What to Watch in October 2026: New Shows, Sports, Halloween & Free Movies

October is packed with new streaming releases, returning favorites, live sports, Halloween movies, and free entertainment. Whether you’re looking for something new to binge-watch, a scary movie for Halloween night, or a live game to watch, Xumo makes it easier to discover what’s streaming across your favorite apps and free channels.

Ready to start watching? Use your Xumo voice remote to search for your favorite shows, movies, and sports – or explore Xumo Play for free entertainment.

Best New and Returning Shows Streaming in October 2026

October brings a lineup of new and returning series across Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, and Apple TV.

Here are some of the biggest streaming premieres to look for this month: 

East of Eden — Netflix, October 1
In the farmlands of Salinas Valley in California, successive generations of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, are destined to reenact the fateful story of Cain and Abel.

Carrie — Prime Video, October 7 
A sheltered girl with telekinetic powers is bullied, leading to a horrific, bloody incident due to her domineering mother’s influence.

©2026 Disney and its related entities. Must be 18+ to subscribe.

VisionQuest — Disney+ & Hulu, October 14
Vision is faced with many challenges while trying to regain his memory and humanity.

Crystal Lake — Peacock, October 15
A prequel to the Friday the 13th franchise, the series follows single mother Pam Voorhees who has been unable to shake her grief after her young, sickly son Jason tragically drowned in the town lake almost a year before. When two strangers arrive at Pam’s door digging into her past, a disturbing chain of events is set into motion, leaving the townspeople of Crystal Lake wondering: just who is Pam Voorhees?

Nocturne — Apple TV, October 30
Ex-soldier Jonah Lynn leaves Philadelphia for a quiet life. When serial killer Jurek Walter threatens his new home and family, Jonah must protect them, even as he sends his FBI agent daughter Saga to track the killer’s last victim.

Looking for a specific show? Just say the name of the show into your Xumo voice remote to quickly search across supported streaming services and find where to watch.

You can also use your Xumo account to manage your subscriptions and access exclusive savings, perks, and offers.

What Live Sports Can You Watch in October 2026?

October brings a full lineup of live sports, including MLB postseason baseball, WNBA playoff basketball, NFL games, college football Saturdays, and professional tennis.

Xumo makes it easier to find live sports, game-day coverage, highlights, and sports news across supported services using voice search.

Thursday Night Football on Prime Video

Football fans can catch Thursday Night Football on Prime Video, featuring primetime NFL matchups, big plays, and must-see moments throughout the season. Stream select Thursday night games and follow your favorite teams all season long.

MLB Playoffs
The road to the World Series heats up in October. Catch live MLB Postseason action throughout the month, culminating in the World Series beginning October 23.

Try it: Say “MLB” into your Xumo voice remote. 

WNBA Playoffs
The WNBA Playoffs continue into October, with the Semifinals beginning October 4 and the WNBA Finals tipping off October 17.

Try it: Say “WNBA” into your Xumo voice remote.

NBA Season Tips Off on Prime Video

The NBA season tips off October 23 on Prime Video! Tune in to Prime Video to stream select NBA games and stay in the game all season long.

Catch Live Sports on Xumo Play

Looking for free live sports streaming? Xumo Play makes it easy to follow the sports you love with free access to live sports coverage, game-day updates, replays, highlights and more – no subscription required.

NFL & College Football

Football fans can enjoy free football programming on Xumo Play throughout the weekend, from NFL news and game-day updates to select college football matchups.

On Sundays, tune in to the NFL Channel for live game-day coverage, including scores, stats, highlights, updates, replays, news and analysis.

On Saturdays, check out the Sports Illustrated Channel for select college football coverage, including NEC Football and SWAC matchups.

NEC Football live coverage:

• October 3 — Norfolk State at Robert Morris (2:00PM ET)
• October 10 — Princeton at Wagner (12:00PM ET)
• October 17 — Duquesne at Stonehill (12:00PM ET)
• October 24 — Mercyhurst at Robert Morris (2:00PM ET)
• October 31 — Robert Morris at CCSU (12:00PM ET)

SWAC Football live coverage:

• October 24 — Jackson State at Bethune-Cookman (1:00PM ET)

Whether you’re following the NFL or college football, Xumo Play makes it easy to find free football programming and stay connected to the game.

NASCAR

Rev up your October with NASCAR content on Xumo Play. Catch the Whelen Modified Tour Season Finale on October 11 from 4:15–6:30 p.m. ET, and watch drivers battle it out in the final race of the season.

