A classic science fiction series is back this week with a new installment on Paramount+, titled Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. This show continues the Star Trek story, taking viewers to the 32nd century. The first season, with 10 episodes, centers on Captain Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter), who also leads Starfleet Academy, and the cadets training to join Starfleet. From Alex Kurtzman, a key figure in the current Star Trek universe, the series connects to Star Trek: Discovery. In fact, Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the USS Discovery journey from the 23rd century to the year 3189.
She soon learns that the Federation and Starfleet have been devastated by a massive event called “The Burn,” which made dilithium—a key component for interstellar travel—useless and crippled all warp drives. Michael works to rebuild Starfleet and the Federation, eventually finding a way to restore warp travel and reopen Starfleet Academy.
Set further into the future than any previous installment, the new Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is generating a lot of excitement among fans. Read on to find out when the series premieres and when you can expect new episodes.
‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’ Season 1 Episode Release Schedule
Paramount+
The new season of Starfleet Academy begins on Thursday, January 15, 2026, with a special two-episode premiere on Paramount+. New episodes will be released weekly at 12:00 a.m. PT/3:00 a.m. ET, continuing until the season finale on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The first two episodes are titled “Kids These Days” and “Beta Test,” respectively, both directed by Kurtzman. Gaia Violo wrote the first episode, while Noga Landau and Jane Maggs wrote the second. Here’s the complete schedule for the season’s release.
| Episode | Release Date (Thursday) |
|---|---|
| S1 E1, “Kids These Days” | January 15, 2026 |
| S1 E2, “Beta Test” | January 15, 2026 |
| S1 E3, TBA | January 22, 2026 |
| S1 E4, TBA | January 29, 2026 |
| S1 E5, TBA | February 5, 2026 |
| S1 E6, TBA | February 12, 2026 |
| S1 E7, TBA | February 19, 2026 |
| S1 E8, TBA | February 26, 2026 |
| S1 E9, TBA | March 5, 2026 |
| S1 E10, TBA | March 12, 2026 |
What Fans Can Expect for ‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’ Season 1
Paramount+
The synopsis for the inaugural season is vague but exciting, nonetheless:
As a huge movie and TV fan, I recently checked out Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, and it’s a really engaging story! It follows a group of young cadets all chasing the same dream – a hopeful future. We see them grow, not just as future Starfleet officers learning from tough instructors, but as people too. There’s all the drama you’d expect – new friendships, intense rivalries, and even first loves – but it’s complicated by a dangerous new threat that puts the Academy and everything the Federation stands for in jeopardy. It’s a fun ride!
Paul Giamatti, nominated for an Academy Award, will play the role of Nus Braka, a character with Klingon and Tellarite heritage, appearing in multiple episodes. Braka has a long-standing relationship with Nahla, and also with one of the Starfleet Academy cadets. Returning to their roles from Discovery are Tig Notaro as Jett Reno, Oded Fehr as Admiral Vance, and Mary Wiseman as Sylvia Tilly. Robert Picardo will reprise his iconic role as The Doctor, a character he recently voiced in the animated series Star Trek: Prodigy. Stephen Colbert will provide the voice for the Digital Dean of Students at the Academy, and Tatiana Maslany will play the mother of cadet Caleb Mir.
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This season, Jonathan Frakes and Tawny Newsome, both familiar faces in the franchise, are also working behind the camera. Frakes directed the second-to-last episode, and Newsome helped write episode five.
Filming for Season 2 began in August 2025, and is nearing completion – Kurtzman recently told Collider he was about to direct the final episode. Fans can expect more episodes after Season 1 finishes.
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2026-01-14 16:24