Olivia Benson and her elite squad aren’t done seeking justice yet.
For nearly three decades, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has reigned supreme as one of television’s most enduring dramas, capturing countless hearts with its gripping criminal cases and iconic characters. And a landmark Season 27 is here.
Since the show’s 1999 debut, the series has built an unmatched legacy, carving out its mythic place in primetime history as the longest-running live-action drama. At the center of it all is the beloved Olivia Benson, played by Law & Order legend Mariska Hargitay, who has grown from compassionate detective into the commanding Captain of Manhattan’s elite squad.
“It’s so beautiful to have the privilege to actually watch the evolution,” Hargitay told TODAY while thinking of her many years as Benson. “As I see it and look back, Olivia Benson is sort of a perfect feminist story because we actually see this woman grow into her power.”
Season 27 is just the latest installment of SVU, and fans never tire of catching up with Benson and her fearless unit. Here’s everything we know:
When do new episodes of Law & Order: SVU Season 27 air?
Following Season 27’s premiere on September 25, new episodes of Law & Order: SVU air on Thursday nights at 9/8c on NBC as part of Law & Order Thursdays.
The original Law & Order kicks off the lineup at 8/7c on NBC, followed by new episodes of SVU, and concluding with Season 5 episodes of Law & Order: Organized Crime at 10/9c.
When do new episodes of Law & Order: SVU return in 2026?
Following SVU Season 27’s fall finale on November 20, Law & Order Thursdays will take a brief hiatus. In 2026, new episodes of Law & Order: SVU will officially return on Thursday, January 8 at 9/8c on NBC.
Where can you stream Season 27 of Law & Order: SVU?
Every season of Law & Order: SVU is available to watch on Peacock, and new Season 27 episodes will be available to stream the day after they air on NBC.
Mariska Hargitay and the SVU cast celebrate returning to set
Hargitay and her fellow cast members have relished their return to the SVU set, excited to deliver a new chapter of justice. After the iconic Law & Order theme song made the rounds online as a viral TikTok dance, Hargitay and her Season 27 co-star Kelli Giddish leaned into the festivities by performing their own behind-the-scenes version of the dance, sharing the must-see video to social media.
As if that wasn’t exciting enough, Hargitay invited fans to watch a rehearsal of an SVU scene with her co-star Peter Scanavino. “First day back at SVU and we’re about to rehearse. And I’m gonna give you a sneak peek,” Hargitay told fans in the Instagram video.
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After multiple decades of procedural suspense, Hargitay has mastered the craft, and viewers never tire of seeing where Benson takes her squad next. Upon wrapping Season 25, Hargitay told NBC Insider that her SVU cast and crew are “sacred” to her.
”I love my job. I love going to work every day,” Hargitay told NBC Insider. “I love the community that I’m in. I love my cast, my crew, and I love the intimacy of it all and the fact that we work in a culture that says, ‘Let’s do the work, let’s have a fun time, and best idea wins.’ It is such a team. It is such an incredible team, and we rely so much on each other. We’re a unit. It’s so sacred to me.”
