You must want to see this: Some of the Star Trek content you love may not be on Paramount+ much longer. Check the full list — What Shows Are Leaving Paramount+ in 2026 — Full Content Removal Tracker — before they disappear.

The Original Star Trek Era — Where It All Started

Star Trek began in 1966 with a television show that nearly got cancelled after one season. By the time it ended in 1969, it had built a following passionate enough to bring it back — and back again — for the next five decades.

Star Trek: The Original Series (1966–1969)

This is where everything begins. Captain James T. Kirk commands the starship Enterprise alongside Spock, McCoy, Scotty, Uhura, Sulu, and Chekov.

The show ran for 79 episodes across three seasons. By today’s standards some episodes look dated. But the writing, the characters, and the ideas are still compelling. The Original Series tackled race, war, government, and identity at a time when most television avoided all of it.

You do not need to watch every episode to understand the rest of the franchise. But you should watch at least the first season to understand who Kirk and Spock are — because their relationship shapes the entire universe that follows.

Essential viewing. The foundation of everything that follows. Start with Season 1 at minimum.

Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973–1974)

This is the direct continuation of the Original Series — the same cast, the same ship, the same mission. It ran for 22 animated episodes and is considered canon.

It is not essential viewing for most fans. Skip it on your first run through the franchise. Come back to it once you have watched the Original Series and fallen in love with the characters.

The Next Generation Era — The Golden Age of Star Trek

From 1987 to 2005, Paramount produced four separate Star Trek series set in roughly the same time period. This era is widely considered the creative peak of the franchise.

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)

A century after Kirk, Captain Jean-Luc Picard commands a new Enterprise with a new crew. TNG ran for seven seasons and 178 episodes.

If you ask most Star Trek fans where to start, many will say right here. Picard is one of the finest characters in science fiction. The writing improved dramatically season by season. By seasons 3 through 7, TNG was producing some of the best television ever made.

Episodes to watch first:

• The Measure of a Man
• The Best of Both Worlds
• The Inner Light

These three episodes alone will tell you everything you need to know about why people love this show.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999)

Deep Space Nine is different from every other Star Trek. It is set on a space station rather than a ship. It is darker. The stories are serialized rather than episodic. Characters change and grow over seven seasons.

DS9 ran alongside TNG for its first two seasons. You do not need to have watched TNG first — but some of the setup will make more sense if you have.

This show has a fierce following among Star Trek’s most dedicated fans. It deals with religion, occupation, identity, and war in ways that feel surprisingly modern. If you want depth, this is where you find it.

Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001)

A starship is flung 70,000 light years from home and has to find its way back. Captain Kathryn Janeway becomes the first female lead in a Star Trek series.

Voyager is the most self-contained of the four Next Gen era shows. You do not need to have watched anything else first. Each season largely stands alone. The show is lighter than DS9 and easier to watch casually.

It is not universally loved among hardcore fans — some episodes are weak and the storytelling was uneven. But Janeway is one of Star Trek’s great characters and the show has a devoted audience that would strongly disagree with any criticism.

Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005)

Enterprise is a prequel. It is set a century before Kirk — before the Federation even existed. Captain Jonathan Archer commands humanity’s first true deep space exploration mission.

The show struggled in its first two seasons. But seasons 3 and 4 are genuinely excellent — especially season 4 which felt like a proper love letter to Star Trek history.

Watch Enterprise after you have seen at least TOS and TNG. The callbacks and references will mean much more with that context.

The Modern Star Trek Era — New Shows on Paramount+

In 2017 Paramount relaunched the Star Trek franchise on its streaming platform with Discovery. Five new series followed. The modern era has been divisive among longtime fans but has also introduced the franchise to an entirely new generation.

Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024)

Discovery is set 10 years before the Original Series. It follows Michael Burnham — the first main character in Star Trek who is not the captain of the ship.

The show is visually stunning. The production values are far beyond anything the franchise had before. Storylines are serialized — each season is one connected story arc rather than individual episodes.

