Emma’s Must-Sees for November 2026

What I love most about our programming this month is how many shows integrate the past with the present. Medicine Ball tackles the history of Native boarding schools alongside the current lives of Native basketball players. Crime and Punishment in America draws a clear line between criminal justice practices of the colonial era and our modern day. These shows, alongside the rest of our November lineup, like our election day coverage and Native American Heritage Month programming, give such useful, clear-sighted context for our world today — something I’m sure we are all seeking right now.

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Midterm elections are upon us! The PBS News Hour team will be providing live updates the whole night, including coverage of California races with Political Breakdown hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos. You can also find more in-depth information about local ballots in the KQED voter guide — a truly invaluable reference for any Bay Area voter. Elections are always nights with a flurry of news, takes, and sometimes misinformation, so I really turn to resources like the PBS election special and our voter guide to provide clear, trustworthy journalism to help me parse through the noise. They’ll be reporting through the evening, and chances are it will run long, so keep in mind the primetime broadcast schedule may change to accommodate this essential election coverage.

Airs on KQED 9 Tuesday November 3 at 5pm until 8:30pm or later. Stream for free the next day on the PBS App.

Shows like this one really take me back to watching TV at my grandparents’ house during school break. Despite all our different tastes, we could all happily enjoy a well-produced, exciting history series. Secrets of Great British Castles is a true crowdpleaser, with something for the whole family: war history buffs, architectural nerds, and lovers of a good historical tale will all be equally happy with an evening spent with this show. Host Dan Jones really brings history to life in these stunning castle grounds, covering some of my personal favorite landmarks in the UK, including Warwick Castle and Stirling Castle. It’s a great way to travel to beautiful, historical locations without leaving your couch, and learn some interesting history along the way.

Airs on KQED PLUS starting Thursday November 5 at 8pm. Binge the series early with KQED Passport on the PBS App now.

You may have noticed from my picks in previous months that I love a story about newspapers. Stripped for Parts and Becoming Katharine Graham have been some of my favorite films we’ve aired recently. In Bad Press, we follow Angel Ellis, a journalist fighting against the repeal of the landmark Free Press Act in the Muscogee Nation. It’s a nailbiting story, chronicling the victories and setbacks faced by Ellis and her colleagues through elections and tense council votes. I often forgot I was watching a documentary, not a high stakes thriller, full of memorable characters and shocking narrative moments — the ending shot in particular feels like something right out of a movie. It gives unique insight into modern Indigenous politics, and a must see this Native American Heritage Month.

Airs on KQED PLUS Sunday November 8 at 7pm. Stream early for free November 1 on the PBS App.

This wonderful new series shines a light on the largely unknown histories of women during the Second World War. It’s exciting and fast-paced and really brings their stories to life. I particularly enjoyed learning about Josephine Baker’s time as a French spy — we see stunning footage of her not just as a dancer (with amazing costumes!) but as an undercover agent smuggling information to the Allies. There’s certainly no shortage of World War II documentaries in the PBS library, and I really welcome this addition to our collection, as it highlights the contributions of everyday women and girls during this period. We’ll be airing the whole series on Sunday November 8, and I highly recommend settling in for an informative and entertaining evening of history.

All three episodes air on KQED PLUS Sunday November 8 starting at 8pm. Binge the series early with KQED Passport on the PBS App now.

While I don’t watch a lot of sports myself, I do love sports movies: I love to know about the players’ lives, and the backstories behind high stakes games. Medicine Ball has all of that. It’s an energetic and vibrant film, following two Native basketball players at the University of Minnesota Morris, which is located on the site of a former Native boarding school. The two leads, Lexus Redthunder and Leroy Fairbanks IV, have such thoughtful, unique perspectives on what basketball means to them — and it’s just so fun to watch them play a game they clearly love. The film interweaves Native history with these young athlete’s personal stories and is overall a lively portrait of basketball as a symbol of resilience and cultural pride in their community.

Airs on KQED 9 Monday November 9 at 10pm. Stream for free the same day on the PBS App.

One of my favorite things about Lynn Novick’s new series is the way more modern experiences with the criminal justice system were interwoven with the history of its development — powerfully connecting the past to the present day. The series hits home in other ways, covering local stories like the Polly Klaas case from Petaluma and the introduction of the three strikes law. Each episode I had multiple aha moments, where I felt like I had a richer understanding of our nation’s conception of crime and punishment and how it’s shaped all of our lives today. I’m so proud to be able to bring this thoughtful, gripping series to our KQED audience and let you all have your own aha moments as well.

Airs on KQED 9 starting Monday November 16 at 8pm and runs the whole week until Thursday November 19. Stream the whole series for free the night of its broadcast premiere.

Follow Chief Marchand Rice’s journey from a murder conviction to becoming a voice of hope & healing as a mentor to at-risk youth.

Airs on KQED 9 Monday November 2 at 11:30pm and on KQED PLUS Sunday November 22 at 7pm. Stream for free early starting November 1 on the PBS App.

Jason Kelce hosts an action-packed Veterans Day celebration with The U.S. Army Field Band. Features musical performances by 8-time Grammy winning musical legend Jon Batiste.

Airs on KQED 9 Friday November 6 at 8pm. Stream for free the same day on the PBS App.

A new staging set in the fictional border town of Verona, where Romeo and Juliet speak to each other in Spanish, the language of their private world.

Airs on KQED 9 Friday November 13 at 8pm. Stream for free the same day on the PBS App.

The story of how Liz Diller became one of the most influential architects of her generation, reshaping not just buildings but the way cities think about democracy and public life.

Airs on KQED 9 Tuesday November 24 at 9pm. Stream for free the same day on the PBS App.

Catch a glimpse into the Alps’ most enchanting time of year. Forests glisten with frost and Marmots retreat to cozy underground homes, while deer and wolves trot through deep snow.

Airs on KQED 9 Wednesday November 25 at 8pm. Stream for free the same day on the PBS App.

Bezhig Little Bird was adopted into a Jewish family at the age of five. Now in her 20s, Bezhig searches for the family she lost.

Entire series encores on Saturday November 28 starting at 8pm on KQED 9. Binge with KQED Passport on the PBS App now.

Looking for more programs to watch? Find our past recommendations:

October 2026
September 2026
August 2026
July 2026
June 2026
May 2026
April 2026
March 2026
February 2026
January 2026
December 2025
November 2025
October 2025
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