Cadets Face Galactic Threats While Training for Life in Starfleet
2026
Action, Adventure
10 episodes
TheNextHint Score
8.2
8.2 / 10
Overview
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy shifts the franchise toward a different type of Starfleet narrative by centering on students instead of seasoned officers. Taking place in the 32nd century, the show follows a fresh group of cadets as they discover the duties that come with joining Starfleet. Their schooling goes beyond technical instruction: they must also navigate friendships, rivalries, romance, family expectations and tough decisions. Holly Hunter portrays Chancellor Nahla Ake, who leads the Academy while also commanding the USS Athena.↻ The young cast features Sandro Rosta, Karim Diané, Kerrice Brooks, George Hawkins and Bella Shepard. The series likewise links its new characters to well-known Star Trek figures, among them Robert Picardo's Doctor and Tig Notaro's Jett Reno.
Quick Verdict
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is made for audiences who appreciate science fiction blended with school life and drama centered on its characters. What sets it apart most is its choice to examine Starfleet through untested cadets instead of seasoned captains and their crews. The show also gains from familiar faces like The Doctor and Jett Reno, who tie the new narrative more firmly to earlier chapters of the franchise.
Where to Watch Star Trek: Starfleet Academy in the US
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy centers on a fresh generation of cadets undergoing training at the rebuilt Starfleet Academy in the 32nd century. The narrative follows Caleb Mir, a young man who has spent much of his life on the run while searching for his mother. Chancellor Nahla Ake offers him the chance to enroll at Starfleet Academy, where he joins a new class together with Jay-Den Kraag, Sam, Darem Reymi, and Genesis Lythe.
The cadets juggle their studies, friendships, rivalries, and personal hardships as they discover what it takes to become Starfleet officers. Their training is conducted aboard the USS Athena, which serves as both a school and a deployable starship. Meanwhile, a rising threat tied to the pirate Nus Braka places the Academy and the Federation at risk.
The series blends classic Star Trek themes of exploration, cooperation, and leadership with a coming-of-age narrative. Holly Hunter heads the adult cast as Nahla Ake, and Robert Picardo reprises his role as the Doctor from Star Trek: Voyager. Season one consists of 10 episodes, each running roughly 55–75 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Star Trek: Starfleet Academy about?
The first class of cadets at the Starfleet Academy in over 120 years includes Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta), an orphan human searching for his mother, in the latest Star Trek series set in the 32nd century.
Is Star Trek: Starfleet Academy connected to other Star Trek shows?
Yes. It is set in the same Star Trek continuity and takes place in the 32nd century. Characters such as The Doctor and Jett Reno also connect the series to earlier Star Trek productions.
How many episodes are in Season 1?
Season 1 has 10 episodes, released between January 15 and March 12, 2026.
Will there be a Season 2?
Yes. Season 2 is planned for 2027 and consists of 10 episodes. Paramount+ has confirmed that filming has wrapped, but a specific premiere date has not been announced.
Story — Spoiler Free
Taking place over a hundred years after the last major re-founding of Starfleet Academy, the series centers on a band of young cadets who start their training in the 32nd century. Caleb Mir enrolls after years spent looking for his mother, and his fellow cadets each come with their own goals and personal histories. Guided by Chancellor Nahla Ake and other teachers, they study Starfleet's ideals while dealing with rivalries, romances and dangers that grow ever more serious. The school is also tied to the USS Athena, which lets the cadets' learning carry over into actual missions and unforeseen encounters.
8.2
TheNextHint Score
8.2 / 10
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is made for audiences who appreciate science fiction blended with school life and drama centered on its characters. What sets it apart most is its choice to examine Starfleet through untested cadets instead of seasoned captains and their crews. The show also gains from familiar faces like The Doctor and Jett Reno, who tie the new narrative more firmly to earlier chapters of the franchise.
Rating breakdown
Story
8.0
Acting
8.0
Direction
8.0
Visuals
9.0
Sound
8.0
Entertainment
8.0
External Ratings
Scores from other sources, shown in their own scale. These are not TheNextHint's rating.
Strong ensemble cast, recognizable Star Trek connections, attractive production design, a fresh Academy-centered premise and a balance of character drama, humor and science-fiction adventure.
Cons
The youthful coming-of-age tone can feel quite different from more traditional Star Trek series, while the large ensemble means some characters receive less development than others.
Who Should Watch
Science-Fiction Lovers
Character-Driven Drama Viewers
Space Adventure Fans
Who Should Skip
Slow-Paced Drama Avoiders
Action-Only Viewers
Release Date
2026-01-15
Runtime
55–75 minutes per episode
Director
Alex Kurtzman, Noga Landau
Producer
Norman Denver
Writer
Gene Roddenberry
Cast
Holly Hunter, Sandro Rosta, Karim Diané, Kerrice Brooks, George Hawkins, Bella Shepard, Oded Fehr, Gina Yashere, Brit Marling, Stephen Colbert, Robert Picardo, Tig Notaro, Zoë Steiner
Music
Jeff Russo
Cinematography
Tommy Maddox-Upshaw
Studio
CBS Studios
Distributor
Paramount Global Content Distribution
Production Company
CBS Studios, Secret Hideout, Roddenberry Entertainment, Warm Blood Sunday Productions
Chancellor of Starfleet Academy and captain of the USS Athena.
Sandro Rosta
as
Caleb Mir
A young human who joins the Academy while searching for his mother.
Karim Diané
as
Jay-Den Kraag
A Klingon cadet who hopes to become a medical officer.
Kerrice Brooks
as
Sam
The first Kasqian to attend Starfleet Academy.
George Hawkins
as
Darem Reymi
A Khionian cadet with ambitions of becoming a captain.
Bella Shepard
as
Genesis Lythe
A Dar-Sha cadet and daughter of an admiral.
Oded Fehr
as
Charles Vance
Fleet Admiral and commander-in-chief of Starfleet.
Gina Yashere
as
Lura Thok
The Academy's cadet master and first officer of the USS Athena.
Seasons & Episodes
Season 1
10 episodes January 15, 2026Completed
A new class of Starfleet cadets begins its training in the 32nd century, learning to work together while facing rivalries, personal challenges and an escalating threat to the Academy and Federation.
1Kids These Days
75 min January 15, 2026
Caleb Mir, a young man who has spent years on the run, receives an opportunity to join the new Starfleet Academy class.
2Beta Test
60 min January 15, 2026
Caleb struggles with whether he belongs at the Academy as a delegation from a former Federation ally arrives.
3Vitus Reflux
62 min January 22, 2026
Academy cadets compete for a prestigious team while a prank war with the rival War College escalates.
4Vox in Excelso
58 min January 29, 2026
Jay-Den faces a crisis involving his identity, his past and the future of his species.
5Series Acclimation Mil
58 min February 5, 2026
Sam investigates an old Starfleet mystery while beginning to understand more about herself.
6Come, Let's Away
61 min February 12, 2026
During a training mission aboard an abandoned ship, the cadets encounter a dangerous enemy.
7Ko'Zeine
55 min February 19, 2026
The cadets return home during a school holiday and confront family expectations and personal ambitions.
8The Life of the Stars
63 min February 26, 2026
A visiting instructor uses an unusual approach to help the cadets process the emotional demands of becoming Starfleet officers.
9300th Night
56 min March 5, 2026
As the academic year ends, Caleb must decide between the future he once wanted and the life he has built at the Academy.
10Rubincon
67 min March 12, 2026
The return of an old enemy forces Nahla and the cadets into a dangerous mission to protect the Federation.
Leave a Reply