CNN announces upcoming original series

CNN has announced a preview of its upcoming CNN Originals programming, including an expansion of the “Searching For” franchise, a new food and travel series and a docuseries on A.I.

The network has ordered a second season of “Eva Longoria: Search For France” from CNN Original Series building on Longoria’s “Searching For Spain” series and Stanley Tucci’s “Search For Italy” offering. 

In a similar vein, a new food and travel series hosted by chef, restaurateur and cultural commentator David Chang. That project has yet to received an official title. 

CNN will also air “Mind vs/+ Machine: The Human Story of A.I.,” directed Steve James and produced by Alex Gibney. This series will explore “the dramatic rise of artificial intelligence through the people shaping its future,” according to the announcement.

These shows will join the previously announced “Fred Armisen is Lost in Sound,” a series produced with Universal Music Group, that will explore the stories behind iconic audio and musicians.

Returning for a fifth season is the network’s “Have I Got News For You,” set for a Sept. 12, 2026, premiere, which saw solid growth during its past season while anchoring the network’s Saturday evening lineup.

CNN is also continuing its partnership with Variety to produce the upcoming 24th season of “Actors on Actors.”

CNN Films will back the documentary short “Top of the World,” exploring the restaurant at the top of the World Trade Center. The project is being produced by Montalto Pictures, Tribeca Studios and Storyville Films and will have a limited theatrical release in the fall of 2026 and airing on CNN as part of the network’s recognition of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

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The previously announced “Amelia,” exploring the life and adventures of aviator Amelia Earhart is set for a 2027 airdate.

Additional details about upcoming 2026-2027 titles for CNN Originals include:

• “Eva Longoria: Searching for France” (Season 2): Often referred to as the food capital of the world, France has long been synonymous with culinary excellence. In its second season, “Eva Longoria: Searching for France” continues its immersive journey through the country’s rich culinary traditions, vibrant local cultures, and lesser-known regional histories. Expanding through Champagne, Lyon and beyond, Longoria will venture deeper into France’s diverse regions, exploring the kitchens, markets, vineyards and tables that define each community while uncovering new voices, unexpected stories, and the evolving identity of French cuisine. Produced by Hyphenate Media Group, the CNN Original Series will premiere in 2027.
• “The Untitled David Chang Show”: Produced by Majordomo Media and Tremolo Productions, David Chang takes an off-the-grid road trip through America’s food, culture and communities, reminding viewers that the best discoveries aren’t curated, they’re stumbled upon. This new CNN Original Series reimagines the modern food show, ditching rankings, viral lists and online hype in favor of discovery, connection and the thrill of finding something real. In each episode, Chang sets out on a drive across the United States, embracing the unpredictability of the road. With no reliance on pre-planned itineraries or internet recommendations, he and a rotating crew of friends follow local leads, word-of-mouth tips and spontaneous detours to uncover the stories, people and meals that don’t make it into guidebooks.
• “Mind vs/+ Machine: The Human Story of A.I.”: Directed by Academy Award nominee Steve James and executive produced by Academy Award winner Alex Gibney, the series traces the untold origin story of artificial intelligence and the global race to shape one of the most powerful technologies in human history. With unprecedented access to pioneering figures including Geoffrey Hinton, Yann LeCun, Yoshua Bengio and Fei-Fei Li, the series, produced by Jigsaw Productions, explores the defining tensions among the very people who helped create A.I., capturing a profound divide between those warning of existential risk and those embracing the promise of a transformative new era. James applies his singular, character-driven approach to illuminate the stories behind the machines and examine the ambitions, conflicts and moral dilemmas driving this rapidly evolving field. Premiering in 2027, Mind vs/+ Machine is the definitive series on artificial intelligence, revealing what is at stake at a critical inflection point in determining who controls this technology and what kind of future it will create.
• “Fred Armisen is Lost in Sound”: Led by Peabody Award-winning comedian, actor, writer, and musician Fred Armisen, the CNN Original Series offers an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look inside Universal Music Group’s vaults, home to one of the world’s largest music archives. Traveling deep into UMG’s legendary underground storage facility in Boyers, Pennsylvania, the series uncovers the stories behind some of the most iconic artists, recordings, and cultural moments in music history through rare master tapes, original recordings, unseen photos, performances, and archival treasures that have rarely been seen or heard publicly before. Produced by Polygram Entertainment, Time Studios, and Known Originals, Armisen explores the creative breakthroughs and enduring legacies that shaped generations of artists and audiences.
• “Top of the World”: Directed by Academy Award nominated filmmakers Betsy West and Julie Cohen, the documentary short explores the legacy of Windows on the World, the legendary restaurant atop the North Tower of the World Trade Center that became a symbol of New York’s ambition, diversity and immigrant spirit. Based on Tom Roston’s “The Most Spectacular Restaurant in the World,” the short film draws on firsthand accounts, archival material, and deeply personal memories to illuminate the extraordinary ecosystem that existed from the dining room to the kitchen before the events of September 11 forever changed countless lives. Through intimate stories of resilience, connection, and loss, Top of the World becomes a portrait not only of a restaurant, but of the enduring community that continues to shape lives long after it disappeared. Top of the World is presented by CNN Films and Time Studios, in association with Montalto Pictures, Tribeca Studios, and Storyville Films.
• “Amelia”: Directed by Emmy Award-winning Julie Cohen and Betsy West, the film is a sweeping and immersive portrait of aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart, exploring the life, legacy and enduring mystery of one of the most iconic women of the 20th century. Through rare archival materials, previously unheard audio recordings and Earhart’s own writings, the documentary reexamines the trailblazing aviator not only as a record-breaking pilot, but as a feminist and cultural force far ahead of her time. Following the latest deep-sea expedition to locate Earhart’s lost plane, the film combines historical investigation with immersive storytelling to bring audiences into the cockpit and inside the extraordinary life of a woman who continues to captivate the world nearly a century later. Coming in 2027, “Amelia” is presented by CNN Films and Imagine Documentaries, in association with Storyville Films, Icon International and Sandbox Films.
• “Have I Got News For You”: The American version of the long-running UK comedy series, Have I Got News For You is hosted by Roy Wood Jr. alongside team captains Amber Ruffin and Michael Ian Black. The series blends humor and insight, creating a sharp, fast-moving space where politics, culture, and current events collide in unexpected and entertaining ways. Produced by Hat Trick Productions for CNN Originals, the fifth season of Have I Got News For You premieres Saturday, September 12 at 9pm ET/PT on CNN.
• “Variety & CNN Actors on Actors”: The Emmy Award-winning interview franchise returns for its 24th season, bringing together the year’s most compelling performers for candid conversations about craft, creative process and the work driving the Emmy® award season. Featuring intimate, peer-to-peer conversations between Hollywood’s biggest stars, Actors on Actors continues to offer a rare behind-the-scenes look at the artistry, ambition and storytelling shaping the cultural conversation. Under the collaboration between CNN and Variety, the iconic series will debut this spring exclusively for subscribers of CNN’s streaming offering before rolling out across Variety’s digital platforms.

CNN, which provided the descriptions above, made the announcements during Upfronts week 2026, though the announcements were not billed as an official upfront presentation.