Looking for more racing action? Stream NASCAR RISING Season 2 on Xumo Play. The series follows some of NASCAR’s most promising young drivers as they chase their dreams on and off the track.

Tennis

Tennis fans can stream live ATP tennis on Xumo Play this October. Tune in to TennisChannel 2 for live tournament coverage, including:

• ATP Shanghai
• ATP Brussels
• ATP Switzerland tournaments

Find Your Next Game or Race on Xumo

Looking for a specific game or team? Use your Xumo voice remote to find live sports, game-day coverage, highlights, and sports news. With free live sports on Xumo Play, it’s easy to find more of the sports you love – all in one place.

Your Halloween Streaming Headquarters

Halloween is here, and Xumo makes it easy to find spooky movies, horror favorites, and seasonal programming.

Try it: Just say “Halloween” into your Xumo voice remote to discover Halloween entertainment.

What to Watch Free on Xumo Play This October

Free Halloween Channels

Looking for Halloween entertainment without adding another subscription?

Xumo Play gives you free access to movies, shows and live channels – with no subscription fee, login or payment method required.

This October, get into the Halloween spirit with free channels and collections including:

• Halloween Horrors
• Thriller Movies
• Universal Monsters
• Walking Dead Universe
• Scares by Shudder
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Horror Movies to Stream

Planning a Halloween movie night? Xumo Play’s October horror lineup includes:

• Heretic
• Talk to Me
• Midsommar
• Hereditary
• Evil Dead
• 30 Days of Night
• Bram Stoker's Dracula

You can also dive into paranormal and Halloween-themed series including Ghost Hunters, Ghost Nation, Destination Fear, and Halloween Wars.

What’s New on Xumo Play in October?

Xumo Play is adding even more free ways to watch, including new channels:

• Sesame Street
• At the Movies
• The Repair Shop

How to Find It All on Xumo

Between new premieres, returning favorites, football season, free movie collections and live channels, October has something for every type of viewer.

Xumo Stream Box and Xumo TV bring your subscriptions and free streaming into one interface, so you can spend less time searching and more time watching. Search across supported services with your voice remote, add the apps you want in just a few clicks, and let Xumo Play fill in the rest – for free.

With Xumo, you can:

Search with your voice

Say the name of a show, movie, team, or genre into your Xumo voice remote and find relevant content across supported services.

Bring your streaming apps together

Access supported streaming services from your Xumo experience.

Watch free entertainment

Explore Xumo Play for free movies, shows, and channels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Xumo have Netflix, Peacock, and HBO Max?

Yes. Netflix is available on both Xumo Stream Box and Xumo TV. You can launch it directly from the home screen or simply say "Netflix" using your Xumo voice remote. Other popular streaming services, including Peacock and HBO Max, are also available.

Is Xumo Play free?

Yes. Xumo Play is a free, ad-supported streaming service. There's no subscription fee, no login requirement, and no payment method needed to start watching.

Can I watch live sports on Xumo?

Live sports availability depends on the app, streaming service, broadcaster, subscription, and local market carrying a particular game. Xumo makes it easier to find live sports coverage across supported services.

What are the biggest streaming releases in October 2026?

Some of the most anticipated streaming premieres include:

• October 1 — East of Eden (Netflix)
• October 1 — War (HBO Max)
• October 2 — Kill Jackie (AMC+)
• October 2 — The Sister’s Grimm (Apple TV)
• October 2 — Unbelievable: Encounters with Dan Aykroyd (Hulu)
• October 2 — Tip Toe (STARZ)
• October 6 — Vampirina Teenage Vampire Season 2 (Disney+)
• October 7 — Carrie (Prime Video)
• October 8 — Below (Netflix)
• October 14 — VisionQuest (Disney+ & Hulu)
• October 14 — Helluva Boss Season 3 (Prime Video)
• October 15 — Crystal Lake (Peacock)
• October 16 — Tenzing (Apple TV)
• October 21 — Where’s Wanda (Apple TV)
• October 21 — The Terminal List Season 2 (Prime Video)
• October 28 — Minions & Monsters (Peacock)
• October 30 — Nocturne (Apple TV)

Separate subscriptions required. Terms apply.

What free movies can I watch on Xumo Play in October?

Xumo Play's October lineup includes Stellar Sci-Fi and Fall Frights collections featuring movies such as Resident Evil, Passengers, Attack the Block, The Witch, and 30 Days of Night.

Looking for even more streaming recommendations? Check back throughout the month for the latest entertainment highlights, sports coverage, and free viewing options available on Xumo.