RTÉ has announced its 2025-26 schedule, with a record year of drama, new documentaries, returning favourites and major live sport set to air from this autumn through to spring.
The new slate includes three brand-new Irish dramas, a revamped Ireland's Fittest Family, coverage of the Women's Rugby World Cup and the Presidential Election, and the return of audience favourites such as The Late Late Toy Show, Room to Improve, The 2 Johnnies' Late Night Lock-In and The Tommy Tiernan Show.
The broadcaster said the line-up reflects a changing Ireland while celebrating the creativity and storytelling that connect Irish audiences at home and abroad.
Irish drama at the centre
RTÉ is promising its strongest-ever slate of homegrown drama, much of it developed with the independent production sector.
New titles include The Walsh Sisters, adapted from Marian Keyes' novels Rachel's Holiday and Anybody Out There, starring Danielle Galligan, Louisa Harland, Caroline Menton, Stefanie Preissner, Máiréad Tyers, Aidan Quinn and Carrie Crowley.
Other new series are John Butler's These Sacred Vows, a comedy-drama set around a wedding in Tenerife, and Tall Tales & Murder, created by Stuart Carolan and Chris Addison, based on Caimh McDonnell's Dublin Trilogy books.
Returning series include The Dry, Obituary, Hidden Assets and SisterS, while long-running soap Fair City will feature a high-profile wedding storyline.
RTÉ said a record 142 hours of original Irish drama will be delivered in the coming year.
Entertainment and culture
Entertainment highlights include the launch of The Traitors Ireland, hosted by Siobhán McSweeney and filmed at Slane Castle, beginning 31 August on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. A companion discussion show, The Traitors Ireland Uncloaked, hosted by Kevin McGahern, will follow each episode.
Ireland's Fittest Family returns with new coaches Ellen Keane, Michael Darragh MacAuley and Andrew Trimble, alongside veterans Davy Fitzgerald, Anna Geary and Donncha O'Callaghan.
Patrick Kielty returns as the host of The Late Late Show from 12 September. RTÉ will also mark ten years of The Late Late Country Music Special, while the annual Toy Show remains a centrepiece following record international streaming numbers last year.
Other returning titles include The 2 Johnnies' Late Night Lock-In, The Tommy Tiernan Show and First Dates Ireland. Dermot Bannon fronts Celebrity Super Spaces, while Imelda May presents Amhráin na nGael, exploring Gaeltacht songs and traditions.
Baz Ashmawy will also be back with The Money List – the high stakes quiz that sees two teams of complete strangers join forces to try and win the jackpot.
Documentaries and factual
RTÉ Investigates will continue its series of in-depth public service investigations, following recent reports on nursing homes, religious orders' assets and the black-market sale of weight-loss drugs.
New documentaries include The Ryanair Story, charting the airline's 40-year history, and The Swindlers, a true-crime series on con-artists and fraud. The Shift: Cork University Hospital goes behind the scenes at CUH, while Caesar's Palace looks at the experience of African-Irish communities through hair culture.
Biographical films will include Tony Cascarino: Extra Time, Daniel O'Connell: The Emancipator and Dev's Rise and Rule, marking the 50th anniversary of Éamon de Valera's death. Other single films cover subjects from Rory McIlroy's Masters victory to Niall Breslin's All That Remains on the lives once hidden in St Loman's psychiatric hospital.
Cultural programming includes Culture Night 2025 broadcast live from Galway and Oliver Callan hosting The Irish Book of the Year.
Home and living
RTÉ's new season has plenty for fans of home, design and transformation. Who's Building Ireland? will take a fresh look at the challenges and creativity shaping the country's housing. Baz Ashmawy is back with DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland, continuing to rally volunteers and communities to deliver life-changing renovations.
There's also a new chapter for Home Rescue: The Big Fix, tackling cluttered and chaotic spaces, while Room to Improve returns with Dermot Bannon guiding families through big design decisions. Property lovers can tune into Cheap Irish Homes for more tips on finding hidden gems around the country.
Sport
Free-to-air sport continues across RTÉ television, radio and online. Coverage includes the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, beginning 22 August, Ireland's autumn rugby internationals against Japan, Australia and South Africa, and UEFA Champions League matches.
RTÉ will also show the Republic of Ireland men's World Cup qualifying campaign, the Women's Nations League promotion play-off against Belgium and FAI Cup fixtures.
The Irish racing calendar will feature the Irish Champions Festival in September, winter racing through November and December and the Dublin Racing Festival in February. Golf coverage includes the Irish Open at the K Club in early September.
Other events include the World Athletics Championships from Tokyo, year-round GAA coverage and a two-part documentary on the Camogie Championship.
News and current affairs
With a Presidential Election due this autumn, RTÉ News and Current Affairs will provide coverage across all platforms, including debates, interviews and reporting nationwide. Katie Hannon will front a new series with the candidates.
Prime Time will examine national issues including anti-social behaviour and digital surveillance, while Nationwide continues to profile Irish communities. Crimecall returns with appeals for public assistance on investigations and Scannal looks back on controversies from past decades.
Children's programmes
RTÉ Kids will add several new series alongside returning titles. Showkids, a new comedy-drama featuring Ardal O'Hanlon and Philippa Dunne, begins in September. A week of short dramas, RTÉ Kids Drama Week, will explore themes of friendship, identity and self-discovery.
New factual programmes include United FC, a docuseries about young footballers, and New Wave, following Ireland's top junior surfers. Returning favourites include Dizzy Deliveries, The Unreal, Adam Loves Adventure and Puffin Rock, which also has a new feature film later this year.
Commitment to Irish content
Steve Carson, RTÉ's Director of Video, said the new line-up combined "the very best Irish creative talent both on screen and behind the scenes" with a mix of drama, entertainment, sport and factual programming.
"We're incredibly grateful to all of our partners in the independent sector and the teams in RTÉ who continue in their mission to deliver quality Irish content for Irish audiences," he said.
The new schedule runs from late August 2025 into spring 2026, coinciding with preparations for RTÉ's centenary in 2026.
Further announcements on programming are expected later in the year.
