Star Trek’s Most Important Romance Is Finally Returning in 2026 (Here's How)

One of Star Trek’s best romances will return later this year. Since its inception 60 years ago, Star Trek has used the “final frontier” as a backdrop to explore every facet of the human condition, ranging from religion/spirituality to politics to science, and this has endeared it to generations of science fiction fans.

Star Trek has also featured a number of relationships and romances since 1966 as well. The Original Series was ripe with “will they or won’t they” chemistry between Spock and Nurse Chapel. Later Star Trek movies and television shows had plenty of romance as well, be it between Riker and Troi or Tom Paris and B’Elanna Torres.

The Star Trek programs of the past decade have brought LGBTQIA+ characters to the forefront. Discovery featured the franchise’s first gay couple: Paul Stamets and Hugh Culber. Star Trek: Picard also set up a great romance, one that could easily be one of the best, and now it is getting a spotlight in the upcoming Star Trek: Celebrations.

IDW Will Release a Pride-Themed Star Trek One-Shot

Seven of Nine and Raffi Will Reunite on a Variant Cover

IDW Publishing has announced a slate of new Star Trek comics for the franchise’s 60th anniversary, including Star Trek: Celebrations. Timed to coincide with Pride Month, the special shines a light on Star Trek’s many queer characters. While creative teams are being kept under wraps, a variant cover offers a potential hint.

One of Star Trek: Celebrations covers showcases the queer relationships of the franchise, as well as its many LGBTQIA+ characters.. Among the assembled include Sulu and his lover, Beckett Mariner and her Andorian girlfriend Jennifer. Finally, Captain Seven of Nine and Raffi are seemingly reunited on the cover as well.

This is not the first time IDW has released a Star Trek comic celebrating Pride Month. The publisher released a similar special to great acclaim two years ago, and this month will see another one-shot celebrating Black History Month by sending Uhura back to the Civil Rights Era and Doctor Martin Luther King Jr.

Seven of Nine and Raffi Were One of Star Trek's Most Promising Couples

Seven and Raffi Were Positive Queer Representation, Something Star Trek Has Been Behind the Curve On

Seven of Nine found each other in season one of Star Trek: Picard. Both were broken individuals, and in Raffi’s case, had turned to drugs to numb the pain. The two women bonded throughout the season, but the show never really went too deep into their relationship. Both Raffi and Seven were officially part of Starfleet by Picard’s end.

IDW can fix this in the upcoming Star Trek: Celebrations. The franchise struggled for years with queer representation, and has only fixed it within the past decade. Depictions of loving and healthy queer relationships, such as the one between Seven and Raffi, are more vital to Star Trek than ever before.

Seven and Raffi Have Ascended the Star Trek Ladder

IDW Will Take Seven and Raffi's Relationship to a New Level

The ending of Star Trek: Picard found Seven and Raffi in an interesting place in their romance: Seven was promoted to Captain of the newly-christened Enterprise with Raffi as her First Officer. Fans have demanded a spin-off featuring Seven and her crew, but Paramount has not expressed interest in developing one. This deprives fans of seeing how Seven and Raffi progressed.

Once again, however, IDW is coming to the rescue. Later this year, the publisher relaunches its "adjective-less" Star Trek title, with a focus on Seven of Nine and the crew of the new Enterprise. Outside the creative team and a basic plot synopsis, IDW has not revealed any additional information on the book.

Raffi will not be forgotten in IDW’s new Star Trek publishing initiative either. In addition to Star Trek, the company will release Star Trek: Zero Point. The new title, written by acclaimed science fiction author Charlie Jane Anders, sees Raffi head up a more “proactive” Starfleet team. IDW did not reveal the exact status of the two women’s relationship.

Can Seven and Raffi Survive Their New Star Trek Missions? You Can Bet On It

Seven and Raffi Are Two of Star Trek's Strongest Characters

With Seven and Raffi on decidedly different missions, it might be tempting to think IDW is splitting the couple up. Raffi and Seven’s relationship survived everything they endured in three seasons of Picard, including alternate universes and the Borg. There is no reason to think they will not make it through this as well.

After all that Seven of Nine and Raffi have gone through in their lives, they deserve happiness, and the cover to Star Trek: Celebrations indicates their story is not done yet. Seven and Raffi were one of Star Trek’s most promising romances, and now they are getting the chance to do it right.