Star Trek: Starfleet Academy release schedule – when is the next episode out?

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is facing some major turbulence in its early weeks on Paramount Plus, as the sci-fi drama becomes the latest target of review-bombing (echoing the reception of The Acolyte and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law).

Despite reasonable reviews from critics (including our own three-star verdict), Starfleet Academy's user scores are tanking on sites such as Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb and Metacritic as it becomes a flashpoint in culture war debates.

Although its format was bound to divide longtime fans – sharing more in common with a high school teen drama than a typical Star Trek show – many of the most vocal critics appear to be targeting the show's perceived politics.

Polygon notes that Star Trek has always been a progressive franchise, dating back to The Original Series of the 1960s and its commentary against racial discrimination.

Therefore, efforts to paint Starfleet Academy's representation as a radical politically-motivated departure suggest a lack of knowledge on what came before, but there are certainly other valid criticisms to be levelled at the spin-off.

RadioTimes.com's Sci-Fi and Fantasy Editor Louise Griffin praised the performances of lead actors Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti, but criticised the bloated size of the supporting cast and a tone that is "too sickly sweet" for some palates.

If you're sticking with the show and want to know when class is next in session, read on for your full guide to the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy release schedule on Paramount Plus.

When is the next episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy out?

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is following a weekly release schedule on Paramount Plus, meaning that new episodes of the sci-fi drama will be released on Thursdays.

The show premiered on Thursday 15th January 2026 with a double-bill launch, introducing USS Athena captain Nahla Ake (played by Holly Hunter) and her team of fresh-faced cadets. Expect episodes to keep dropping until the finale in mid-March.

How many episodes are in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy?

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1 will consist of 10 episodes in total.

If that leaves you wanting more, rest assured that a second season of the spin-off is already in production.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy release schedule

Here's an overview of the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1 release schedule, so you can mark your calendars for when each episode drops.

• Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 1 – Thursday 15th January (out now)
• Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 2 – Thursday 15th January (out now)
• Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 3 – Thursday 22nd January (out now)
• Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 4 – Thursday 29th January
• Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 5 – Thursday 5th February
• Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6 – Thursday 12th February
• Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 7 – Thursday 19th February
• Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 8 – Thursday 26th February
• Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 9 – Thursday 5th March
• Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 10 – Thursday 12th March

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