Law & Order: SVU Set for Season 28 in 2026-27; What’s Happening with Law & Order, Hunting Party, Brilliant Minds, and Stumble?
NBC’s Law & Order: SVU continues to reinforce its legacy, with plans to return for its 28th season next fall. The series, led by Mariska Hargitay, holds the distinction of being the longest-running primetime drama on broadcast television.
This announcement is part of a two-season renewal previously revealed by NBC last May, ensuring the show’s continuation through the 2025-26 season. Michele Fazekas, who took the helm as the first female showrunner last season, is expected to return in this role.
Remarkably, Law & Order: SVU is experiencing its most successful season on Peacock, achieving a 27% increase in viewership compared to last season, which had previously set records for the show on the platform. The series remains a Top 10 favorite and ranks as NBC’s most-watched show for next-day viewing.
Law & Order: SVU, produced by Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television, is also the top-rated drama on NBC among adults aged 18-49 across multiple platforms. After 27 seasons, the series has maintained a sustainable production budget of approximately $5 million to $6 million.
Meanwhile, the fate of other long-standing series within the Law & Order franchise remains uncertain. The original series, now in its 25th season, will be assessed alongside other shows facing renewal dilemmas, including The Hunting Party and Brilliant Minds. Final decisions are anticipated in early May, ahead of NBC’s schedule announcement for the 2026-27 season on May 11.
Despite the buzz surrounding new drama pilots, including a reboot of The Rockford Files starring David Boreanaz, Law & Order has not yet secured its future after NBC renewed the three Chicago series.
The original Law & Order, which underwent significant cast changes after its 2022 revival, has reportedly found its footing creatively, particularly in the current season, although it still trails behind One Chicago and SVU in terms of performance. Nevertheless, its linear viewership now matches that of SVU.
NBC’s previous cancellation of Law & Order in 2010 marked a tumultuous period in the network’s relationship with creator Dick Wolf. Although the relationship has since been mended, NBC is likely to avoid a repeat of that abrupt ending, especially without providing a limited-run finale.
Currently, Law & Order appears to have a better chance of renewal compared to its counterparts. The Hunting Party gained attention after a strong Netflix debut in February, although its ripple effects on NBC’s viewership remain limited.
In contrast, Brilliant Minds and the new comedy Stumble are facing difficult odds for renewal. Stumble faces competition from a new single-camera comedy pilot starring Jake Johnson and other midseason series, including The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, which also features a sports-themed narrative and comes from prominent writer-producer Tina Fey.
Given that NBC’s Sunday nights are dominated by sports and its Tuesday nights largely focus on NBA basketball, the network has limited options for expanding its scripted programming slate this season.
