Law & Order is officially staying on the case. NBC has renewed the long-running procedural for a 26th season, extending its current revival run into the 2026–27 broadcast year.
The pickup confirms the continuation of one of television’s most enduring franchises, which first premiered in 1990 before returning in 2022 after a 12-year hiatus. The renewal also comes ahead of NBCUniversal’s annual upfront presentation to advertisers, where the network is finalizing its upcoming primetime lineup.
According to network executives, the decision took longer than usual as NBC worked through scheduling and budget considerations tied to its broader Thursday night programming strategy.
For the upcoming season, Law & Order will remain anchored on NBC’s Thursday lineup but will move to the 10 p.m. ET slot. The shift places the series after Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which was renewed earlier in the spring and continues as a key companion series in the franchise block.
NBC is also adjusting its Thursday structure with the addition of The Traitors in the 8 p.m. slot, marking a notable reshuffling of the network’s primetime flow.
NBCUniversal’s scripted programming president Lisa Katz said the renewal process involved aligning several scheduling priorities, noting that the delay came down to “figuring out what went where” rather than uncertainty about the series’ performance.
Despite its long run, Law & Order continues to deliver steady viewership. The series has averaged roughly 4.75 million viewers across seven days of linear viewing this season, according to network data. The show also maintains strong streaming traction, with its extensive library performing consistently on platforms including Peacock and Hulu.
The franchise’s broader ecosystem remains a key asset for NBC, with both Law & Order and its spinoffs regularly appearing in Nielsen’s streaming charts due to high catalog consumption.
The current ensemble includes Reid Scott, David Ajala, and Maura Tierney on the NYPD side, alongside Hugh Dancy, Odelya Halevi, and Tony Goldwyn representing the District Attorney’s office. The series is created by Dick Wolf and produced by Universal Television in association with Wolf Entertainment. Executive producers include Rick Eid, Alex Hall, and Peter Jankowski.
While Law & Order and SVU secured renewals, NBC confirmed that Law & Order: Organized Crime will not return for another season. The series, which shifted from NBC to Peacock after its first four seasons, had recently completed its fifth season. Network executives described the decision as a natural conclusion to the series’ run, noting the show’s evolving structure and behind-the-scenes changes over its multi-season arc.
With Law & Order now locked in for Season 26, NBC’s Thursday lineup continues to center around the enduring Dick Wolf universe, which also includes Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med.
The renewal reinforces NBC’s commitment to its long-running procedural franchises as it finalizes its 2026–27 schedule heading into the new upfront season.