The Most Anticipated Ramadan Series in 2026

During the Holy Month of Ramadan, Egypt is known to be the most festive country in the region. It is not merely a time of fasting, it is also the month of community, celebration, and musalsalat (TV series). 

In the weeks leading up to Ramadan, film production teams are blocking roads all over Cairo in last-minute preparations for one of Ramadan’s most cherished rituals: the musalsalat that airs one episode every night throughout the month.

These series reflect the diversity of Egyptian life, storytelling, and public debate, from comedies and action to romance and drama. You can watch many musalsalat on Shahid, the Southwest Asian and North African version of Netflix, which offers original productions, series, and films from Morocco to Kuwait. The content is usually subtitled in English, French, and Arabic because Arabic speakers do not easily understand each other's dialects.

Here are OkayAfrica’s recommendations of the most anticipated Ramadan shows this season, which are marked by a refreshing variety of women-driven and centered stories. 

Sawa Sawa

In this social romance set in Cairo’s El Sayeda Zeinab, nurse Ahlam (Huda Elmufti) becomes the centre of a painful struggle between two men. Ibrahim (Ahmed Malek) loves her deeply, while the other (Khaled Kamal) wants to control her completely. As her health declines and her fate hangs in the balance, Ibrahim fights not only for her heart but also for her life. Written by Mouhab Tarek and directed by Essam Abdel Hamid, Sawa Sawa explores love, labour, and the everyday struggles of the working class.

Where to watch: Shahid 

Ethnein Gheirna 

Rumored to become a favorite this Ramadan, Etnein Gheirna stars Asser Yassin as a reclusive high school teacher who lives in isolation, weighed down by personal pressures. His life changes when he meets a famous actress who is also in crisis, played by Dina El Sherbiny. Their chance encounter develops into a relationship that challenges him to confront his past. Written by Rana Abu El Rish and directed by Khaled El Halfawy, this musalsal blends romance with personal reflection.

Where to watch: Watch IT

Manna’a (Immunity)

Hend Sabry returning to the Ramadan small screen for the first time in five years is already one of the season’s defining moments. Manna’a, a suspense drama set in the 1980s, follows the tribulations of Gharam, who is left to raise three children alone after husband, a career criminal, is killed. Thrust into the dangerous world of drug trafficking, she is forced to navigate the betrayal and power struggles that mark her neighborhood. Directed by Hussein El Menbawy and written by Amr El Daly.

Where to watch: Yango Play 

Kan Ya Makan (Once Upon a Time)

This heartfelt comedy-drama stars Maged El Kedwany as a middle-aged husband struggling with the emotional complexities of divorce after a marriage marked by years of routine and miscommunication. Despite their love for each other, the couple finds themselves embroiled in courtroom battles after an initially calm separation, affecting not only each other but also their daughter. Written by Sherine Diab and directed by Karim El Adl, Kan Ya Makan offers a relatable portrayal of modern relationships and gives hope for second chances. 

Where to watch: Shahid 

Aard W Talab (Supply and Demand) 

In Aard W Talab, Salma Abu Deif stars as a working-class school teacher on a quest to find a kidney donor for her sick mother. Portraying the everyday lives of teachers and doctors through a deeply personal angle, this series explores their personal lives, frustrations, and relationships alongside the demands of their work and is in line with the projects Abu Deif chooses to work on. Written by Mahmoud Ezzat and directed by Amr Moussa.

Where to watch: WATCH IT 

Sohab Al Ard (Indigenous) 

In Sohab Al Ard, Menna Shalaby portrays an Egyptian doctor working in a medical convoy in the Gaza Strip. Set against the backdrop of Israel’s genocidal war, a love story unfolds between her and a Palestinian father trying to save his son from bombardment. Written by Ammar Sabry and directed by Peter Mimi, this series blends romance with political tension under extreme circumstances of displacement, loss, and survival. It features a distinguished Arab and international cast and has already drawn criticism from Israeli media. 

Where to watch: WATCH IT 

Ala Add El Hob (As Much As Love) 

Egyptian star Nelly Karim stars in Ala Add El Hob, a drama about a woman navigating life’s hardships following her mother’s death. Karim is known and beloved for her ability to inhabit complex, emotionally layered characters; in this series, she steps into a romance marked by multigenerational and class dynamics. Written by Mostafa Gamal Hashem and directed by Khaled Saeed.

Where to watch: WATCH IT