The first week of 2026 brings a fresh wave of entertainment to Canadian audiences, offering everything from high-stakes espionage to thought-provoking dystopian fiction. Whether you're looking for a new series to binge, a film to ponder, or a book to get lost in, the cultural calendar from January 2nd to 8th has something for everyone. Here’s a detailed look at the key releases.
Screen Highlights: Thrillers and Tech Paranoia
Kicking off the week on January 2nd is the film Dog 51, a dystopian thriller adapted from Laurent Gaudé’s novel. The story unfolds in a near-future Paris under the omnipresent surveillance of an artificial intelligence named Alma. The plot thickens when Alma's creator is found dead, forcing two contrasting police officers—the modern Salia (Adèle Exarchopoulos) and the veteran Zem (Gilles Lellouche)—to investigate. Director Cédric Jimenez frames the central question of the film: should a justice system employ a tool that operates without human conscience? This release taps directly into contemporary anxieties about AI's role in society.
On the television front, Simu Liu headlines the new spy thriller The Copenhagen Test, premiering on Showcase on January 6th (with Season 1 already streaming on StackTV as of January 1st). Liu, celebrated for his role in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, plays Alexander Hale, a first-generation Chinese-American intelligence analyst whose mind is hacked. The series follows his desperate mission to identify the perpetrator while maintaining a facade of normalcy. Liu expressed his connection to the role, noting the compelling mix of character depth and sci-fi intrigue. He promises audiences a ride full of twists and turns, with Melissa Barrera co-starring.
Audio and Literary Escapes
For music enthusiasts, January 2nd also marks the release of Devon Allman's ambient art-rock album, Nightvision. Created at home during the pandemic, the album draws inspiration from 1980s sounds, particularly bands like The Police and The Cure. A special feature is the recording debut of Allman's son, Orion, on synthesizer. Allman describes the project as a long-held aspiration to write music for film, calling it a "very special project" finally brought out of the vault after five years.
The literary world gets a major sequel on January 6th with Laura Dave's The First Time I Saw Him. This book continues the story that began in the bestselling The Last Thing He Told Me (which was adapted into an Apple TV series starring Jennifer Garner). The new novel forces protagonist Hannah Hill and her stepdaughter Bailey into a frantic race to escape their past. The synopsis hints at a relentless drama and a potential path back to Hannah's missing husband, Owen.
A Cultural Shift: The Dry January Movement
Beyond specific releases, the first week of January is synonymous with the Dry January challenge. This cultural trend encourages a month of alcohol abstinence to reset after the holiday season, and it aligns with a significant shift in Canadian habits. A Restaurants Canada report from September revealed that 41% of Canadians have reduced their alcohol consumption in the past year, citing health, finances, and performance as key drivers.
The market has responded with a growing array of sophisticated non-alcoholic options, from craft mocktails to alcohol-free beers and wines. Clinical psychologist Dominique Morisano notes that participating in Dry January can lead to tangible benefits, including improved cognition, concentration, mental health, and sleep quality. This movement reflects a broader, lasting change in lifestyle choices across the country.
From the gripping suspense of a hacked mind in The Copenhagen Test to the societal reflections in Dog 51 and the personal challenges of Dry January, this week offers a diverse snapshot of 2026's evolving pop culture landscape in Canada.
