“Downton Abbey” is returning to its original home, PBS. The most popular MASTERPIECE series of all time, returns to the streamer this spring. All six seasons of show is available to stream with PBS Passport starting beginning Sunday, March 1, 2026. “Downton Abbey” is written and created by Oscar® winner Julian Fellowes (The Gilded Age), produced by Carnival Films, which is part of Universal International Studios (a division of Universal Studio Group), and MASTERPIECE.
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When will ‘Downton Abbey” air?
Broadcasts of Seasons 1-3 are scheduled on PBS on Sunday evenings: Season 1 from May 17 to June 7, Season 2 from June 14 to July 26, and Season 3 from August 2 to September 13, 2026, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS app. Seasons 4-6 will air in 2027.
Full of passion, intrigue, sorrow and joy, Downton Abbey was a runaway hit when it debuted on PBS in 2011 and is widely credited with reigniting America’s love for British drama. Spanning the tumultuous years from 1912 to 1925, the series followed the aristocratic Crawley family as they dealt with an ever-changing world.
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Who stars in the series?
The series introduced audiences to unforgettable characters, including the iconic Dowager Countess played by the late Dame Maggie Smith. The celebrated ensemble also includes Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Jim Carter, Dan Stevens, Joanne Froggatt, Penelope Wilton, Phyllis Logan, Laura Carmichael, Brendan Coyle, Lesley Nicol, Sophie McShera, Robert James-Collier, Allen Leech, Kevin Doyle, Samantha Bond, David Robb, Raquel Cassidy and Michael Fox.
The series also had three movies now streaming on Peacock, Downton Abbey (2018), Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022), and “Downton Abbey: The Grande Finale.”
What is Downton Abbey about?
Downton Abbey follows the exploits of the people who live in an English estate at the turn of the 20th century. The show and films follow the Crawleys, the aristocratic owners of the estate, as they deal with issues like marriage proposals and a volatile economy. Meanwhile, the Crawleys’ staff, consisting of maids, manservants, cooks, a butler, and other service professionals, form close-knit relationships with each other and strike out on their own in searches for prosperity and fulfillment. Both storylines—the family and the servants—are equally engrossing.
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