10 Upcoming MCU Moments We Can’t Wait To See In 2026

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is having a particularly strong year, arguably its best since the conclusion of the Infinity Saga with Avengers: Endgame. After focusing on establishing new storylines and exploring the multiverse, 2026 is bringing back more grounded, character-focused stories, and setting the stage for a massive conclusion to the current Multiverse Saga, starting with the film Avengers: Doomsday.

The MCU has an incredible lineup planned for 2026, including the returns of beloved characters and huge crossover events fans have anticipated for years. From the conclusion of Daredevil: Born Again season two to the team-ups in Doomsday, there are plenty of exciting releases on the horizon.

With all of that considered, here are 10 of the most anticipated moments coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2026 – moments that have been either officially announced or strongly hinted at. There are actually many more we’re looking forward to in the months ahead!

The End Of Daredevil and Fisk’s Vigilante War (Daredevil: Born Again Season 2)

As the second season of Daredevil: Born Again nears its end with just one episode remaining, the upcoming showdown between Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk feels more significant than ever. The conflict has escalated, and a major clash is inevitable between Daredevil and his allies, and Mayor Fisk with his task force dedicated to stopping vigilantes.

The season finale of Born Again seems set to deliver an epic showdown. Will Will Fisk manage to stay in power as New York’s mayor, or will Daredevil finally bring him down? A key question is what a win looks like for Daredevil, considering his refusal to kill. Trailers suggest this battle will be bigger than anything we’ve seen before in either the original Daredevil series or this new season.

Everything points to the upcoming battle being the ultimate showdown, the peak of a deeply personal and intense rivalry between a hero and villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Return Of The Punisher (Punisher: One Last Kill/Spider-Man: Brand New Day)

Jon Bernthal is returning as Frank Castle, the Punisher, to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite not appearing in the second season of Daredevil: Born Again, he’ll be featured in two upcoming projects. First, a 60-minute Disney+ special called Punisher: One Last Kill – written by Bernthal – will be released shortly after Born Again season 2 ends. Then, he’ll make his big-screen MCU debut in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, teaming up with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. This marks a busy “Summer of Punisher” for fans.

Spider-Man’s New Powers (Spider-Man: Brand New Day)

The upcoming Spider-Man film, Brand New Day, will show a significant change for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, including a boost to his powers. He’ll wake up surrounded by webs and emerge with new abilities. Trailers suggest he’ll now be able to create webs organically, similar to how Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man did in the movies. This ability was previously seen when Holland’s Spider-Man teamed up with Maguire and Andrew Garfield in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Fans will be thrilled to see Spider-Man learn to control his powers in the next Marvel movie, which comes out at the end of July.

The Return of Savage Hulk (Spider-Man: Brand New Day)

Fans are particularly excited about the expected return of the Hulk in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Toy releases and merchandise have strongly hinted at this, and the first trailer confirms it: Mark Ruffalo appears as Bruce Banner, teaching a class attended by Peter Parker and cautioning him about the risks of altered DNA.

Since the end of Avengers: Endgame, Bruce Banner has primarily been the calmer, more controlled “Smart Hulk.” However, many fans have been hoping to see the return of the classic, angrier Hulk. It appears that’s finally happening in the upcoming film, Brand New Day, even if Banner isn’t thrilled about it. With Spider-Man also expected to appear, a team-up between these two heroes is shaping up to be a huge moment for the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2026.

The Reveal Of Sadie Sink’s MCU Character (Spider-Man: Brand New Day)

For a while now, fans have been excitedly speculating about what role Sadie Sink will play in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day movie. The theories have been all over the place, with some suggesting she could be Gwen Stacy, Black Cat, a friend of the Punisher named Rachel Cole-Alves, or even a new rival for Zendaya’s Mary Jane Watson. Some particularly interesting ideas propose she might be the daughter of Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man and MJ from the original Spider-Man film series.

The most popular theory suggests that actress Kyla Sink will play Jean Grey, officially introducing mutants and the X-Men into the main Marvel Cinematic Universe. Regardless of her character’s true identity, the big reveal in Brand New Day is expected to be a standout moment in 2026, and fans are eagerly anticipating it.

Gambit’s Return As A Horseman of Apocalypse (X-Men ’97 Season 2)

The season one finale of X-Men ’97 hinted at what’s to come: Gambit will be brought back to life by Apocalypse and become one of his Horsemen in season two. This storyline is similar to the comics, and it’s likely Gambit will take on the role of ‘Death,’ just as he has in the original comic books.

After the events of season one left the X-Men spread throughout time and space, the upcoming reunion of Rogue and Gambit is expected to be a major highlight of X-Men ’97 season two. It will be especially dramatic if Gambit is compelled to make Rogue fight him while working for Apocalypse.

The Debut of Tommy Maximoff’s Speed (VisionQuest)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is continuing the story of Wanda and Vision with a new series called VisionQuest, slated to begin streaming in late 2026. Paul Bettany will reprise his role as White Vision, exploring what comes next for the android as he searches for a new purpose. James Spader will also return as Ultron in the series.

Reports indicate that Ruaridh Mollica will portray Tommy Shepard, a teenage version of Speed, in upcoming projects. Speed is the reborn son of Wanda Maximoff and Vision, and the twin brother of Wiccan (Billy Kaplan), who was first introduced in the Agatha All Along series.

The MCU has a great opportunity to introduce a significant speedster, a character type we haven’t seen much of since Makkari appeared in the 2021 film Eternals. This will also mark the first appearance of another Young Avenger, adding to a team fans have been eagerly awaiting for years, though it hasn’t fully come together on screen yet.

Robert Downey Jr. As Doctor Doom (Avengers: Doomsday)

Okay, so everyone’s talking about Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom in the next Avengers film, and honestly, it’s HUGE. This is potentially one of the biggest moments the Marvel Cinematic Universe has seen in years. Doom is a truly iconic villain, and seeing Downey Jr. transition from Iron Man – one of the MCU’s biggest heroes – to playing this classic bad guy is going to be incredibly interesting. I’m really hoping we get a proper look at his take on Doom soon, especially now that the Doomsday trailer has been shown at CinemaCon. Let’s get that trailer released to the public, please!

Avengers vs X-Men vs Fantastic Four (Avengers: Doomsday)

As a huge film fan, I’m incredibly excited about Avengers: Doomsday! From what I’ve heard, it’s not just the Avengers teaming up, but also facing off against the X-Men and the Fantastic Four. We’ve already gotten glimpses of some cool showdowns – apparently Shang-Chi will be going head-to-head with Gambit, Yelena Belova with Mystique, and even Mister Fantastic versus Nightcrawler. The CinemaCon footage looked amazing, and I can’t wait to see these battles play out on the big screen!

As a huge cinema fan, I’m already anticipating that Doomsday is going to deliver some truly unforgettable action sequences – not just the ones we’ve seen previews of, but probably a bunch more surprises too! I can’t wait to see them all play out.

The Return of Steve Rogers (Avengers: Doomsday)

Early previews have confirmed Chris Evans will reprise his role as Steve Rogers in Avengers: Doomsday, suggesting he’ll leave his life with Peggy Carter and their child to fight alongside the Avengers again. While some fans might be surprised by his return before the movie comes out, audiences can expect the Russo Brothers to have a good reason for bringing him back. For example, footage shown at CinemaCon revealed a powerful moment where Rogers reunites with Thor and even lifts Mjolnir, proving his identity – and it’s already shaping up to be a highlight of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2026.

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2026-05-01 02:32