7 Teen Dramas to Binge in Summer 2026
There is something magical about summer as a teenager. The season seems to last forever and it’s an opportunity for self-discovery and friends, for fun and frolics.
Still, hope is not lost for those of us who left our teen years behind long ago. Through the power of television, anyone can be transported back to that glorious time.
The teen drama has been a staple component of entertainment for decades, and is a genre that, despite its age-anchored title, can be enjoyed by anyone. We were all teenagers at some point and so, whether watching these shows as teens going through the same heartaches, or as an adult with rose-tinted glasses, these shows are accessible to all.
With the summer break just around the corner, here is a selection of teen dramas to binge over the sunny months. Each pick has been carefully curated as an ideal companion to watch over the warm evenings, or while you work on your tan.
Although now viewed as pretty tame, Dawson’s Creek was met with a lot of uproar when it was released in 1998. Set in the fictional small town of Capeside, Massachusetts, Dawson’s Creek tells the story of Spielberg-obsessed, aspiring director Dawson Leery, girl across the creek Joey Potter, and his misfit best friend, Pacey Witter, as their lives are changed by the arrival of New Yorker Jen Lindley.
Jen was the source of much of the early controversy, the character having been sent to live with her grandmother after a bout of underage drinking and sex. Considering the content of some modern teen shows, Dawson’s Creek is fairly mild, but the journeys of the teens remains evergreen. From mental illness, unrequited love, inappropriate relationships, broken homes, hearts, and an early teen show gay character, Dawson’s Creek has it all and more.
Although Heartstopper is set in the UK, a place known better for clouds and rain, it is a fantastic teen drama. The narrative occurs across a number of months, with events in the second and third season anchored firmly to the summer season. As such, you can easily get away with making Heartstopper your summer binge.
An unashamedly queer coming-of-age story, Heartstopper chronicles the romance between openly gay Charlie and closeted rugby player Nick. Heartstopper being a show that champions gay romance should alone make it worthy viewing, but the tackling of other topics, including bullying and mental health, widens the audience pool, and makes it a show that is relatable to all.
Of all the teen shows, Pretty Little Liars might just hold the record for most spin-off shows. First there was the supernaturally charged Ravenswood, and later, Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists. In between both of those came Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin. Set in the neighbouring town of Millwood, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin added a slasher spin on the Pretty Little Liars format. Five teenage girls from different groups find themselves the target of a new version of ‘A’.
Far darker than its predecessor, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin works well as a teen horror series, both conforming to and subverting some popular genre tropes. For extra summer vibes, the second season was re-subtitled Summer School and saw the surviving teens once again menaced by a violent unseen tormentor.
Set to come to an end with its fifth season, Outer Banks is a show which manages to catch that endless summer feeling that only exists when you’re young. The glorious sunny setting helps, but so too does the heightened soap opera style story that finds a group of teenagers from the wrong side of the tracks on a treasure hunt that has them traversing the globe.
Complete with a Romeo and Juliet love story between the leader of the ‘Pogues’ John B. and the affluent Princess of the ‘Kooks’, Sarah, their union causes friction on both sides of the island, but that is the least of their worries. A teen drama mixed with The Goonies, the treasure hunt aspect opens Outer Banks up to a wider audience.
Heartbreak High began as an Australian teen soap that screened during the ‘90s. The show was eventually cancelled, but got a brief three season resurrection in 2022. Very different from its source show, this new variant of Heartbreak High blends comedy and teen angst together beautifully. Telling the high-school experience of lead character Amerie, Heartbreak High sees a rowdy group of teens forced to participate in Sexual Literacy Tutorial after their promiscuous escapades are revealed via a hidden mural on school property.
A show capable of going from making the viewer laugh until they cry, to weeping until they dehydrate, Heartbreak High is an overlooked teen gem that deserves way more eyes on it. Heartbreak High also scores extra points for its inclusivity, featuring characters of a variety of sexual identities, including the oft-forgotten asexuality, as well as showcasing a more honest portrayal of people on the spectrum.
When it comes to sun-soaked teen dramas, they don’t get sunnier or more dramatic than The O.C. The show’s initial success was incredible, with teen viewers and an older fanbase flocking to their television sets on a weekly basis to catch up with the lives of the super-rich residents of Newport Beach. Far more than a flash in the pan, The O.C. still holds up, and if you’ve never seen it, now is the time to change that.
The main story sees public defender Sandy Cohen take wayward teen Ryan Atwood home. The temporary arrangement becomes permanent when Sandy’s introverted son Seth immediately bonds with him. The show follows as Ryan navigates life on the other side and falls in love with the drama-riddled Marissa Cooper. Featuring some brilliant performances, jaw-dropping plot lines, the soundtrack of a generation, and more sunshine than a bottle of Sunny D, The O.C. will cement California as your next vacation destination.
We Were Liars is the television version of the book you take to read on the beach on your holidays. That should be no surprise considering it is based on the book of the same name from author E. Lockhart. The book was a bestseller and the series capitalised on the success.
Teenager Cady is part of the wealthy Sinclair family. Every year she and her cousins journey to their grandfather's private Massachusetts island for a summer of carefree fun. However, after a tragic accident leaves her with amnesia, Cady returns two summers later to try and remember what happened. We Were Liars has a wonderfully moreish story, making it perfect for a binge watch, and with the filming of a second season underway, now is the perfect time to get caught up.
