October brings a packed month of entertainment to Sky TV and NOW, with new Sky Originals, returning favourites, major films and plenty of horror arriving in time for Halloween.

From the high-stakes legal drama WAR and the long-awaited Friday the 13th prequel Crystal Lake to the return of Rob & Romesh Vs, there is plenty to add to your October watchlist. Sky Arts also has a strong month ahead, while Sky Cinema gets into the Halloween spirit with a mixture of new horror and genre classics.

Here are some of the biggest things to look out for.

WAR

One of the biggest new dramas arriving this month is WAR, a Sky Original from George Kay, the writer behind Lupin and Hijack. The series follows two powerful London law firms, Cathcarts & Sons and Taylor & Byrne, as they battle over a headline-making case.

At the centre of the first season is the explosive divorce of British technology entrepreneur Morgan Henderson, played by Dominic West, and international film star Carla Duval, played by Sienna Miller. Young lawyer Jonathan “Johnny” Warren, played by Archie Renaux, finds himself drawn into the ruthless world of high-powered litigation.

WAR is due on Sky from 2 October, with Sky’s October information also highlighting the series as one of the month’s major new dramas.

Crystal Lake

Halloween wouldn’t be complete without a major horror arrival, and Crystal Lake is arguably the biggest one on the October schedule.

The new A24 series serves as a prequel to the Friday the 13th franchise, focusing on Pamela Voorhees, the mother of Jason Voorhees. Linda Cardellini stars as Pamela, who is still dealing with the death of her son when two strangers arrive in Crystal Lake and begin investigating her past.

Sky confirms that the eight-episode series premieres exclusively on Sky and NOW in October 2026.

For fans of the Friday the 13th mythology, it offers a chance to explore the story behind one of horror’s most recognisable locations and characters.

YAGA

If supernatural mysteries are more your thing, YAGA also arrives during the spooky season.

The series follows private investigator Rapp, played by Noah Reid, as he travels to a small coastal town to investigate the disappearance of Henry Park, the young heir to a powerful fishing family.

His investigation soon becomes considerably more complicated, involving a local detective, a charismatic university professor, mysterious suspects, secret lives and ancient magic.

Sky’s wider 2026 line-up confirms YAGA as a Sky and NOW title, with Noah Reid and Hudson Williams leading the cast.

Rob & Romesh Vs returns

October isn’t all murder, mystery and supernatural scares.

Rob & Romesh Vs returns for its ninth series, with Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan once again throwing themselves into challenges well outside their comfort zones.

The new run consists of four episodes and sees the pair tackle experiences ranging from Bollywood and MMA to heavy metal, K-pop, Shakespeare and Hollyoaks.

It’s another chance to watch the pair attempt to learn new skills while doing their best not to make complete fools of themselves.

Sky Arts Awards 2026

For something more glamorous, The Sky Arts Awards 2026 takes place at London’s Roundhouse on 13 October.

This year’s ceremony is being hosted by Turner Prize-winning artist Sir Grayson Perry and BRIT and Mercury Prize-nominated musician Rebecca Lucy Taylor, better known as Self Esteem.

The awards celebrate achievements across the arts, covering everything from classical music and comedy to dance, film, literature, opera, poetry, television, theatre and visual art.

Portrait Artist of the Year

Sky Arts is also bringing back Portrait Artist of the Year for its 2026 edition.

The thirteenth series comes with an entirely refreshed judging panel. Host Stephen Mangan returns, joined by contemporary portrait painter Jonathan Yeo, Frieze London director Eva Langret and art historian and broadcaster Katy Hessel.

The new line-up will be searching for the next standout portrait artist while celebrity sitters provide the subjects for the contestants’ latest works.

Baby Doe

For viewers who prefer true-crime-inspired drama and difficult real-life stories, Baby Doe explores a decades-old mystery.

The story centres on Gail Ritchey, a woman who gave birth alone in rural Ohio 30 years ago and left her newborn in the woods. Years later, DNA evidence connects her to the infamous “Geauga’s Child” cold case.

Her arrest turns her quiet suburban life upside down as she maintains that the baby was stillborn and faces the possibility of a life sentence. The drama explores the consequences for Gail and her family as they confront religious stigma, community judgement and a case that has remained unresolved for decades.

What’s on Sky Cinema and NOW Cinema this October?

Sky Cinema’s October offering is particularly strong for horror fans, with Halloween providing the perfect excuse to revisit some modern scares alongside genre classics.

Sinners

Ryan Coogler’s acclaimed supernatural thriller Sinners is among the month’s major horror highlights.

Starring Michael B. Jordan in dual roles, the film is set in 1932 Mississippi and follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack as they return home and attempt to establish a juke joint. Their plans take a terrifying turn when an unearthly presence becomes drawn to the music.

The film is available on Sky Cinema and NOW.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

The 28 Years Later universe also gets another outing with 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which continues the story of the post-apocalyptic world created by the franchise.

The film follows Dr Ian Kelson as he attempts to find a potential antidote while a dangerous new world develops around him.

Weapons

October’s horror offering also includes Weapons, alongside Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, Bring Her Back and Primate.

That gives horror fans plenty of options if the aim is to turn October into one long Halloween movie marathon.

And the classics are back

Sky Cinema is also looking back at some of horror’s most enduring films.

The October selection includes The Shining, The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, From Dusk Till Dawn and Event Horizon.

So whether you want something new or would rather return to a film you’ve seen dozens of times, there is plenty to choose from.

Family Halloween viewing

Halloween doesn’t have to mean nightmares.

For families, Sky is also highlighting a collection of lighter spooky-season entertainment, including the complete Hotel Transylvania trilogy, Shaun the Sheep: Farmageddon and The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!

That makes October’s line-up a little more accessible for younger viewers who want Halloween fun without the full horror treatment.

More films coming to Sky Cinema

Away from the Halloween selection, October’s film offering also includes titles such as How to Make a Killing, One Last Shot, Scream 7, Mother’s Pride, Splitsville and Kiss of the Spider Woman.

Among those, Scream 7 will be particularly relevant to horror fans, with Sidney once again facing a new Ghostface killer when her daughter becomes the target.

Sky and NOW: plenty to watch this October

October 2026 is shaping up to be a particularly varied month across Sky and NOW. WAR brings a new high-stakes drama, Crystal Lake provides the headline horror series for Halloween, and YAGA adds another dose of supernatural mystery.

Meanwhile, Rob & Romesh Vs provides the comedy, Sky Arts brings two major cultural events in The Sky Arts Awards and Portrait Artist of the Year, and Sky Cinema offers everything from Sinners and Scream 7 to The Shining and Evil Dead.

For NOW customers, availability depends on the membership you have — NOW currently offers separate Entertainment, Entertainment & HBO Max, Cinema and Sports memberships.

In short: whether October means prestige drama, comedy, art, blockbuster movies or a full-on Halloween binge, Sky and NOW have plenty lined up.

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