ABC’s Summer Schedule Is Here and It’s Basically Steve Harvey Season Again

ABC has finally pulled back the curtain on its 2026 summer schedule, and if you had "more Steve Harvey" on your bingo card, congratulations, you’re the big winner. While the rest of the world is busy actually going outside, the network is betting that we’d rather sit in a darkened room watching celebrities fail at basic trivia. It’s a bold strategy, but considering the lineup is mostly a collection of recycled formats and one very curious spinoff, it’s clear the Mouse House is prioritizing the budget over the brand.

The festivities officially kick off on Thursday, June 25, with the "CMA Fest." It’s three hours of country music stars pretending they aren't sweating through their denim in the Nashville heat. It’s the annual televised reminder that ABC really wants to keep that middle-America demographic happy before pivoting back to its bread and butter: game shows that feel like they’ve been on the air since the invention of the wheel.

By mid-July, the schedule settles into a comfortable, if predictable, groove. "Celebrity Family Feud" returns for Season 12 on July 9, followed by "Press Your Luck." Elizabeth Banks continues her quest to be the hardest-working woman in show business, dodging Whammies while we all wonder if anyone actually remembers the original 80s version. Meanwhile, Jimmy Kimmel is dusting off the tuxedo for Season 5 of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" starting July 22. It’s reliable, it’s easy, and it requires almost zero intellectual heavy lifting, perfect for a Tuesday night when the humidity is at 90 percent.

The real wildcard is the series premiere of "Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro" on July 13. Hosted by Robert Irwin, because there is no corner of the Disney-ABC-National Geographic empire he won't touch, the show follows twelve aspiring pros fighting for a spot in the main ballroom come fall. It’s essentially a very long, very sequined job interview. With Mark and Shirley Ballas judging, expect plenty of technical jargon that will make us all feel slightly less coordinated than we already are.

Sundays remain the network’s "safe space," occupied by "The Wonderful World of Disney." We’re getting the usual suspects like "Moana" and "Toy Story 4," interspersed with 90s nostalgia hits like "The Sandlot" and "Independence Day." It’s the television equivalent of a warm blanket, predictable, slightly fuzzy, and probably something you’ve seen twenty times already.

🗓️ Premiere Schedule

Thursday, June 25	8:00 PM	CMA Fest (3-Hour Special)
Thursday, July 9	8:00 PM	Celebrity Family Feud (Season 12 Premiere)
	9:00 PM	Press Your Luck (Season 7 Premiere)
Monday, July 13	8:00 PM	Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro (Series Premiere)
Wednesday, July 15	8:00 PM	The 2026 ESPYS (Live Special)
Wednesday, July 22	8:00 PM	Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (Season 5 Premiere)

While the "ABC summer schedule revealed" headlines might suggest a revolution, it’s really just a very polished evolution of the same "don't wake the baby" programming we’ve seen for years. It’s cheap to produce, easy to watch, and perfect for when you’ve run out of things to scroll through on your phone.

Which of these "new" staples are you actually going to set a DVR for, or are you just going to wait for the highlights to hit Hulu the next day? Drop a comment below or head over to our forums at The TV Cave to tell us if you’re actually excited for another round of Harvey or if you’re just here for the "DWTS" drama.