Home Entertainment Trends Shaping 2026

How we watch TV at home keeps changing — not with one big revolution, but with steady improvements that add up. These are the trends worth knowing about if you're upgrading your setup.

1. Big screens have become the norm

Prices for large TVs have fallen steadily for years, and 65-inch screens are now a mainstream choice for living rooms. At that size, the quality of your stream matters more: a soft 720p picture that looked acceptable on 40 inches looks noticeably blurry on 65. That's one reason a stable broadband connection is now as important as the TV itself.

What it means for you: if you've moved to a bigger screen, check your connection can comfortably handle Full HD or 4K. Our speed guide has the numbers.

2. Better Wi-Fi in the living room

Wi-Fi 6 is standard on most new routers and streaming devices, and Wi-Fi 7 equipment is increasingly available. Newer standards handle many devices on the same network better — useful when the TV is competing with phones, laptops and smart-home gadgets.

What it means for you: a router upgrade (or a mesh system) can do more for streaming stability than a faster broadband plan. Ethernet is still the gold standard for a fixed TV.

3. More efficient video codecs

H.265 (HEVC) is widely supported, and AV1 support is growing in TVs, streaming sticks and browsers. More efficient codecs deliver the same picture using less bandwidth, which helps on slower connections and in busy evening hours.

What it means for you: when buying a streaming device, look for hardware decoding of H.265 and, ideally, AV1. See choosing a streaming device.

4. TV platforms are becoming app hubs

Smart TV systems such as Tizen, webOS and Google TV increasingly act as app platforms first and tuners second. App stores are larger, interfaces are faster, and many TVs receive feature updates for several years.

What it means for you: keep your TV's firmware and apps updated — updates often fix playback bugs and add codec support.

5. Flexible subscriptions over long contracts

Viewers increasingly prefer to subscribe for the periods they actually watch — a few months around a sports season, or a year when they're sure. Clear, flexible plans without automatic renewal are becoming an expectation.

What it means for you: compare plans on cost per month and check renewal terms. Read IPTV pricing explained.

6. Sound is catching up with picture

Slim TVs have limited space for speakers, so soundbars — including affordable models with virtual surround — have become a common add-on. Features like automatic lip-sync and HDMI eARC make them easier to set up.

What it means for you: if you add a soundbar, connect it via HDMI eARC/ARC and check the audio delay setting if voices seem out of sync. See streaming quality problems.

7. Accessibility is getting attention

Larger subtitles, audio description, voice control and high-contrast menus are increasingly built into TVs and apps — good news for everyone, not just users who rely on them.

What size TV should you buy for a living room?

A common rule of thumb is to sit about 1 to 1.5 times the screen's diagonal away for 4K content. For a sofa about 2.5 metres from the wall, that points to roughly a 65-inch screen. Larger screens are fine for 4K but make low-quality streams look worse, so pair a big TV with a solid connection.

Is Wi-Fi 7 worth it for streaming?

For a single TV, Wi-Fi 6 or even a good Wi-Fi 5 router is usually enough; Wi-Fi 7 helps most in busy homes with many devices and large files moving at the same time. For streaming specifically, placement and interference matter more than the standard. A router in a cupboard on the other side of the house will struggle whatever its specification.

The cheapest upgrade remains a network cable to the TV. If that's impossible, a mesh access point near the TV is usually a better investment than a top-of-the-range router.

What is AV1 and do I need it?

AV1 is a royalty-free video codec that can deliver similar quality to H.265 at a lower bitrate. It is increasingly supported by newer TVs, streaming sticks and browsers. You don't need it today to watch IPTV, but if you're buying a new streaming device, AV1 hardware decoding is a sensible way to future-proof it.

Are Smart TV apps replacing set-top boxes?

For many households, yes. Modern Smart TV platforms have larger app stores and faster processors than a few years ago, so a separate box is increasingly optional. Boxes and sticks still make sense when your TV's app store lacks the player you want, when the TV is old or slow, or when you want wired Ethernet the TV doesn't offer.

What this means for IPTV viewers

The trends point in the same direction: the TV is becoming an app platform, the network is becoming the most important component, and viewers expect flexible plans rather than long contracts. That suits IPTV well. Our advice for 2026 is simple — keep your TV and apps updated, put the TV on the best connection in the house, and choose a plan length that matches how you actually watch. See our device guides for platform-specific tips.

Are soundbars worth adding?

For most slim TVs, yes. Built-in speakers have little space, and even an affordable soundbar makes dialogue clearer. Connect it with HDMI eARC/ARC so the TV remote controls the volume, and if voices seem out of sync, adjust the soundbar's lip-sync or audio-delay setting rather than the TV's.

How to future-proof your setup

Buy for the connection and the codec rather than the headline features. A TV or streaming device with Wi-Fi 6, an Ethernet port, H.265 and AV1 decoding, and a track record of software updates will serve you well for years. Features like 8K or exotic HDR formats matter far less for everyday streaming than a stable network and up-to-date apps.

The bottom line for 2026

Better screens and smarter platforms make home viewing easier than ever, but the fundamentals haven't changed: a good connection, a capable device and a service you can trust. Start with those and every other upgrade becomes a bonus.

Is 8K worth waiting for?

Not for streaming in 2026. Very little content is produced or distributed in 8K, the bandwidth required is far beyond most home connections, and at normal viewing distances the difference over 4K is hard to see. A good 4K TV with strong HDR performance and a reliable connection will deliver a better everyday experience than paying a premium for 8K resolution you won't use.

The takeaway

The best home-entertainment upgrades in 2026 are often the unglamorous ones: a solid network, an up-to-date device with modern codec support, and a flexible subscription that fits how you watch. Browse our device guides to get the most from the hardware you already have.