Netflix Will Show Us 'How to Get to Heaven From Belfast' In February

Derry Girls fans, rejoice! Creator Lisa McGee’s new series, How to Get to Heaven From Belfast, is set to air on Netflix in February 2026. The eight-part comedy-thriller was initially commissioned by Channel 4, which also aired Derry Girls, but moved to Netflix in early 2024. The network cited everything from “rising costs,” “changes in editorial direction,” and “the recent cooling in the U.S. co-production market” as reasons the show couldn’t move forward there, so choose whichever explanation makes the most sense to you.

(Thanks, Netflix, I guess!)

The story follows a trio of childhood friends whose lives have all turned out very differently: Saoirse (Roísín Gallagher), a chaotic TV writer; Robyn (Sinéad Keenan), a glamorous but constantly stressed-out mother of three; and dependable Dara (Caoilfhionn Dunne), whose role as a carer for her elderly parent mirrors her role in their friend group.

But when the women each receive an email informing them of the death of an old classmate who was once the fourth member of their girl gang, a series of bizarre events at her wake set them on the path to solve a mystery. If the trailer is anything to go by, How to Get to Heaven will once again see McGee tackle complex themes of friendship and growing up.

Here’s the series’ synopsis.

Clever, chaotic TV writer Saoirse, glamorous, stressed-out mother of three Robyn, and dependable, inhibited carer Dara have been a tight-knit group since school. Now in their late 30s, but still as close as ever, these three friends are about to embark on the most thrilling adventure of their lives. When an email arrives, telling them about the death of the estranged fourth member of their childhood gang, a series of eerie events at her wake set them on a dark, dangerous and hilarious odyssey through Ireland and beyond as each tries to piece together the truth of the past. A show about friendship, memory and what happens when life doesn’t turn out quite like you’d expected.

Alongside its three leads, How to Get to Heaven From Belfast will also star Saoirse-Monica Jackson, who is best known for playing Erin Quinn in Derry Girls. The rest of the ensemble includes Tom Basden (After Life), Art Campion (Blue Lights), Michelle Fairley (Gangs of London), Josh Finan (Say Nothing), Bronagh Gallagher (Belgravia), Booker Darragh Hand (Heartstopper), Ardal O’Hanlon (Sherlock & Daughter), Natasha O’Keeffe (The Wheel of Time) and Emmett J. Scanlan (MobLand).

The series is written and created by McGee and helmed by former Derry Girls director Michael Lennox. Executive producers include McGee and Lennox, along with Caroline Leddy, Liz Lewin, Jimmy Mulville, and Jessica Sharkey. Brian J. Falconer is the producer.

All episodes of How to Get to Heaven From Belfast will premiere on Netflix on Thursday, February 12, 2026.