Law & Order, SVU are heading on a break for the Winter Olympics — when will the shows return?

tq4 hours ago

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The Law & Order shows are heading on a break. This is both shows, so yes, Law & Order: SVU is also being pulled from the NBC schedule.

It’s a break that we expected, but now we have the exact date that the two shows will go off the air. The Hunting Party will also join them, and we’re expecting all three shows to return on the same date.

Law & Order - Season 25 — LAW & ORDER — “Street Justice” Episode 25001 — Pictured: (l-r) Hugh Dancy as A.D.A. Nolan Price, Odelya Halevi as A.D.A. Samantha Maroun — (Photo by: Peter Kramer/NBC)

Why are Law & Order and SVU taking a break?

NBC has to pull the shows due to the big sporting event that’s happening in February 2026. It’s all about the Winter Olympic Games, which NBC will air. Of course, NBC has to choose sports over scripted programming, because it does do better in terms of viewership. On top of that, the network can’t air two things at once.

Both shows will head on their breaks after tonight’s episode, on Thursday, Jan. 29. While there is a Thursday before the Opening Ceremony, NBC has opted to put on Winter Olympic specials to get ready for the big sporting event.

In some good news, this break could be good for the show on the other side. There are only so many episodes available, and there are more weeks in the schedule to fill. With the breaks due to sports, it means fewer breaks in the run-up to the May finales, and that’s better for us in terms of consistency.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - Season 27 — LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT — “In The Wind” Episode 27001 — Pictured: (l-r) Mariska Hargitay as Capt. Olivia Benson, Peter Scanavino as A.D.A Dominick “Sonny” Carisi Jr. — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)

When will Law & Order and SVU return with new episodes?

As of writing this, NBC hasn’t officially confirmed when the shows will be back. However, we’re expecting them to return on Thursday, Feb. 27. The Closing Ceremony takes place on Sunday, Feb. 22, and then it is mostly business as usual.

Chicago PD is being held until March, though. This is possibly because there will be an episode in February before the Winter Olympic Games, so it will help to get the two Dick Wolf franchises on track with episode counts to wrap up at the same time in May.

We’re expecting The Hunting Party to return on Thursday, Feb. 27, as we know that episode 8 will air on Thursday, March 19. NBC will want all Thursday shows to return at the same time, which is why we’re predicting the date. We’re likely to find out once the episodes have aired tonight.