Instagram/David Boreanaz & Jake Joh Celebrity NBC revives the classic pilot season with 8 new shows for 2026, its biggest post-pandemic slate. Discover the dramas and comedies in contention. April 10, 2026 AceShowbiz - As the 2026 pilot season unfolds, NBC is reviving a long-standing tradition by fully embracing the classic January-to-May timeline for pilot production and testing. This year, the network has ordered an ambitious slate of eight pilots-five dramas and three comedies-the largest volume any broadcast network has committed to since the pandemic disrupted the usual cycle.