January 1 will be an unfortunate day on Netflix for Lost fans

There are no shortage of television series that have a lasting place in the hearts of millions of viewers. Shows from the past 20, 30, even beyond 50 years ago remain special pieces of our lives thanks to not only the power of nostalgia but the accessibility of streaming. Who would would have thought back in 2004 that we'd still be binge-watching Lost and heading back to that island?

For a lot of fans, Lost isn't just a television show. It's one of the best television shows of all time, and it's certainly been called that by more than one reputable source in the past 20-plus years. Not only was Lost one of the biggest shows of the 2000s, but it was game-changing TV that pushed the limits of what the small screen could do and how it could reach an active watercooler audience.

Unfortunately, the convenience that Lost fans have had for the past year to be able to watch and rewatch their favorite show, and cherry pick their favorite episodes, will soon come to an end — at least on Netflix. New Year's Day will be a disappointing one for fans of the sci-fi mystery series. All six seasons will be leaving Netflix, but they won't be lost to the streaming era.

Lost seasons 1-6 leave Netflix on January 1, 2026

Prepare for a devastating blow to your Netflix watch list. The complete series of Lost will be removed from Netflix on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, meaning all six seasons and 121 episodes will vanish in the snap of a finger. Thankfully, the series already has another streaming home where fans can pick up with their binge-watch or rewatch the complete series again at a later date.

As a show that's owned by Disney, it's no surprise that Lost is available to stream on Hulu, and if you have a bundle subscription, you can watch the series on Disney+, too. That's a relief! Sometimes shows don't have a back-up streamer already in place when they're faced with a removal. When Lost was added to Netflix, the series merely scored a temporary secondary streaming home.

Last year, a number of Disney-owned series were added to Netflix with an 18-month liscensing deal. These shows included the likes of This Is Us, The Resident, Prison Break, Reba, Home Improvement, and many more. One by one, each show's 18-month streaming window on Netflix has elapsed and the shows are departing Netflix. After Lost, Prison Break also leaves Netflix on Jan. 29.

Netflix's limited licensing deal proved successful for a number of the shows that were added, most especially Lost. The series received a resurgence in popularity as fans began rewatching the show, some even watching it for the first time, and discussing its plot twists on social media. It very much felt like 2004 all over again as the series dominated the conversation.

While its definitely unfortunate that Lost will no longer be available to watch on Netflix, at least we have the relief that the show will likely always have a home on Hulu and Disney+. Additionally, Netflix opens its doors to a number of exciting new TV shows in January 2026 that will take Lost's place on your watch list. When one door closes, another one always opens!