The iconic Law And Order franchise holds the record for the longest-running live-action scripted American primetime series and has won many EmmysAwards –  so it’s no surprise NBC has confirmed both shows will return in fall 2026.

Created by Dick Wolf, Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and ran for 20 seasons until it was revived in 2021 after an 11-year break, with Sam Waterston and Anthony Anderson both returning as District Attorney Jack McCoy and Detective Kevin Bernard.

Corey Cott as Det. Jake Griffin, Kevin Kane as Det. Terry Bruno, Mariska Hargitay as Capt. Olivia Benson in Law & Order: SVU© Virginia Sherwood/NBC
Corey Cott as Det. Jake Griffin, Kevin Kane as Det. Terry Bruno, Mariska Hargitay as Capt. Olivia Benson in Law & Order: SVU

Law & Order, plus the spin-off Special Victims Unit, will both conclude their seasons on May 14, 2026 with the network officially renewing both for the 2026-2027 broadcast season.

Law & Order season 26

Set and filmed in New York City, the series continues to follow its two-pronged approach: the first half of an episode investigates a crime (usually murder) and apprehension of a suspect, and the second half is the prosecution of the defendant by the Manhattan district attorney’s office.

The show will return for its 26th season, either in September 2026 or early October, but there will be one big change…

Reid Scott as Detective Vincent Riley, David Ajala as Det. Theo Walker in Law & Order© Will Hart/NBC
Reid Scott as Detective Vincent Riley, David Ajala as Det. Theo Walker in Law & Order

When will Law & Order return?

Law & Order will leave its longtime 8/7c time slot for 10/9c. This will place the show after SVU, rather than before.

Law & Order cast

For its 25th season (2025–2026), Law & Order features a cast led by returning stars Hugh Dancy (ADA Nolan Price), Odelya Halevi (ADA Samantha Maroun), Tony Goldwyn (DA Nicholas Baxter), and Reid Scott (Detective Vincent Riley).

Newcomers include David Ajala as Detective Theo Walker and Maura Tierney as Lieutenant Jessica Brady.

Waterston left Law & Order after 20 seasons in 2024.

Sam Waterston as D.A. Jack McCoy in Law & Order© Virginia Sherwood/NBC
Sam left the show in 2024

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 28

When SVU returns in the fall, it will be its 28th season, making it the longest-running series on American TV.

It will air at 9/8c, moving an hour earlier than its usual time slot. The reason? NBC’s new Thursday lineup will feature the award-winning The Traitors at 8/7c instead, followed by the Law & Order franchise.

Aimé Donna Kelly as Capt. Renee Curry, Ice T as Sgt. Odafin "Fin" Tutuola, Kelli Giddish as Sgt. Amanda Rollins in Law & Order: SVU© Ralph Bavaro/NBC
Aimé Donna Kelly as Capt. Renee Curry, Ice T as Sgt. Odafin “Fin” Tutuola, Kelli Giddish as Sgt. Amanda Rollins in Law & Order: SVU

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit cast

Originally, the show centred on the detective pairing of Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), but the series now focuses on Benson and her team at SVU: Kelli Giddish as Sgt. Amanda Rollins, Corey Cott as Detective Jake Griffin, Kevin Kane as Detective Terry Bruno, Aimé Donna Kelly as Captain Renee Curry, Ice-T as  Sgt. Odafin “Fin” Tutuola and Peter Scanavino, who plays ADA Dominick “Sonny” Carisi, Jr.

Mariska Hargitay after winning her Emmy on August 27, 2006 © Getty Images
Mariska after winning her Emmy on August 27, 2006

Has Law & Order ever won an Emmy?

Mariska is the first and only regular cast member on any Law & Order series to win an Emmy Award, when she won for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2006.

She was also nominated every year between 2004 and 2012.

Christopher Meloni was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series category in 2006, and the show has won five times in the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series category for  Amanda Plummer in 2005, Leslie Caron in 2007, Cynthia Nixon in 2008, Ellen Burstyn in 2009, and Ann-Margret in 2010.