Netflix is getting ready to drop a new European original in February 2026: From Belfast to paradise?, a fresh series created by Lisa McGee, the mind behind the acclaimed Derry Girls. Told over eight hour-long episodes, this new project blends comedy, drama, and mystery as it follows three women whose carefully managed adult lives are shaken by a past they thought was buried for good.
A funeral, a fractured friendship, and a past that won’t stay buried
At the center of From Belfast to paradise? are Saoirse, Robyn, and Dara, three women who have been close since their teenage years. Now in their thirties, they’ve grown into very different adults and followed separate paths, but the emotional bond between them has never fully disappeared.
Their fragile balance is shattered when they learn about the death of the fourth member of their old friend group, someone with whom they had been estranged for a long time. That loss forces them to reconnect, reopen old wounds, and face unresolved conflicts they’ve tried to ignore.
The days surrounding the funeral don’t unfold as a simple reunion. Strange events and unsettling situations begin to pile up. What starts as a tense get-together quickly turns into an informal investigation, where memories, long-kept secrets, and grudges resurface. This unexpected journey back into the past eventually pushes the three friends beyond the borders of Ireland, confronting them with the consequences of choices they made years earlier.
Lisa McGee’s new blend of sharp humor and slow-burn mystery
With this series, Lisa McGee returns to themes she knows well—friendship, shared history, and how communities process their past—while playing with a different tone. From Belfast to paradise? is designed as a hybrid: a character-driven story that mixes comedic moments with an underlying sense of mystery.
McGee leans into a deliberate combination of humor and intrigue, two genres she particularly enjoys and has already explored in her earlier work. She also reunites with part of the creative team that worked alongside her on Derry Girls, ensuring a continuity of sensibility even as the story shifts to a more mature and darker register.
Direction is handled by Michael Lennox, whose approach supports this dual identity: grounded, everyday situations gradually give way to more unsettling and shadowy developments. Netflix is involved both as distributor and as executive producer, backing a project that fits squarely into its strategy of expanding European scripted content.
A British and Irish cast bringing complex friendships to life
The friendship at the core of the show rests on a trio of performers rooted in British and Irish television:
- Roísín Gallagher plays Saoirse, a TV writer known for her inventive, unpredictable personality,
- Sinéad Keenan portrays Robyn, a mother juggling intense family pressures,
- Caoilfhionn Dunne takes on the role of Dara, a reserved and methodical care assistant.
The cast also includes Tom Basden, Michelle Fairley, Ardal O’Hanlon, Natasha O’Keeffe, Emmett J. Scanlan, Bronagh Gallagher, and Art Campion, all familiar faces from well-regarded British and Irish series.
A tight 8-episode season arriving on Netflix in February 2026
From Belfast to paradise? is structured as a compact season of eight episodes, each running about sixty minutes. Over the course of the season, the show examines how past decisions continue to echo into the present, raising questions about loyalty, guilt, and the resilience of friendships tested by time and conflict.
The series is scheduled to premiere on Netflix in February 2026, positioning it as one of the key British fiction releases to watch on the platform at the start of the year. For viewers in the U.S. who loved the mix of sharp writing and emotional depth in Derry Girls, this new title offers a more adult, mystery-tinged take on the bonds that tie friends together—and the secrets that can tear them apart.
Quick facts about From Belfast to paradise?
Is From Belfast to paradise? more of a comedy or a thriller?
The series deliberately blends comedy, drama, and mystery, rather than committing to a single genre.
How many episodes are in the first season?
Season one consists of eight episodes of approximately one hour each.
When will the show be released on Netflix?
The release is slated for February 2026 on Netflix.
FAQ
What is From Belfast to paradise? about in simple terms?
It follows three women in their thirties who are forced to reconnect when a former friend from their teenage group dies, pushing them to confront old secrets, unresolved conflicts, and a past that still shapes their present.
Who created From Belfast to paradise?
The series was created by Lisa McGee, who is also known for creating the hit show Derry Girls.
How long is each episode of From Belfast to paradise?
Each of the eight episodes runs for about sixty minutes, making it a relatively tight but substantial season.
Which streaming platform will have From Belfast to paradise?
The series will be available on Netflix, which serves both as the distributor and as the executive producer of the show.
