ABC Confirms Renewal of ‘9-1-1’ and ‘9-1-1: Nashville’
ABC has officially renewed its successful Ryan Murphy series, 9-1-1, along with its spinoff, 9-1-1: Nashville, for the 2026-27 television season. The veteran series 9-1-1 will return for a tenth season, while the freshman spinoff has been picked up for its second season.
These decisions aligned with the shows’ strong performance, as both rank within the Top 10 dramas among adults aged 18-49 for multi-platform viewing over a week, with 9-1-1: Nashville recognized as the top new drama in that demographic.
However, there were additional considerations, particularly for the spinoff. 9-1-1 remains one of ABC’s most-watched scripted programs, recently achieving its highest multi-platform audience since its season premiere. The series, however, comes with significant production costs. With a nine-year legacy, it films in Los Angeles and features a high-profile lead, Angela Bassett. Its big budget, which was a factor in its move from Fox to ABC, is related to the franchise’s elaborate annual stunts and the costs associated with top talent. The original show also underwent budget adjustments at the end of last season following the exit of co-lead Peter Krause.
For 9-1-1: Nashville, the journey has been uneven. After a promising start, the spinoff struggled with declining ratings, reaching a low during its fall finale and maintaining that trend into its winter return, where it retained just over half of its substantial lead-in from 9-1-1. However, following some retooling, the series began to regain momentum, achieving series highs in total viewers and adults aged 18-49 with its episode on January 29. This positive trend has bolstered the show’s renewal prospects.
ABC and 20th Television have expressed confidence in Rashad Raisani, the co-creator, executive producer, and showrunner for both 9-1-1 and Nashville. Raisani recently extended his overall deal with the studio.
Both series stem from the creative minds of Ryan Murphy, Tim Minear, and Raisani; with Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Minear also credited as creators of 9-1-1, where Minear serves as showrunner.
