It was touch and go there, but AMC has made it official: Two new seasons from The Walking Dead Universe will arrive in 2026. The franchise is currently in the midst of its 16th year and its long-term future remains a little unclear, because despite the fact that it’s clearly still very financially successful for AMC as a global IP, it’s seemingly running out of road in terms of where its current shows are going (Heck, one of them is ending this year). That’s why every moment with every original character is appreciated.
Earlier this year, fans were concerned about whether one of the planned seasons from the two current spinoffs would not be airing after all, as the cable network was unusually silent about one of them (and quite vocal about the other). Thankfully, AMC has since put fans’ minds at ease, confirming that both TWD Universe shows will air their upcoming seasons this year after all.
AMC’s Dead City announcement confirms both TWD spinoffs will air their new seasons in 2026
AMC has officially confirmed that The Walking Dead: Dead City season 3 will premiere on July 26, 2026. The spinoff’s next installment will run for eight episodes, airing on AMC and streaming on AMC+ on Sundays throughout the summer. This shouldn’t have been a surprise considering that both previous seasons were staples of their respective summers, but fans had been concerned that AMC had chosen to hold Dead City until next year after an earnings call earlier this year made absolutely no reference to it.
During that call, AMC previewed the projects that fans could expect from the network in 2026. Although they referenced the upcoming fourth and final season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, they seemingly ignored Dead City, which cast doubts on whether it would release this year at all. And as Daryl Dixon has generated more buzz over the past year because of its upcoming final season, fans were worried that Dead City might get forgotten about. Thankfully, that is not the case after all.
AMC has officially announced Dead City season 3’s summer run, which confirms that we are indeed getting both TWD spinoffs this year. And now, after four months of uncertainty, we can go back to the original plan of preparing for more adventures from two corners of the TWD Universe in 2026. And that’s a good thing because it will be the last year that Dead City and Daryl Dixon will air alongside each other considering that the latter bows out with its fourth season.
Both spinoffs were launched in 2023 as part of the franchise’s new TWD Universe era, which was designed to tell new stories in the aftermath of The Walking Dead (which ended its historic 11-season run in 2022) using legendary characters from that show. They were joined by miniseries The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, which aired its single season in 2024 and saw both Rick Grimes and Michonne wrap up their multi-year TWD arcs, finding each other, and returning home.
Meanwhile, Dead City focuses on longtime enemies Maggie Rhee and Negan, who reunite years after they parted ways on better terms as they head to Manhattan to rescue Maggie’s son Hershel, leaning on their feud and the potential of revisiting it. Daryl Dixon, on the other hand, takes the titular character, along with his best friend Carol Peletier, across Europe in search of new horizons; its final season will see them attempt to return home to Alexandria / the Commonwealth in the US.
It’s unclear if Dead City‘s third season will mark the end of the series or not. A recent rumor has suggested that season 3 will indeed be the end, but it’s hard to believe that AMC wouldn’t confirm the upcoming conclusion of the series if they have done so for Daryl Dixon season 4. Either way, this gives us an opportunity to enjoy both shows in all their grandeur one more time. There is a solid chance that Dead City will return for another season after this, but 2026 marks the last time that it will share its run with Daryl Dixon. And that means that, as Walking Dead fans, we have 16 more wonderful TWD episodes to enjoy one more time.
Dead City season 3 will see Maggie and Negan attempt to build a better future in New York City in the aftermath of their war with The Croat and The Dama. Perlie Armstrong will be there to help them along the way as they continue to deal with the fallout of the Hershel situation that unfolded throughout the second season. With new showrunner Seth Hoffman at the helm, this season looks to have a more, dare we say, hopeful feel to it. And considering that there are likely more TWD days behind the franchise than ahead of it, that’s probably a good thing.
So, TWD fans, sit back, relax, and enjoy; because 2026 is going to offer up 16 more episodes of The Walking Dead Universe – just as we had been hoping it would all along. To be able to say that in the grand old year of 2026 is a gift – one that we’re very, very thankful for.
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