Here is a look at some of the fall premiere highlights coming from public television, along with the official loglines. It’s not everything that is on the way, but it’s a solid jumping off point:
Friday, September 4th:
Made In The West
In a world of fast fashion and fast furniture, functional art invites us to slow down and appreciate the details. This is art you can sit on, drink out of, or wear on your feet. It reflects the natural surroundings and nowhere is this clearer than in the American West. Many of today's master artisans are aging out of the craft, and the path to preserve this uniquely American artform is at stake.
Sunday, September 6th:
Marble Hall Murders On Masterpiece
Editor Susan Ryeland (Lesley Manville) is hired to work on a continuation novel of the Atticus Pünd (Tim McMullan) series, written by a troubled young author. When the job leads Susan into another murder case, she unexpectedly finds herself a suspect. In the world of the novel, Atticus Pünd is visiting the Isle of Corfu when he becomes embroiled in the murder of Lady Margaret Chalfont, whose family he investigates with the assistance of a Greek detective.
The Marlow Murder Club On Masterpiece Season Three Premiere
Back on board as a key part of DI Tanika Malik’s (Natalie Dew) investigative team, the trio – Judith (Samantha Bond), Becks (Cara Horgan), and Suzie (Jo Martin) – continues to face a string of high-profile murders with their unconventional crime-solving methods in the third season of the series based on Robert Thorogood’s bestselling novels.
Monday, September 7th:
POV: Remake
McElwee has shot footage from his own life since the 1970s. His son, Adrian, was born into this practice, and was filmed from infancy into his difficult older years, through his death of an overdose at 27. Remake asks questions that could only come after: What did the camera capture, what did it miss?
Tuesday, September 8th:
Frontline: The Man Who Knew
The saga of FBI Agent John O’Neill and his warnings about Osama bin Laden before the 9/11 attacks. An encore presentation, offering a rare glimpse inside the FBI, probing the question: What did the U.S. government know and when?
Monday, November 14th:
Independent Lens: Ghost In The Machine
Ghost in the Machine reveals how the human values, biases, and power structures behind artificial intelligence are shaping our world—and its societal and environmental consequences.
Wednesday, September 16th:
Ages Of Ice
A story of scientific daring and discovery, grit, and human endeavor, where unlocking the mysteries of our icy worlds is key to unlocking the forces that drive our planet.
Nova: The Battle To Breathe
Witness an extraordinary medical revolution in the battle against cystic fibrosis, the most common fatal genetic disease in the U.S. Once a death sentence, CF saw life expectancies barely reach childhood. But in 2019 an apparent miracle treatment—Trikafta, a potent combination of three drugs—changed everything. People once bedridden and gasping for breath found themselves running marathons. Follow the decades-long scientific quest, fueled by desperate parents, that led to this breakthrough. Experience stories of joy, struggle, and unwavering hope as families confront a disease still marked by profound inequities in diagnosis and treatment. And ponder the implications for the future, as researchers explore whether a new age of "personalized" medicine has finally arrived.
Sunday, September 20th:
Bucks County USA
Filmed over four years in politically purple Bucks County, Pennsylvania, this series follows a community as it navigates one of the most contentious periods in recent American history. What begins as a battle over COVID-19 policies in local schools quickly expands into vitriolic debates about identity, parenting, and how kids should be educated.
At the center of the story are 14-year-old best friends Evi and Vanessa, whose families hold opposing political beliefs. As the adults around them become increasingly divided, the girls' friendship offers a reminder that disagreement does not have to end in dehumanization.
Wednesday, September 23rd:
Nova: Knowledge Keepers
In a fascinating exploration of human ingenuity, see how indigenous communities in North America have long practiced a distinct version of science and engineering. This journey reveals how deeply-held cultural traditions inform remarkable innovations, from ancient sea farming techniques that optimize ecosystems to celestial navigation methods perfectly adapted to extreme environments like the frozen Arctic. See how centuries of observation, experimentation, and adaptation have forged solutions to complex challenges like living in the harsh climate of the desert Southwest. Prepare to reconsider what you know about science and its role in our lives.
