The beloved series All Creatures Great and Small is set to return for its sixth season, bringing viewers back to the Yorkshire Dales as World War II ends. The new season premieres on Sunday, January 11, 2026, on MASTERPIECE on PBS. Audiences will find their favorite characters navigating a new post-war world filled with change, hope, and a fresh set of challenges. This season jumps forward to May 1945, showing a Skeldale House in disarray and a community ready for peace.
Official Release Date and Broadcast Schedule
Mark your calendars. All Creatures Great and Small Season 6 officially launches on January 11, 2026. The season will air weekly, with the finale scheduled for February 22, 2026.
You can watch new episodes on Sunday nights at 9/8c on PBS stations across the United States. The season consists of seven new episodes, including a special Christmas episode.
For viewers who prefer streaming, new episodes will be available on the PBS website and the free PBS app starting at 9/8c on the night of each broadcast. These episodes will be available for general streaming for 14 days after they air. Subscribers to PBS Passport, a member benefit, can stream all episodes from the season’s start on January 11. The season will also be available on the PBS MASTERPIECE Prime Video Channel.
Outside the U.S., the season premiered earlier in the United Kingdom on Channel 5 in September 2025. Canadian viewers can watch the season on PBS Masterpiece starting the same day as the U.S. premiere, January 11, 2026.
A New Post-War Era in the Dales
The story picks up nearly four years after the emotional Season 5 finale. It is now May 1945, and Victory in Europe is imminent. While peace is on the horizon for the country, a different kind of chaos has settled over Skeldale House.
Nicholas Ralph, who plays James Herriot, said, “Siegfried has become a much more trying, challenging character than he ever has before.”
The season opens with James Herriot struggling to manage the veterinary practice. His partner, Siegfried Farnon, has become erratic and difficult, letting the business fall into disarray. The return of Tristan Farnon from service with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps adds another layer to the dynamic, as he and James try to help Siegfried.
The Herriot family has grown. James and Helen are now parents to two children: their son, Jimmy, is four and a half years old, and they have a new baby daughter named Rosie. The family has moved to Heston Grange, adding to the sense of change.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Hall has been living away from Skeldale House with her son, Edward, who survived the sinking of his ship. A core story of the new season involves her efforts to return and restore order to the fractured household. A newly released trailer hints at a moving reunion between Mrs. Hall and Siegfried, with Siegfried telling her, “It’s good to see you again”.
Returning Favorites and New Faces
The core cast returns to bring these stories to life. Back for Season 6 are Nicholas Ralph as James Herriot, Samuel West as Siegfried Farnon, Anna Madeley as Mrs. Hall, Rachel Shenton as Helen Herriot, and Callum Woodhouse as Tristan Farnon. Patricia Hodge also returns as the delightful Mrs. Pumphrey, alongside her pampered Pekingese, Tricki Woo.
Several new characters will arrive in Darrowby. The cast additions include:
- Gaia Wise as Charlotte Beauvoir, a posh horse-lover.
- Jonathan Hyde as General Beauvoir, Charlotte’s father.
- Lucy-Jo Hudson, Philip Martin Brown, and Chris Gascoyne in other new roles.
The season also introduces a host of new animals, including a sheepdog named Fly, a whippet, a parrot, and a Shire horse.
Episode Guide and Season Stories
Each episode of the new season promises to blend veterinary drama with personal stories. The premiere, titled “Gathering the Flock,” focuses on James and Tristan’s attempts to manage a chaotic Siegfried. Subsequent episodes will tackle modern advancements in veterinary medicine, family struggles, and community celebrations as the war finally ends.
A major theme of the season is returning to the show’s roots after several years focused on the war.
Callum Woodhouse (Tristan) explained, “We did want to get back to what the show is really about, which is people and doing nice things for animals.”
Key episode plots include a clash between James and Siegfried over the purchase of an X-ray machine, Tristan trying to fit into a new social world, and the planning of VJ Day celebrations for the town.
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How to Watch Previous Seasons
For fans looking to revisit past stories or new viewers wanting to start from the beginning, all five previous seasons of All Creatures Great and Small are available to stream. In the U.S., they can be watched on demand through PBS Passport or on the PBS MASTERPIECE Prime Video Channel.
PBS has also confirmed that the series will continue beyond this season, having announced a renewal for both Season 7 and Season 8.
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