Star Trek is heading back to school in a very big way. When Star Trek: Starfleet Academy premieres on Paramount+ on January 15, 2026, with two episodes, it will introduce the first class of cadets to return to San Francisco on Earth in 120 years. Executive produced by Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau, the series drops viewers into the late 32nd century after the events of Star Trek: Discovery. The United Federation of Planets is rebuilding after the Burn, but a new problem is already on the horizon: a half-Klingon, half-Tellarite hybrid named Nus Braka, played by Academy Award nominee Paul Giamatti.

That is a lot of pressure for a group of young cadets. Still, Star Trek has always been about finding hope and purpose in the middle of chaos. This new class mixes classic Star Trek species with alien races audiences have never met before, and each cadet arrives with their own skills, secrets, and reasons for wanting to be among Starfleet's best.

A Cadet Class Built for the 32nd Century

The official Star Trek social channels recently shared new video introductions, and they offer a handy breakdown of the main players.

• 🖖 Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta) is a human who was separated from his mother, played by Tatiana Maslany, when he was a child. He is recruited with the promise of finding her, but the lifelong rebel has to figure out how to fit in and follow Starfleet rules.

• ⚔️ Jay-Den Kraag (Karim Diané) is a Klingon focused on sciences and medicine, not exactly the typical warrior path. He also marks the first full Klingon main character in a Star Trek series since Worf.

• 🌌 SAM (Kerrice Brooks) is the first Kasquian in Starfleet. She is a holographic lifeform programmed as a teenage girl, which means she has to learn how organic classmates actually work.

• 💫 Darem Reymi (George Hawkins) is the first Khionian in Starfleet Academy. Coming from a wealthy family, he is driven to achieve and wants to become a Captain to impress his parents.

• 🚀 Genesis Lythe (Bella Shepard) is the first Dar-Sha in Starfleet Academy. As the daughter of an Admiral, she is laser-focused on her career track to command a starship.

• 🔮 Tarima Sadal (Zoë Steiner) is the daughter of the President of Betazed and has psychic powers she may not fully control. Interestingly, she does not appear to be enrolled as a cadet, but she shares a love story with Caleb Mir.

These introductions make it clear that Starfleet Academy is not just about classes and simulations. The cadets bring personal stakes, family baggage, and plenty of ambition.

The Adults Keeping the Cadets in Line

Of course, someone has to make sure these kids survive their training. The instructors and mentors are just as interesting as the students.

Captain Nahla Ake, played by Academy Award winner Holly Hunter, is the Chancellor of Starfleet Academy. At 420 years old, the half-Lanthanite has collected a lot of wisdom, and she brings a steady presence to the campus. Her Cadet Master is Commander Lura Thok, played by Gina Yashere. Commander Thok is a half-Klingon, half-Jem'Hadar drill sergeant who keeps the cadets in line, and she also serves as First Officer of the USS Athena.

Maybe the most recognizable legacy character is The Doctor from Star Trek: Voyager. Robert Picardo is back as the Emergency Medical Hologram, now around 800 years old. He works as an instructor and serves as Chief Medical Officer of the USS Athena. Fans of Star Trek: Discovery will also spot Commander Jett Reno, played by Tig Notaro, and Lieutenant Sylvia Tilly, played by Mary Wiseman, both teaching at the Academy. Admiral Charles Vance, played by Oded Fehr, watches over the Academy's progress on behalf of the Federation.

The USS Athena itself doubles as the Academy campus when the ship docks in San Francisco. Among its bridge crew is a Starfleet Officer played by Rebecca Quin, better known to wrestling fans as WWE Superstar Becky Lynch.

A New Chapter with Old Star Trek Spirit

What makes Star Trek: Starfleet Academy feel fresh is the mix of high-stakes 32nd-century rebuilding and classic coming-of-age stories. The cadets are not just trying to pass tests. They are navigating identity, loyalty, family, and a galaxy that is still fragile after the Burn. At the same time, the presence of mentors like The Doctor, Tilly, and Reno connects the show to decades of Star Trek history without making it feel like a nostalgia parade.

With a two-episode premiere on January 15, 2026, Paramount+ is betting big on this new class. If the cadet introductions are any indication, Starfleet Academy has the right balance of heart, humor, and danger to become a worthy new chapter in the franchise.