Where To Start Watching ‘Star Trek’ in 2026: Modern Era Viewing Guide & What’s Canon, Explained

Starting to watch Star Trek can feel overwhelming, but the newer shows actually follow a pretty logical pattern. While things aren’t always easy to understand, a lot of potential fans are turned off by how complicated it seems initially. We want to assure you that getting into Star Trek isn’t as difficult as you might think, and help you become a fan!

As a huge fan, I always think of Star Trek having two main periods. It all started back in 1966 with The Original Series, and that first run really continued until Enterprise finished in 2001. Those 35 years gave us six amazing TV shows and ten movies, all linked together in one big story! While it’s harder to pinpoint exactly when the ‘modern’ era began, it’s clear Star Trek has come roaring back with tons of new shows and movies – it’s fantastic to see!

‘Star Trek’ Has Been Softly Rebooted Twice Since the Franchise’s Classic Era

When Enterprise ended in 2001, Star Trek went through a quiet period lasting almost ten years. The show hadn’t been a big success, so the franchise needed a break. It wasn’t until 2009 that Star Trek returned, with J.J. Abrams releasing a new movie simply titled Star Trek. While advertised as a complete reboot, Abrams actually created a new alternate reality within the Star Trek universe. This new timeline, known as the Kelvin Timeline, began with the 2009 film and was set around the same time as The Original Series. The story explained that this timeline diverged from the established Star Trek universe – known as the Prime Universe – because of the destruction of the USS Kelvin, an event that never happened in the original timeline.

J.J. Abrams aimed to welcome new viewers to Star Trek while still offering plenty for longtime fans. The last film in his rebooted series, Star Trek Beyond, came out in 2016. The following year, Star Trek: Discovery shifted the focus back to the original universe, acting as a sequel to Enterprise but also a prequel to The Original Series. Although Discovery‘s updated look led many to believe it took place in the alternate Kelvin Timeline, this idea has been repeatedly proven incorrect. Because the USS Kelvin wasn’t destroyed in Discovery‘s timeline, it’s confirmed to be set in the Prime Universe.

After years of attempts, a fourth movie in the rebooted Star Trek series (often called the Kelvin Timeline) has been cancelled. This means the adventures with Chris Pine as Captain Kirk are now a complete, self-contained story. While there are some links to the original Star Trek timeline, they aren’t crucial to understanding the films. In contrast, the series Discovery is deeply connected to almost everything else in the Star Trek universe. Both Discovery and the 2009 Star Trek film were designed to attract both new and longtime fans, and neither required prior knowledge of Star Trek. However, Discovery viewers who are interested in exploring the original timeline can easily do so through other shows and movies. This isn’t the case for the Kelvin Timeline after the film Beyond.

Almost Every ‘Star Trek’ Show Released Since ‘Discovery’ Is Part of the Prime Universe

Paramount+

Alongside Discovery, Star Trek: Scouts is one of two animated series that aren’t considered official Star Trek canon. Scouts is clearly designed for very young viewers, focusing on fun and learning. Star Trek: Very Short Treks is also non-canon, but it stays closer to the spirit of the original series. These two are exceptions, however. The Kelvin Timeline movies have been set aside, but still exist as part of the Star Trek universe, and the franchise has now concentrated on expanding the timeline reintroduced by Discovery – the first new Star Trek series in years. Since Discovery, six more official Star Trek shows have premiered, bringing the total to seven – more than were created during the classic Star Trek era.

While Discovery was designed to be a good starting point for new Star Trek viewers, that hasn’t been the case with every show that followed. For instance, Picard feels like a continuation of The Next Generation, and you really need to watch The Next Generation first to fully appreciate it. Prodigy is similar, but it helps to have seen Voyager beforehand. Star Trek: Lower Decks can be quite confusing if you’re not already a Star Trek fan. The animated series is officially part of the Star Trek story, but it’s filled with inside jokes and references to everything across the entire universe, making it most enjoyable for long-time, dedicated fans.

‘Discovery’ Remains the Best Modern ‘Star Trek’ Show For Newcomers

Paramount

While some criticize Discovery for feeling different from classic Star Trek, that was intentional. After Enterprise didn’t perform as well as hoped, Star Trek needed a fresh start, and Discovery was designed to appeal to a new generation of viewers. Some longtime fans miss the many connections to previous Star Trek shows, but that makes sense considering when Discovery takes place – it focuses on new characters and stories. Ultimately, Star Trek succeeded in creating Discovery as an accessible entry point for viewers unfamiliar with the hundreds of episodes from the original series.

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Both Strange New Worlds and Starfleet Academy are good choices for people new to Star Trek. Strange New Worlds uses the classic, self-contained episode format but with a modern feel. However, it assumes you’re already familiar with the characters from the original series as it shows them when they were younger, which might leave newcomers feeling a little lost. Starfleet Academy also includes some familiar faces from across the Star Trek universe, but since it’s a continuation of the Discovery series, it’s less crucial to have a deep understanding of the franchise’s history to enjoy it.

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2026-01-18 18:39