Law & Order and SVU are now on their winter breaks (When will the shows return?)
We’re getting closer to the end of the year, which means we’re getting fall finales. Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU both air their fall finales on Thursday, Nov. 21, marking the last episodes of 2024. The good news is the break is a temporary one.
There will be new episodes in 2025. This break is rather standard for network TV, although it won’t always feel like that. We have seen some changes to the schedules over the years due to the pandemic and the 2023 strike action, but things are slowly getting back to normal. That meant September starts and a normal winter hiatus.
When will Law & Order and SVU return with new episodes?
As mentioned, there are no more episodes in 2024. NBC will bring back Law & Order season 24 and Law & Order: SVU season 26 in January 2025. The official date for the two shows is Thursday, Jan. 16. This is the same night that Found season 2 returns, bringing us a night of crime dramas on Thursday again.
Law & Order kicks things off at 8 p.m. ET/PT, while SVU follows an hour later. This return is about standard, as we often see NBC opt for early to mid-January for winter premieres to make up for the mid-November fall finales.
The promos for the two shows haven’t given anything away about what to expect. We just know that the two teams will continue to work in a way to protect the public. We’ll see a mixture of both the law side of things and then the aim to get justice for the victims.
Why are the Law & Order shows on a break?
What’s with the lengthy break? Well, this happens for a few reasons. The main one is that the linear ratings take a hit during the holiday season. People are traveling and spending time with family, so they don’t have the time to watch shows live. Rather than risk the shows and linear ratings, the broadcast networks put the shows on hold until the new year.
The other big reasons are linked to scheduling. The cast and crew need time off over the holiday season, and there are only so many episodes ready to go. So, the winter break allows for time off and to spread out the episodes that are available.
Law & Order and SVU return on Thursday, Jan. 16 starting at 8/7c on NBC. Catch up on the two shows on Peacock.
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