NBC sets fall 2026 schedule, SVU leads Law & Order return

NBC has set its fall 2026 primetime schedule, revealing that the long-running "Law & Order" franchise will return with a new lineup order and a slightly later premiere date. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" will begin its 28th season on Thursday, October 8, at 9 p.m. ET, followed immediately by the 26th season premiere of the original "Law & Order" at 10 p.m. ET. Both episodes will be available for streaming on Peacock the following day.

This scheduling marks a notable shift for the network's Thursday night crime drama block. For years, the flagship "Law & Order" series has aired in the earlier 8 p.m. slot, serving as a lead-in to "SVU." This fall, that order will be reversed, with "SVU" moving to the lead position. The 8 p.m. hour will instead be filled by the reality competition series "The Traitors: New Blood," which begins its regular time slot that same night.

The October 8 premiere is a departure from the franchise's traditional late-September return. Industry observers note that moving the premieres into October may be a strategic decision to avoid a crowded September landscape, which is typically saturated with new and returning series and faces competition from major...