YouTube Unveils 2026 Creator Show Slate: Alex Cooper, Dude Perfect, Julian Shapiro-Barnum & More

YouTube Announces 2026 Creator Show Slate at Brandcast Upfronts

YouTube revealed a robust lineup of new and returning creator-driven shows at its annual Brandcast upfronts presentation on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. The event highlighted expanded partnerships with top creators and introduced several highly anticipated series for 2026.

Alex Cooper’s Unwell Productions Unveils Four New Shows

YouTube deepened its collaboration with podcaster-turned-producer Alex Cooper and her production company, Unwell Productions. Cooper is set to debut four new YouTube series, including:

• “Unwell Games” Season 2 – A reality competition series with a western twist, premiering late summer or early fall 2026. This follows the success of “Unwell Winter Games.”
• “Pot Stirrers” – A two-part miniseries premiering Thanksgiving weekend 2026. The show is inspired by “The Traitors,” featuring two secret “Pot Stirrers” sabotaging a group of reality stars and internet personalities for a cash prize.
• “Holiday Hard Launch” – Cooper’s first holiday microdrama, set for release in late 2026.
• “Before the Steps” – A docuseries offering a behind-the-scenes look at the Met Gala.

Dude Perfect Expands Partnership with “Squad Games” Season 2

The sports comedy group Dude Perfect will return with “Squad Games” Season 2 in 2027, featuring upgraded challenges and new celebrity competitors. The announcement follows the 2026 live Squad Games Tour, which will visit 22 cities across the U.S. this summer.

Julian Shapiro-Barnum Launches Late-Night Show

Julian Shapiro-Barnum, creator of “Recess Therapy”, will debut “Outside Tonight with Julian Shapiro-Barnum”, a late-night program described as the “first late-night show tailor-made for the internet age.” The series will air weekly on YouTube and feature interviews, games, musical performances, and comedic bits filmed at iconic New York City landmarks.

The show is produced by 5 Pangolin LLC in association with 5 Parent Productions, Inc. Executive producers include Shapiro-Barnum, Doug Smith, and Cat Sullivan, with Sullivan also serving as showrunner. Additionally, Shapiro-Barnum’s “Celebrity Substitute” Season 3 will return on June 3, 2026, featuring celebrity guest appearances from Reneé Rapp, Ed Sheeran, and A$AP Rocky, among others.

Trevor Noah Announces Global Travel Series

Comedian and former “The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah will launch a new global travel series as part of YouTube’s 2026 slate.

YouTube Executives Highlight Upfronts Presentations

YouTube executives Neal Mohan, Mary Ellen Coe, and Sean Downey presented to advertisers during the upfronts, outlining the platform’s creator-driven content strategy.

Brandcast Features Musical Performances

The upfronts event also featured live musical performances by Chappell Roan and Zara Larsson.

Full Breakdown of YouTube’s 2026 Upfronts Slate

Below is a summary of the key announcements from YouTube’s 2026 upfronts:

• Alex Cooper (Unwell Productions)
  • “Unwell Games” Season 2 (late summer/early fall 2026)
  • “Pot Stirrers” (Thanksgiving weekend 2026)
  • “Holiday Hard Launch” (late 2026)
  • “Before the Steps” (Met Gala docuseries)
• Dude Perfect
  • “Squad Games” Season 2 (2027)
  • 2026 live Squad Games Tour (22 cities)
• Julian Shapiro-Barnum
  • “Outside Tonight with Julian Shapiro-Barnum” (weekly late-night series)
  • “Celebrity Substitute” Season 3 (June 3, 2026)
• Trevor Noah
  • Global travel series (2026)

“YouTube’s upfronts showcase the platform’s commitment to empowering creators and delivering innovative, creator-driven content to audiences worldwide.”