Law & Order and SVU fans finally have the date they’ve been waiting for as NBC locks in its fall 2026 lineup. The network revealed premiere details and a major scheduling shake-up for its iconic Thursday crime block.

Law & Order and SVU remain key parts of NBC’s schedule

NBC announced that Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 28 and Law & Order Season 26 will both debut on Thursday, October 8, 2026. SVU takes the 9/8c slot, and Law & Order follows at 10/9c on the network. Both shows will also be available to stream the next day on Peacock.

Notably, the fall lineup features a scheduling shake-up for the long-running Thursday block. Special Victims Unit will now air before Law & Order instead of the flagship series opening the evening. This change gives Captain Olivia Benson’s elite squad the lead position for NBC’s 2026-2027 season. Law & Order shifts to the later time slot as part of this remix.

SVU Season 27 delivered a stacked roster that included Mariska Hargitay, Ice T, Peter Scanavino, Kelli Giddish, and Kevin Kane. Newcomer Corey Cott joined the cast alongside returning favorite Sgt. Rollins during the season.

The season further brought back fan-favorite characters Elliot Stabler, Donald Cragen, Brian Cassidy, and Joe Velasco. Guest stars like Jemima Kirke, Danielle MacDonald, and Kate Burton also appeared throughout the run.

Meanwhile, Law & Order’s milestone season introduced David Ajala’s Theo Walker to the 27th Precinct. Ajala shared his enthusiasm about joining the legendary franchise with NBC Insider in November 2025. “There’s something very, very special about being part of this franchise,” Ajala said during the interview (via NBC).

He also described the experience of filming on location in New York City among passionate fans. “[People] recognize the show, they recognize the actors, and it means a lot to them,” he added.

Peacock currently offers all SVU Season 27 episodes for streaming alongside past seasons of Law & Order, Organized Crime, and Criminal Intent.