Pretty much every year in recent memory has seen Zendaya do big things. She’s one of the biggest stars in the world and shines in every role she has, while also delivering stunning looks whenever she walks any red carpet. That said, 2026 is looking like it will be the greatest year of her career.
In fact, Zendaya’s 2026 will likely be a year that most actors in history can manage to top. She will appear in movies that are likely to sit near or at the top of the global box office, she has a part in one of the year’s most intriguing original dramas, and she reprises her award-winning small-screen role.
Zendaya Returns To Her Three Biggest Roles In 2026
Chani (Zendaya) kneels down in the desert looking at something off-screen in Dune: Part 2.
To start, 2026 will see Zendaya back as the three most notable characters in her filmography. First up, she will be portraying Rue Bennett once again in season 3 of Euphoria. While reviews for season 2 were mixed and production on the new season has been messy, this is still a big deal for Zendaya.
Rue is the character that has earned Zendaya two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Even if season 3 doesn’t receive the strongest reviews, there’s a good chance that Zendaya’s performance will be a hit and land her another nomination.
This summer, Zendaya returns to the big screen as MJ in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The film is sure to be a blockbuster hit and everyone is excited to see how she’ll be back since her character forgot Peter Parker at the end of the last movie.
To close out the year, Zendaya will also be back as Chani in Dune: Part Three. After a small part in the first installment, she’s basically the hero of the critically-acclaimed second entry. The cliffhanger in the last film saw Chani going off on her own and she’s set to play a huge part in Dune: Part Three.
Zendaya Will Be Part Of Two Exciting New Films This Year
Zendaya’s 2026 will also see her play characters she’s never played before. Her first role doing so is The Drama, an A24 movie where she appears alongside Robert Pattinson. Their characters, Emma and Charlie, are set to be married, only to learn secrets that change everything between them.
Considering the quality of performers that both Pattinson and Zendaya are, and the early trailers, The Drama looks like it could be one of the best movies of the year.
Along with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Zendaya has another shot at one of her films grossing $1 billion thanks to The Odyssey. The Christopher Nolan epic will adapt the novel and Zendaya will appear as Athena. Again, this looks like it could be one of the best films of the year.
Whether it’s on the small screen with Euphoria, on the big screen with one of her four impressive movies, or on the red carpet premieres for any of them, Zendaya will be everywhere in 2026 and we’re glad for it.