Streaming & TV Alerts · Reese Holland · 5 July 2026

Supernatural is set to return in 2026, but there's a catch

Supernatural is set to return in 2026, but there's a catch

Supernatural is officially coming back on September 2, 2026—but not on television. Dynamite Entertainment's one-shot comic Supernatural: Wayward Special #1 brings Sam and Dean Winchester back while splitting them apart, as mysterious forces send the brothers down separate roads and tee up a larger franchise event later in 2026. For fans hoping Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki will slip back into Dean and Sam on screen soon, scheduling—not enthusiasm—is the real obstacle.

After fifteen seasons and a divisive 2020 finale, the Supernatural fandom never stopped asking for more Winchester road trips. Between Ackles and Padalecki reuniting with Misha Collins on The Boys, fresh Dynamite comics, and years of cast comments about a possible revival, July 2026 finally delivered a concrete date—just not the one many viewers imagined. For more updates, follow our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.

Key Takeaways

When Is Supernatural Officially Coming Back?

Dynamite has set Supernatural: Wayward Special #1 for September 2, 2026, following Supernatural #10 on August 28, 2026. The 48-page oversized issue will sell for $5.99 at local comic shops, with variant covers featuring Ackles and Padalecki.

Unlike Dynamite's ongoing Supernatural series—set between the show's first and second seasons with a monster-of-the-week format—Wayward promises a major shift. Dynamite's Nick Barucci told Bleeding Cool the issue is "a fork in the road and essential reading" that will "take Supernatural to a new level," with a follow-up event expected later in 2026 and likely revealed around San Diego Comic-Con (July 23–26).

Why Won't Sam and Dean Be Together?

The official synopsis asks what "horrible, hellish forces" could drive the Winchester brothers to "travel separate roads." On television, Sam and Dean were rarely apart for long; even when separated, one brother was usually trying to find the other.

Wayward flips that dynamic. ScreenRant notes the one-shot markets a mutual split rather than a temporary rescue mission, giving "Carry On Wayward Son" a darker meaning as the brothers carry on separately. The opening line—"The split starts here"—also suggests the divide may extend beyond this single issue into future releases.

What Is Stopping a Supernatural Season 16 on TV?

No official Supernatural season 16 production has been announced. Still, the stars keep saying yes. Padalecki told Collider in 2024 that any return would be "a labor of love," adding, "I just don't know when I'm available. I don't know when he's available. But again, my answer is yes." He has also stated that he and Ackles will play Sam and Dean again—it is a timing and availability issue.

Ackles echoed that enthusiasm but named the catch: "It sounds like Amazon's going to have to come up with an idea on that one, because they're controlling my schedule right now." Between The Boys, the canceled Countdown, and headlining the prequel Vought Rising, his calendar is packed. Padalecki and Ackles have reunited on The Boys and The Rookie, but a full Winchester TV revival still needs time and a clear direction.

Has Supernatural Already Set Up Season 16?

Even without a greenlit season 16, recent franchise entries have dropped major breadcrumbs. The Winchesters finale revealed how Dean kept hunting monsters in Heaven after his death—filling the gap between the Supernatural finale's ending and Sam's eventual reunion with his brother.

The parent show's divisive finale also left threads fans still debate: God's lingering threat, Sam's life after Dean, and the flash-forward showing Sam's son—named Dean—with what looked like an anti-possession tattoo on his arm. Whether Wayward explores Dean's afterlife, Sam's earthly years, or both, the comic could bridge those unanswered chapters whether season 16 arrives on TV or stays on the page.

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