis, and major summer events like Wimbledon; Kimi Antonelli will be the new face of Sky's campaign alongside Alessandro Del Piero. Sky TG24, meanwhile, reaffirms its role as Italy's leading news outlet, focusing on in-depth coverage and new digital formats, including Italy's first live news videopodcast.
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