A new year brings new opportunities for everybody - that includes a 16-year old franchise like The Walking Dead. The classic AMC TV shared universe has refused to die, finding ways to evolve through the times; from the global titan that the original show was to the modern days of the streaming-friendly spinoffs, the TWD Universe has not stopped growing with the times.
As we enter into 2026, we get to look ahead to the outings that the franchise will throw our way this year. It also gives us a chance to speculate about the franchise's wider plans beyond this year, looking at what the next chapter of the never-ending story of The Walking Dead could look like. With that in mind, here are some spinoffs we can absolutely expect to see return this year (and some that she shouldn't).
Daryl Dixon will return for its final season
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon has become the one annual fixture of the TWD Universe that fans have been able to rely on to entertain them each year. The Daryl and Carol-focused spinoff has been a staple of fall TV, kicking off all three of its seasons on AMC and AMC+ in the month of September. There is little reason to expect that to change this year.
Although AMC has yet to announce when exactly the show will return, it has filmed its fourth and final season, with production wrapping at the end of last year. That means that a 2026 return is inevitable (especially after Valhalla Entertainment's social media post implied as much). And given that it is the final season, you can bet fans will be ready to tune in with their tissues to bid farewell to two of the franchise's most beloved characters (at least for now).
More Tales From The Walking Dead Universe hasn't had any significant updates in years
It's been almost three years since it was announced by AMC that an offshoot of Tales of the Walking Dead was in the works. The oddly-titled short form spinoff known as More Tales From The Walking Dead Universe was set to offer up the same idea as its predecessor but apparently in shorter, more condensed installments.
Even if this one were to make some kind of movement, it likely wouldn't see the light of day before the end of the year, meaning that a 2027 release would be the earliest possible time that More Tales could make its presence felt. But honestly, given that TWD's Chief Content Officer Scott M. Gimple has confirmed that there won't be a second season of the OG Tales (for now at least), it's hard to believe that the spinoff its going ahead. We'd love to be wrong, but it's looking like this one might have been quietly cancelled.
Dead City season 3 is expected to air this year
Maggie and Negan's rivalry on The Walking Dead has evolved more than Madonna. There have been many, many iterations of it, and it's understandable given that Negan brutally killed Maggie's husband all those years ago. And yet, they have found themselves stranded in a brave new world as they attempt to take back New York City from The Croat and his army.
Dead City was renewed for a third season in the summer of 2025, with Seth Hoffman taking over from as the new showrunner Eli Jorné. Although it's unclear as to what the storyline for the third season will be, but given how the second installment ended, we can expect Maggie, Negan, and Perlie Armstrong to unite and take back the city.
The rumored Walking Dead crossover spinoff won't air this year
One of the most exciting tidbits that Walking Dead fans got at the end of 2025 was the revelation that a potential TWD Universe Avengers: Endgame-style crossover spinoff series was in the works. The report came from reliable insider Daniel Richtman, and it was no doubt music to fans' ears as they have been longing for this for, well, a very, very long time.
The purpose of this spinoff would undoubtedly be to tie Daryl Dixon, Dead City, and The Ones Who Live back together again, essentially acting as a season 12 of the original series. But AMC has yet to officially confirm it's happening, even though it does seem like a plausible possibility - especially as Andrew Lincoln recently confirmed that there are conversations being had about bringing him back to the franchise as Rick Grimes.
If this one were to come together, it wouldn't premiere until 2027 at the earliest. After all, Daryl Dixon's final season has yet to air, and that will understandably be treated like the big TWD event of the year. Once that happens, a reunion spinoff could very well be the logical next step. After all, it would serve as the perfect farewell to the majority of the major TWD characters by having them all cross paths with each other again.