Antiques Roadshow: High stakes appraisals

Antiques Roadshow returns to the KPBS schedule with a focus on high value items and historical artifacts. The program features specialists from major auction houses and independent dealers who provide free valuations for objects brought in by private owners. The new episodes center on items with deep historical connections and unexpected monetary worth.

The series has a long history of pairing historical context with market analysis. Previous seasons have covered everything from colonial documents to modern art. The upcoming episodes continue this pattern by examining specific items with dramatic backstories. The production team selected pieces that reveal distinct stories about American history and personal heritage.

One item up for appraisal is an archive from the United States Secret Service dating to approximately 1900. The collection represents a specific era of federal law enforcement records. The second major piece is a sculpture created by artist Noah Purifoy in 1965. The work connects to the Watts riots of that year and serves as a physical record of that period. Specialists will evaluate both items for their historical significance and current market value.

The valuation of one of these items has already been confirmed as a $200,000 treasure. The show will detail the process of how specialists arrived at that figure. The presentation will include the reactions of the owners and the expert analysis of the materials and provenance. The episodes are designed to show the specific steps involved in authenticating and pricing complex collectibles.

The new season premieres on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV. Viewers can also stream the content through the KPBS+ application. The service is available on Roku devices, smart televisions, and mobile phones. The app includes live channels for KPBS, KPBS 2, Create, and KPBS Kids, along with a new channel called FNX. KPBS Passport members can log in to access additional content within the platform.