Discovery has five seasons and is now complete. New viewers who want to start with modern Star Trek often begin here. Long-time fans are more divided — some love it, some feel it departs too far from classic Trek values.

Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023)

Picard picks up 20 years after The Next Generation. Jean-Luc Picard is retired. He gets pulled back into action for one more mission.

This show is for TNG fans first. You will get much more out of it if you have already watched The Next Generation and its films. Several beloved characters from TNG return across the three seasons.

Season 3 in particular is a genuine love letter to TNG fans. If you loved the original crew, watch at least season 1 to get oriented and then push through to season 3.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022–present)

Strange New Worlds is the best new Star Trek series since Deep Space Nine. That is not a controversial statement — it is the consensus view of both critics and fans.

The show returns to the episodic format that made classic Star Trek work. Each episode tells a self-contained story. Characters are immediately likeable. The writing is sharp, funny, and moving in equal measure.

Captain Christopher Pike commands the Enterprise before Kirk. If you want to introduce someone to Star Trek for the first time in 2026, start here. Strange New Worlds is accessible, exciting, and genuinely great television.

Best new Star Trek series. Best entry point for first-time viewers in 2026. Start here.

Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020–present)

Lower Decks is an animated comedy. It follows the lowest-ranking crew members on one of Starfleet’s least important ships. The show is packed with references and in-jokes that reward longtime fans.

It is not a good starting point for new viewers — the humour relies on knowing what it is making fun of. But for fans who have watched a few series, it is hilarious and genuinely clever.

Star Trek: Prodigy (2021–present)

Prodigy is aimed at younger viewers and families. A group of alien kids discover an abandoned Federation ship and use it to try to reach the Federation.

Do not let the target audience fool you. Prodigy is well-written and emotionally engaging. Kate Mulgrew reprises her role as Janeway — in holographic form — which will mean a lot to Voyager fans.

Great for introducing Star Trek to children. Also worth watching for adults who loved Voyager.

The Best Watch Order for New Viewers — Start Here

You are new to Star Trek. You want to get into it but you do not want to commit to 55 years of television from the very beginning. Here is the path that makes the most sense.

The Recommended Beginner Path

 Strange New Worlds — Start here. Modern production, episodic format, instantly engaging. Two seasons to get you hooked

 The Next Generation — Start from season 3. Skip seasons 1 and 2 for a stronger start. Come back later if you enjoy it

 Deep Space Nine — Watch after finishing TNG. The first season is slow, but it becomes one of the best

 Discovery — A good entry for viewers who prefer serialized storytelling and high production quality

 The Original Series — Watch this later. It hits better once you understand the universe

What to Skip on Your First Run

The Animated Series — Skip it until you are a committed fan.

Enterprise — Save it for after TOS and TNG.

Lower Decks — Only funny if you already know what it is referencing.

What to Watch First If You Only Have Time for One

Strange New Worlds. No question. It is self-contained, beautifully produced, and it will make you want to watch everything else.

The Best Watch Order for Returning Fans

You watched Star Trek years ago. You are coming back and want to know what connects to what and where to pick up.

Release Order — The Most Common Choice

Watching in release order lets you experience the franchise the way fans did historically. You see how the storytelling evolved, how the production values changed, and how each new show built on what came before.

TOS → TAS → TNG → DS9 → Voyager → Enterprise → Discovery → Picard → Lower Decks → Prodigy → Strange New Worlds

Chronological In-Universe Order

If you prefer to experience the Star Trek universe in the order events actually happened within the fiction:

 Enterprise — earliest in the timeline, set in the 2150s

Strange New Worlds — set in the 2250s, just before TOS

Discovery Season 1 and 2 — also set in the 2250s

The Original Series — set in the 2260s

The Animated Series — continues TOS timeline

TOS Films — 2270s through 2290s

The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager — all 2360s–2370s

TNG Films — 2370s–2380s

Picard — set in 2399–2401

Discovery Season 3 onwards — jumps to 3188

Character Connection Guide

Several characters appear across multiple shows. This matters if you want to follow specific storylines:

Spock — TOS, TAS, TNG (one episode), Discovery, Strange New Worlds

Jean-Luc Picard — TNG, TNG films, Picard

Seven of Nine — Voyager, Picard

Worf — TNG, DS9, TNG films, Picard

Geordi La Forge — TNG, TNG films, Picard

Christopher Pike — TOS (pilot), Discovery seasons 2, Strange New Worlds

Kathryn Janeway — Voyager, Prodigy

Star Trek Movies on Paramount+ — Are They All There?

