What’s Coming To General Hospital In 2026: Willow’s Trial Fallout, Sidwell’s Rise, And Maxie Returns

As General Hospital heads into 2026, Port Charles is bracing for a year defined by high-stakes danger, courtroom bombshells, fractured families, and a major return.

What’s Coming To General Hospital In 2026: Willow’s Trial Fallout, Sidwell’s Rise, And Maxie Returns

According to a TV Insider interview with co-head writers Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten, the ABC soap is mapping out a darker, more emotionally intense future — one where victories are rare, secrets are exposed, and survival often comes at a steep cost.

Here’s a closer look at what’s ahead for Laura, Sonny, Willow, Drew, Anna, Carly, and more.

Laura, Sonny, and Kevin vs. Sidwell: A Threat That Changes Everything

Sidwell is positioned as one of General Hospital’s most formidable threats in years — a villain whose reach forces unlikely strategies and moral compromises.

Laura Collins finds herself in an impossible position as she fights to outflank Sidwell while keeping her loved ones safe. Protecting Kevin Collins and Ace Cassadine becomes her top priority, and the measures Laura takes won’t come without consequences.

Meanwhile, Sonny Corinthos searches for a chink in Sidwell’s armor — and discovers two exploitable weaknesses: Lucy Coe and Ava Jerome. How far Sonny is willing to go — and who gets hurt in the process — remains an open question.

Willow’s Trial and Drew’s Shooter: The Truth Finally Explodes

One of the most anticipated storylines of 2026 centers on Willow Tait’s trial, which reaches its climax just as the identity of Drew Cain’s shooter is revealed.

The timing is no coincidence. The revelation doesn’t just impact Willow and Drew — it sends shockwaves through Port Charles, exposing long-buried secrets and reshaping alliances. The writers hint that this trial serves as a major turning point, setting off domino effects that will play out across multiple storylines for months to come.

Carly, Valentin, and the WSB: A Deadly Game of Loyalty

Carly Spencer is on a mission — and she’s furious. Carly intends to destroy Brennan for luring Josslyn into a life of service with the WSB, even if it means entangling herself more deeply with Valentin Cassadine.

That alliance may prove fatal. Valentin’s unbreakable bond with his daughter, Charlotte Cassadine, could ultimately be the very thing that leads to his downfall. In 2026, love is not protection — it’s leverage.

Anna Devane: Captive, Cornered, and Haunted by the Past

For Anna Devane, things go from bad to worse. A voice from her past resurfaces, pulling her deeper into danger just as she attempts to escape captivity.

But Anna’s captors are prepared. Should she prove too difficult to control, they have a contingency plan — one that suggests Anna’s survival is far from guaranteed. This storyline promises intense psychological drama and meaningful callbacks to Anna’s long history in the espionage world.

Curtis, Portia, Jordan, and Trina: Family Fault Lines Deepen

Fallout from Willow’s trial widens the rift between Curtis and Portia while drawing Curtis closer to Jordan. Curtis presses Portia to agree to a paternity test, but she refuses to be bullied — insisting she has bigger concerns.

Those concerns include her fractured relationship with Trina. Trina wants nothing to do with reconciliation, and mother and daughter clash in a battle of stubborn wills. As the writers tease, Trina learned that trait from the master — her mother.

Maxie Jones Awakens: A Changed World Awaits

There’s good news for longtime fans: Maxie Jones returns in 2026, with Kirsten Storms back onscreen.

Maxie’s coma wasn’t nearly as long as Lulu’s, but the world she wakes up to is dramatically different. Relationships have shifted, secrets have hardened, and Port Charles is no longer the place she left behind. Her reintegration promises emotional fallout and long-overdue reckonings.

What It All Means for General Hospital in 2026

The message from the writers is clear: General Hospital is leaning into long-form storytelling with real consequences. Villains like Sidwell won’t be easily defeated. Trials won’t wrap neatly. And personal choices — especially those rooted in love and loyalty — will carry lasting repercussions.

Port Charles in 2026 is more dangerous, more divided, and more compelling than ever.