On January 15, 2026, Paramount+ is adding a major new chapter to the Star Trek universe with Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Set in the far future and directly tied to the events of Star Trek: Discovery, the series is designed both as a fresh gateway for newcomers and a continuation that rewards long-time fans.
Why Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Matters for the Franchise
Rather than revisiting the classic eras of Kirk, Picard, or even the early days of Discovery, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy plants its flag in the 32nd century. This is a time when the United Federation of Planets and Starfleet are still recovering from massive upheavals, making it a fertile setting for stories about rebuilding, responsibility, and what the Federation stands for in a changed galaxy.
Paramount+ is positioning the show as a cornerstone of its Star Trek slate. With a 10-episode first season and a second season already ordered, Starfleet Academy isn’t a side project—it’s a strategic centerpiece for the streaming platform’s sci-fi lineup.
Back to School in the 32nd Century
The core concept of the series is deceptively simple: after more than a hundred years without new students, Starfleet Academy finally opens its doors again. The show follows the first cohort of cadets admitted in this era, tracking their training and their personal journeys as they learn what it means to wear a Starfleet uniform.
This isn’t a cozy, low-stakes campus story. The Federation’s institutions are fragile, galactic politics are unstable, and the ideals that defined Star Trek from the beginning—cooperation, diplomacy, scientific curiosity, and accountability—are being tested at every turn. The cadets aren’t just learning the rules of Starfleet; they’re helping to redefine its mission for a new age.
Training Beyond the Classroom: Meet the USS Athena
While a significant part of the show takes place on the iconic San Francisco campus of Starfleet Academy, the series quickly expands beyond lecture halls and simulators. Cadets train aboard the USS Athena, a dedicated training vessel designed to function as an extension of the Academy.
This ship can depart Earth for real-world operations and field assignments, pushing the students into situations where phasers, first contact protocols, and moral dilemmas collide. The Athena allows the show to blend the energy of a school drama with classic Star Trek elements: exploration, starship bridge dynamics, and high-stakes decision-making in deep space.
Watch the First Look at Starfleet Academy
Paramount+ has released an early look to set the tone and visual identity of the series:
This preview highlights the 32nd-century tech, the renewed Starfleet aesthetic, and the mix of youthful energy and larger political stakes that define the show.
A New Generation of Cadets, Guided by Familiar Faces
At the center of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is a fresh ensemble of young cadets, portrayed by Sandro Rosta, Karim Diané, Kerrice Brooks, George Hawkins, and Bella Shepard. Rather than focusing on one star captain, the narrative is built around this group’s intersecting stories: their backgrounds, conflicts, ambitions, and the ways they adapt to a Starfleet that’s rebuilding itself.
The show uses their perspectives to reintroduce audiences to Federation values from the ground up. Each cadet brings different cultural, planetary, and personal histories, reflecting the franchise’s long-standing emphasis on diversity and inclusion—updated for contemporary viewers.
Legacy Characters and Franchise Veterans
While the cadets drive the story, longtime Star Trek fans will immediately recognize key figures who anchor the series in the broader canon and provide a sense of continuity.
- Holly Hunter plays Nahla Ake, the chancellor of Starfleet Academy and captain of the USS Athena. As both an academic leader and starship captain, she embodies the tension between classroom ideals and the realities of the field.
- Robert Picardo returns as the Doctor, now serving as a holographic instructor. His presence connects the series all the way back to Star Trek: Voyager, while giving the Academy a mentor who literally can’t age out of service.
- Tig Notaro and Oded Fehr, familiar faces from Star Trek: Discovery, reprise their roles, reinforcing the direct narrative bridge between Discovery’s 32nd-century storyline and the Academy’s setting.
Adding another layer, Paul Giamatti appears in a recurring role that promises to inject a darker, more complex tone into the first season, hinting at political, ethical, or perhaps even existential threats that go beyond simple exam stress or training mishaps.
Format, Release Schedule, and Connection to Discovery
Created by Gaia Violo and overseen by Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy was in development for several years before receiving its official greenlight in 2023. That long gestation period shows in its hybrid format: the series combines coming-of-age storytelling, political intrigue, and classic space exploration.
The first season features 10 episodes. Paramount+ will drop the first two episodes on January 15, 2026, followed by a weekly rollout leading up to the season finale on March 12, 2026. This release pattern is designed to keep the show in the cultural conversation, encouraging speculation and discussion between episodes—crucial for a franchise with such a dedicated fanbase.
Story-wise, the show is firmly planted after the events of Star Trek: Discovery. That means viewers who followed Michael Burnham’s jump into the far future will recognize the political landscape and some of the technological shifts. However, the narrative is intentionally structured to be accessible even if this is your first Star Trek series.
Designed for Newcomers, Built for Longtime Fans
One of the boldest aspects of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is how deliberately it positions itself as an entry point. The cadets are learning everything from scratch—Federation history, Starfleet protocol, and the moral frameworks that sit at the heart of the franchise. That makes their journey a natural stand-in for viewers discovering the universe for the first time.
At the same time, the writers layer in references, returning characters, and continuity details for seasoned fans. The 32nd-century Federation still carries the scars of past crises, giving veteran viewers deeper context for the political and cultural tension in the background of the Academy’s stories.
What Starfleet Academy Brings to Modern Sci-Fi TV
For U.S. audiences used to prestige genre shows and character-driven streaming dramas, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy aims to sit at the intersection of several popular trends:
- Serialized character arcs rooted in friendships, rivalries, and mentorships among the cadets.
- Big-picture political stakes as the Federation tries to rebuild trust, expand its reach, and confront new threats.
- Exploratory missions aboard the USS Athena that deliver the discovery-of-the-week sense of wonder core to classic Trek.
By blending these elements, Paramount+ is effectively reinterpreting the classic Star Trek ethos—optimism, curiosity, and moral complexity—through the eyes of the people who will carry that legacy into the future. It’s a generational handoff, not just within the story, but also between longtime Trekkies and those discovering the franchise through streaming.
How and When to Watch on Paramount+
Platform: Paramount+ (U.S. and other supported regions)
Premiere Date: January 15, 2026
Launch Format: First two episodes available at launch, then one episode per week
Season 1 Length: 10 episodes (January–March 2026)
Future: Season 2 already confirmed
For U.S. viewers following the broader Star Trek universe on streaming, Starfleet Academy looks set to be a major anchor series, shaping the 32nd-century timeline and offering a serialized, character-driven perspective on what Starfleet means in a post-crisis galaxy.
FAQ
When does Star Trek: Starfleet Academy take place in the Star Trek timeline?
The series is set in the 32nd century, after the events depicted in Star Trek: Discovery. It explores a period when the Federation and Starfleet are in the process of rebuilding after major disruptions to galactic order.
Do I need to watch other Star Trek shows before starting Starfleet Academy?
No prior viewing is required. The show is designed to be accessible to newcomers, using the cadets’ training and orientation as a natural way to introduce key concepts. However, fans who have followed earlier series—especially Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Voyager—will notice additional layers of continuity and returning characters.
How many episodes are in Season 1, and how will they be released on Paramount+?
Season 1 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy includes 10 episodes. Paramount+ will release the first two episodes on January 15, 2026, followed by a weekly episode each Thursday through March 12, 2026.
Is Starfleet Academy part of a larger long-term plan for Star Trek on Paramount+?
Yes. Paramount+ has already ordered a second season of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, signaling that it’s intended as a central piece of the platform’s Star Trek strategy. The series expands the 32nd-century setting introduced in Discovery and is expected to play a key role in shaping future stories in this era.