Yes. The full Star Trek film series is available on Paramount+. All 13 theatrical films — from the 1979 Motion Picture through the 2016 Star Trek Beyond.

Which Films Are Worth Your Time

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan — the best Star Trek film ever made. Watch it after TOS.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home — funny, accessible, great for new viewers.

Star Trek: First Contact — the best TNG film. Picard vs the Borg. Watch after TNG.

Star Trek (2009) — the JJ Abrams reboot. Great entry point for new viewers, stands completely alone.

Films You Can Skip

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier — considered the weakest film in the franchise by most fans. Skip it unless you are completing the collection.

Star Trek: Nemesis — a disappointing end to the TNG film era. Watch First Contact and Insurrection first. Nemesis is optional.

How to Get Paramount+ Cheaper to Watch All of Star Trek

The official Paramount+ Premium price has gone up every year since 2022. With the Skydance merger now complete, further price increases are likely in 2026 and beyond.

The good news is you do not have to pay the full official rate to access the entire Star Trek library.

Official Price vs Discounted Option

Official Paramount+ Premium costs significantly more per month than it did two years ago. You get the same content either way. The only difference is what you pay for it.

Primingo offers verified Paramount+ Premium accounts at prices well below the official rate. You get the full library — every Star Trek series, every film, all Showtime content, live sports, and 4K streaming — at a fraction of what Paramount charges directly.

Why Locking In a Plan Now Makes Sense

Paramount+ has raised prices multiple times in the last two years. With the Skydance acquisition now shaping the platform’s financial strategy, another round of increases is highly probable.

Buying a discounted plan through Primingo now means you access the entire Star Trek franchise at a price that will not change mid-plan. 55 years of television and 13 films — at a fraction of the official cost.

Every Star Trek series. Every film. All on Paramount+ Premium. Get access at a significantly lower price through Primingo. Plans available in 1, 3, and 6 month options. Delivery within minutes.
get Paramount+ Premium cheaper through Primingo

Want to explore more? Browse all streaming subscriptions — Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and more — all in one place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is all of Star Trek available on Paramount+ in 2026?
Yes. Every series and every film is on Paramount+. No other streaming service has the complete collection.

Q2: What is the best Star Trek series to watch first?
Strange New Worlds. Episodic, accessible, and immediately engaging. After that move to The Next Generation from season 3.

Q3: Do I need to watch Star Trek in order?
No. Strange New Worlds, Discovery, and Voyager all work as standalone starting points.

Q4: How many Star Trek series are on Paramount+ right now?
12 series — from The Original Series (1966) through Strange New Worlds (2022 onwards).

Q5: Are the Star Trek films on Paramount+?
Yes. All 13 theatrical films are available including the Kelvin timeline reboot starting with the 2009 film.

Q6: How can I get Paramount+ cheaper to watch Star Trek?
Through Primingo. Same content, same 4K quality, full Star Trek library at a lower price.

Final Verdict — Everything You Need to Watch Star Trek on Paramount+ in 2026

The Star Trek universe is one of the most rewarding things you can watch on any streaming platform in 2026.

55 years. 12 series. 14 films. Thousands of hours of television that spans every genre — action, philosophy, comedy, drama, horror, and everything in between.

All of it lives on Paramount+. And with the guide above you now know exactly where to start, what order to watch, and how each show connects to the rest.

New viewer — start with Strange New Worlds. You will not regret it.Returning fan — Picard season 3 is waiting for you. So is Lower Decks if you want to laugh.

And if the official Paramount+ price is stopping you from committing — do not let it. Primingo makes it accessible at a price that actually makes sense.