When Is “Grey’s Anatomy” Coming Back? All About Season 23 of the Long-Running Medical Drama
Grey’s Anatomy is keeping its streak as the longest-running primetime medical drama.
The hit ABC series, which was created by Shonda Rhimes in 2005, was renewed for season 23 before the prior season even came to an end. The popular medical drama is expected to return in the fall of 2026.
Although season 23 is keeping its scheduling the same, the upcoming season will feature a cast shakeup with some of the series’ beloved stars not returning. However, fans can somewhat rest assured knowing that other longtime cast members are already seemingly confirmed to be starring in season 23.
Ellen Pompeo, who has starred as Dr. Meredith Grey on the series since its first season, will continue acting on the show in her reduced role after stepping back as a regular during season 19. In addition to making guest appearances as Meredith, Pompeo also narrates the show and serves as an executive producer.
Grey’s Anatomy season 23 will pick up where the dramatic season 22 finale, which aired in May 2026, left off. Following the finale, showrunner and executive producer Meg Marinis teased to Deadline that many of the story lines and the “aftermath” will continue in season 23.
Here’s everything we know about Grey’s Anatomy season 23.
Warning: Grey’s Anatomy season 22 spoilers below!
When is Grey’s Anatomy coming back for season 23?
Grey’s Anatomy fans can rest easy knowing that the beloved medical drama has officially been renewed for season 23. The Grey’s Anatomy season 23 release date has not officially been announced, but ABC confirmed that it will be included as part of its fall 2026 primetime lineup.
The network also confirmed that the series will reprise its Thursday 10 p.m. timeslot.
Although Grey’s Anatomy is returning for another season, it could potentially feature fewer episodes than seasons past. Deadline reported in early 2026 that the upcoming season could include a “slightly reduced order” from the 18 episodes of the last two seasons.
How did Grey’s Anatomy season 22 end?
Grey’s Anatomy has never shied away from a dramatic, cliffhanger finale, and season 22 didn’t stray from that pattern.
After surviving a bridge collapse, Dr. Owen Hunt’s (Kevin McKidd) near-death experience helped him realize his priority is to be with his best-friend-turned-ex-wife, Dr. Teddy Altman (Kim Raver), who was recently offered a job in Paris. By the end of the episode, the two decided their time at Grey Sloan had come to an end.
Meanwhile, Meredith’s boyfriend, Dr. Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman), was also driving in one of the cars on the bridge that collapsed. After waking up from surgery, he and Meredith got engaged.
As for where Dr. Benson Kwan (Harry Shum Jr.) stands after being fired for giving an experimental drug to a patient, his firing was upheld by Dr. Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) — even after Dr. Kwan played a crucial role in the bridge collapse operations.
In true Grey’s Anatomy fashion, the finale also saw several revelations in many of the doctors’ romances, including Dr. Simone Griffith (Alexis Floyd) falling deeper into her love triangle with fellow resident Lucas Adams (Niko Terho) and intern Wes Bryant (Trevor Jackson).
Meanwhile, resident Dr. Jules Millan (Adelaide Kane) and attending Dr. Winston Ndugu (Anthony Hill) realized they are ready to go public with their relationship, while Dr. Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington) and Dr. Atticus Lincoln’s (Chris Carmack) relationship might be headed toward some trouble as it was revealed to viewers that Link has been continuing to take painkillers following his recovery from an earlier explosion.
Finally, Dr. Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone) and Dr. Toni Wright’s (Jen Landon) new romance got more complicated when Dr. Wright showed up at Amelia’s door to express her true feelings — just as Dr. Cass Beckman (Sophia Bush) was sitting half-dressed inside Amelia’s apartment.
Who’s leaving the Grey’s Anatomy cast ahead of season 23?
Prior to the season 22 finale airing, both Raver and McKidd announced that they were leaving the show.
“Grey’s Anatomy has been a huge chapter of my life, creatively and personally, and I’m deeply grateful for everything the show has given me over the years,” McKidd said in a statement to PEOPLE at the time. “Playing Dr. Owen Hunt and directing on the show have both shaped me enormously, and I’ve had the privilege of working with an extraordinary group of people throughout that time.”
Meanwhile, Raver reflected on her exit on Instagram, writing, “Playing Dr. Teddy Altman will always hold a dear and special place in my heart.”
Additional cuts to the cast have not been confirmed, but Marinis teased to Deadline that people will still “have to wait to see who shows up in season 23” — including series regulars.
As for Kwan — who was fired in the season 22 finale — Marinis said that his “fate is still undecided.”
“We’ll just have to see when we come back in the fall. He doesn’t have a job at Grey Sloan right now, so we’ll have to see what happens to him,” she told the outlet.
Which cast members are returning for Grey’s Anatomy season 23?
While the official cast for season 23 of Grey’s Anatomy has not been announced, Deadline reported that Wilson, Pickens Jr., Luddington, Scorsone and Carmack are all believed to have an additional year on their current contracts.
Fans can also rest assured knowing that Marinis said she does “not envision a world where I can scale back on seeing [Wilson or Pickens Jr.].”
As for Pompeo, Deadline reported that she will continue to act as a recurring character, while also serving as an executive producer and the narrator.
Where can I watch Grey’s Anatomy?
All 22 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy are available to stream on Netflix and Hulu. Season 23 will air new episodes on ABC, with Hulu streaming them the following day.
