Law & Order: SVU season 28 release date: when is it on?

After more than a quarter of a century on air, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is showing no sign of slowing down.

NBC has renewed the drama for season 28 as part of its 2026-27 line-up, extending the record run of TV’s longest-running primetime series.

Mariska Hargitay is expected to return once more as Captain Olivia Benson, the character she has played since the series began in 1999. And although budget cuts to the series now limit how many episodes series regulars can feature in, we’re still set to be reunited with our fan-favourites later this year.

Law & Order: SVU season 28 release date: When is it on?

Season 28 of Law & Order: SVU premieres in the US on Thursday 8 October 2026 at 9pm ET/8c on NBC.

New episodes are expected to air weekly on Thursday nights throughout the 2026-27 broadcast season.

The original Law & Order follows immediately afterwards at 10pm ET, maintaining NBC’s established Law & Order Thursday line-up. Episodes will be available to stream on Peacock the day after they air, from 9 October 2026.

Whilst a UK release date hasn’t yet been confirmed, the new series can be expected to air on Sky Witness and NOW.

Is there a trailer for Law & Order: SVU season 28?

A trailer for Law & Order: SVU season 28 has not yet been released.

Who could be in the Law & Order: SVU season 28 cast?

NBC has not confirmed a full cast roster, but reporting points to the core squad returning.

Expected season 28 cast members include:

• Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson
• Ice-T as Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
• Kelli Giddish as Detective Amanda Rollins
• Peter Scanavino as ADA Dominick “Sonny” Carisi
• Aimé Donna Kelly as Captain Renee Curry

Although we didn’t see as much of Ice-T’s Fin Tutuola in season 27, the character is set for a more prominent role in season 28.

Showrunner Michele Fazekas told TVLine: “I think we’ll have Ice-T more,” describing the character as “like the pinch hitter” and “almost like the Number 2 for Benson”. Fazekas added that she wants to see Fin “more in a training capacity in the next season”, leaning into his veteran standing within the squad. The reduced screen time in season 27 was framed as a budget decision tied to Kelli Giddish’s return, rather than a creative move to write the character out.

What could happen in Law & Order: SVU season 28?

NBC has not released an official synopsis for season 28. As ever, the series is expected to follow the detectives of the Special Victims Unit as they investigate sexually based offences in New York City, balancing different procedural cases with the personal lives of the squad.

Seeing as Law & Order: Organised Crime has now been cancelled, fans will likely be left wondering whether that means that Christopher Meloni’s Detective Elliot Stabler could be making an appearance in SVU again.

Fazekas previously told TVLine: “When I was on the show, it was Benson and Stabler. I want to use him as much as he can, but also, I don’t want to stunt it, or do it for no reason. It has to mean something.” But as for whether he’s set to make an appearance and could be folded into any of the season 28 drama, we’ll have to wait and see.

Where can I watch Law & Order: SVU season 28?

In the US, Law & Order: SVU season 28 airs live on NBC on Thursday nights, with episodes streaming on Peacock the day after broadcast. Previous seasons of the series are also available to stream on Peacock.

In the UK, you can watch the series on Sky Witness and NOW.

Law & Order: SVU season 28 is coming soon to Sky TV and NOW. You can sign up to NOW from £3.99 a month.

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