Read below to find TV highlights from May 2026, including a behind-the-scenes look at David Attenborough’s groundbreaking Life on Earth, a Broadway musical on the suffragist movement, a series uncovering the history of American Muslims, the annual National Memorial Day Concert, and more.
 

Life On Earth: Attenborough's Greatest Adventure

In 1976 David Attenborough embarked on his most ambitious project ever. No-one had ever attempted a natural history series on this scale before. His reputation was on the line. This is the story behind TV’s first wildlife blockbuster, Life on Earth.

TUNE IN 
Tune in Wednesday, May 6, at 7pm.

STREAM
Stream on the PBS app and online.

Great Performances | Suffs

Created by Tony Award winner Shaina Taub, this musical recorded from Broadway tells the story of the American suffragist movement and the remarkable friendships, heartbreak, and action that brought women together—or, in some cases, tore them apart. 

The ensemble cast features Taub as Alice Paul, Tony winner Nikki M. James as Ida B. Wells, Tony nominee Jenn Colella as Carrie Chapman Catt, and Grace McLean as President Woodrow Wilson.

TUNE IN
Tune in Friday, May 8, at 8pm.

STREAM
Stream on the PBS app and online.

Minnesota and the American Story: Revolutionary Roots

Two and a half centuries after the birth of the American Revolution, the ideals of liberty, self-governance, and civic responsibility continue to shape communities across Minnesota.

In this powerful one-hour documentary, four stories from across the state explore how the spirit of 1776 lives on far beyond the original colonies. Though Minnesota was largely frontier wilderness during the Revolutionary era, its people today carry forward the legacy of those founding principles in deeply personal and community-driven ways.

This program includes a short feature from Prairie Public, Clay County Settlements, which explores the history of Scandinavian and German immigrants who settled in western Minnesota, drawn by the railroad and the promise of land through the Homestead Act.

TUNE IN
Tune in Thursday, May 14, at 9pm.

American Muslims: A History Revealed

American Muslims: A History Revealed is a documentary series that reveals and explores the early history of Muslims in the United States. The films are hosted by journalists Malika Bilal, Aymann Ismail, and Asma Khalid, who travel the country to piece together stories spanning over 200 years.

In one episode, airing May 18 at 8pm, the show travels to Ray, North Dakota, to learn about Muslim homesteaders on the Great Plains.

TUNE IN
Watch on Mondays, May 11 and May 18:

• Islam at the Nation's Founding — Monday, May 11, at 8pm
• A Muslim in the Civil War — Monday, May 11, at 8:30pm
• A Mosque on the Prairies— Monday, May 18, at 8pm
• A New Hope for Freedom— Monday, May 18, at 8:30pm

Downton Abbey

The Crawleys are back! Downton Abbey — the beloved MASTERPIECE series and most popular PBS drama of all time — returns to Prairie Public this month this spring. 

Seasons 1-3 will air on Sundays, beginning May 17, at 9pm. Consecutive seasons will begin later in the year.

TUNE IN
Tune in on Sundays, beginning May 17, at 9pm.

STREAM
Stream all seasons on the PBS app and online.

American Masters | W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel with a Cause

Explore the life and legacy of notable Black scholar and civil rights pioneer W.E.B. Du Bois. From his birth, just five years after the Emancipation Proclamation; to his death, on the eve of the March on Washington in 1963, his legacy as an activist continues to resonate today.

TUNE IN
Tune in on Tuesday, May 19, at 8pm.

STREAM
Stream on the PBS app and online.

National Memorial Day Concert 2026

The National Memorial Day Concert honors our country’s veterans, servicemen and women and military families. 

For 35 years, this television event — featuring uplifting musical performances, documentary footage and dramatic readings — has become an American tradition and is one of PBS’ highest-rated programs. On the broadcast, celebrities share real-life stories spanning the broad history of our nation’s military conflicts, award-winning musicians perform songs in tribute to our country’s true heroes, and performers from the United States premier military choirs and ensembles are featured.

TUNE IN
Tune in on Sunday, May 24, at 7pm. The broadcast will repeat at8pm.

Brothers and Borders

For more than a century, Canada and the United States have stood side by side in battle—from the First and Second World Wars to Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Afghanistan, and global peacekeeping missions. 

Brothers and Borders examines the deep military alliance between these two nations, highlighting the shared sacrifices of soldiers who fought for freedom beyond their borders.

TUNE IN
Tune in on Monday, May 25, at 8pm.