Wednesday, September 30th:
Nova: Stone Age Masterpiece
Deep in the gorges of southern France lies the Chauvet Cave, an archaeological treasure hidden from the world for millennia. Sealed by a rockfall 20,000 years ago, and rediscovered in 1994, it protects some of the world's oldest and best-preserved Stone Age art, including depictions of lions, mammoths, and rhinos that still vibrate with life. Join a team of scientists as they unlock the secret history of the cave, from giant bears that prowled through it to mysterious large fires that illuminated it. Watch as they uncover how these early humans created carefully planned compositions on the walls, upending our traditional understanding of art history and connecting us intimately to the dawn of human creativity.
Monday, October 5th:
Independent Lens: My Omaha
At a moment when families and communities are struggling to communicate across political divides, My Omaha asks whether we can still listen to one another—and what it takes to find common ground. Set against the political and racial divisions reshaping the United States, the film follows filmmaker Nick Beaulieu as he documents North Omaha's racial justice movement while attempting to reconnect with his terminally ill father, Randy, a conservative Christian and staunch Trump supporter.
Wednesday, October 7th:
Nova: Space Wars
A high-stakes war is silently escalating above our heads. Once purely a realm of scientific wonder, space is now a critical battleground, as global military powers race to weaponize it. Satellites, vital to our daily lives and economies, are vulnerable to attack both from adversaries and the debris that’s filling increasingly crowded orbits. What can we do to protect them when even the smallest objects, travelling at 17,000 miles per hour, can spell doom? What if the first-ever space battle has already happened without anyone knowing? Explore the technology and strategy of a rapidly developing arms race and hear how experts are wrestling with the implications of this looming conflict.
Wednesday October 14th - Wednesday, November 11th:
Nova: Evolution
Ponder this: All the incredible diversity of animal life on Earth sprang from a single organism. Every animal, no matter how weird, is related to every other. And behind each species is an incredible story of the millions of generations that gave rise to them. In this landmark series—featuring passionate scientists, gorgeous photography, and stunning animations of long-lost ancestors—discover how every animal we know and love today sprang from creatures that looked nothing like them. Full of surprising twists and turns over billions of years, each chapter in this epic tale reveals how animal life became so diverse and resilient through the awesome power of evolution.
Monday, October 26th:
Independent Lens: Seeds
Seeds is a visual exploration of centennial farmers in the Southern U.S. This film examines the decline of generational Black farmers and the significance of owning land. Through the perspectives of three different lives, the film creates an intimate portrait of farmers and the landscapes they steward, illustrating how generations of Black family farms persevere despite enduring obstacles.
Tuesday, October 27th:
In Pursuit: Lessons Of American Leadership
Based on More Perfect’s groundbreaking IN PURSUIT project, Retro Report brings leadership lessons learned from presidents and first ladies vividly to life, weaving together new voices, archival material and documentary storytelling to honor America’s 250th birthday. Featuring Insights from Chief Justice John Roberts, Ken Burns, Sharon McMahon, Lonnie Bunch, Judy Woodruff, General Stanley McChrystal, and more.
Tuesday, November 10th:
We Chose To Go To The Moon
This is an immersive theatrical experience telling the dramatic story of America's race to space and the decision to land a man on the Moon. Created, written and narrated by writer and historian John Monsky and directed for the stage by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer, the production brings together a 45-piece orchestra and band, Broadway vocalists, and archival photographs to create an emotional history of mankind's journey to the Moon. Filmed at New York's Carnegie Hall in April 2026 against the backdrop of the Artemis II mission, the special features performances by Skylar Astin, Grammy nominee Brent Comer, Claybourne Elder, Elizabeth Gillies, Tony nominee Taylor Louderman, and Grammy and Tony nominee Joy Woods . Neil Armstrong's son Mark Armstrong and granddaughter Kali Armstrong also perform a tribute to the astronaut.
Monday, November 16th:
Crime And Punishment In America
This tells the consequential story of criminal justice in America as it has never before been told - from the colonial era to today. The series, directed by Lynn Novick, executive produced by Ken Burns and Sam Pollard, and narrated by Keith David, explores arguments Americans have had over the problem of crime, the purpose of punishment and the meaning of justice for more than 250 years.
Monday, November 23rd:
Independent Lens: Seasons Of Care
Exploring the depths of love, Storming: Seasons of Care follows a family providing 24-hour care for their son, Ryan, nearly 10 years after a traumatic brain injury left him in a coma. As his parents, Ken and Sue, navigate hope, grief, and uncertainty over Ryan's future, their journey reveals the resilience of love and the often invisible labor of caregiving.