As the 2025–26 broadcast TV season enters its final stretch over April and May, the Big 5 networks, comprising ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and The CW, are rapidly finalizing their slates for 2026–27. With Upfronts just around the corner (i.e. new show announcements) some shows have been locked in for another season, while others have been quietly put to rest, and a handful remain on the bubble awaiting word of their fate.
After a rebound season last year, the major networks have pretty much stayed the course this season. Stability is the watchword this year. However, a notable shift to sports programming this year took up considerably more real estate in primetime, resulting in fewer new shows on the slate. NBC handed Tuesdays and post-NFL Sundays to the NBA. ABC made Monday Night Football a near-permanent fixture, and Fox continues to devote two full nights each week to live sport.
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Below is the full picture, network by network, of what’s renewed, what’s cancelled, and what’s still hanging on in there.
ABC
ABC has had a strong season, driven by the previous breakout success of High Potential and the continued dominance of Abbott Elementary. The network moved quickly to lock in its core returning dramas earlier this season, and most of its new additions look set to survive into 2026–27.
| Show | Status |
| 9-1-1 (Season 10) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| 9-1-1: Nashville (Season 2) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| Abbott Elementary (Season 6) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| Grey’s Anatomy (Season 23) | ✅ Officially Renewed (March 30) |
| High Potential (Season 3) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| Will Trent (Season 5) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| The Rookie | 🟡 A Safe Bet — renewal expected |
| Scrubs (Revival) | 🟡 A Safe Bet |
| Shifting Gears | 🟡 A Safe Bet — renewal expected |
| R.J. Decker | 🟠 Could Go Either Way — Scott Speedman P.I. drama benefits from strong High Potential lead-in but has yet to prove itself |
| Doctor Odyssey | ❌ Cancelled after Season 1 |
Post Upfronts Report: The Rookie, R.J. Decker, Scrubs, and Shifting Gears were all renewed.
CBS
CBS has had the most decisive season of any network, wasting no time in renewing the bulk of its scripted slate. Early pickups for Boston Blue, FBI, Ghosts, and Sheriff Country were followed in January by a wave of additional renewals covering Elsbeth, Fire Country, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, Matlock, NCIS, NCIS: Origins, and NCIS: Sydney. While The Neighborhood wraps up its eighth and final season, freshman drama DMV, and sophomore medical drama Watson failed to find an audience this year.
| Show | Status |
| Boston Blue (Season 2) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| CIA (Season 2) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| Elsbeth (Season 4) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| FBI (Season 9) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| Fire Country (Season 5) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage (Season 3) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| Ghosts (Season 6) | ✅ Officially Renewed — confirmed as its final season |
| Marshals (Season 2) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| Matlock (Season 3) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| NCIS (Season 24) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| NCIS: Origins (Season 3) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| NCIS: Sydney (Season 4) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| Sheriff Country (Season 2) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| Tracker (Season 4) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| DMV | ❌ Cancelled after Season 1 — series finale airs May 11 |
| The Neighborhood | ❌ Ending — wrapping up with Season 8; series finale airs May 11 |
| Watson | ❌ Cancelled — series finale airs May 3 |
Post Upfronts Report: As above. No changes.
FOX
FOX has been similarly active, locking in most of its animated powerhouses for multiple seasons and making strong early moves on its live-action slate. Notably, the network has already announced three new pickups for 2026–27: a Baywatch sequel series starring Stephen Amell, a development commitment with comedian, writer, and actor Frankie Quiñones for a new untitled comedy project, and The Interrogator, a Stephen Fry-led spy drama, starring, written, and executive produced by Fry, and following former MI6 agent, Conrad Henry, as he uses charm and intellect to unlock the minds of dangerous criminals when conventional methods fail.
| Show | Status |
| American Dad! (renewed through 2028–29) | ✅ Officially Renewed (multi-year) |
| Animal Control (Season 5) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| Best Medicine (Season 2) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| Bob’s Burgers (renewed through 2028–29) | ✅ Officially Renewed (multi-year) |
| Doc (Season 3) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| Family Guy (renewed through 2028–29) | ✅ Officially Renewed (multi-year) |
| Krapopolis (renewed through 2027–28) | ✅ Officially Renewed (multi-year) |
| Memory of a Killer (Season 2) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| The Simpsons (renewed through 2028–29) | ✅ Officially Renewed (multi-year) |
| Universal Basic Guys (Season 2) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| Murder in a Small Town | 🟡 A Safe Bet — audience up 13% year-on-year; budget-friendly Canadian production makes it an attractive renewal |
| Going Dutch | 🔴 Long Shot — struggling in the ratings |
| Grimsburg | ⚪ Too Soon to Tell — return date TBD |
| The Great North | ❌ Cancelled after Season 5 |
Post Upfronts Report: Murder in a Small Town was renewed. Going Dutch was cancelled.
NBC
NBC has been the most measured in its renewal decisions this season, though its core franchises look rock solid. Dick Wolf continues to command five hours of NBC primetime each week with Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago P.D. on Wednesdays, plus Law & Order and SVU on Thursdays. That footprint is expected to remain intact for 2026–27.
Meanwhile, NBC is also leading a small-scale revival of pilot season, suggesting it’s open to adding more scripted shows (Cheering noises). Incoming projects include a Rockford Files reboot starring David Boreanaz and a new criminal profiler drama led by Emily Deschanel. (Is it too early to hope for a Bones reunion crossover?)
| Show | Status |
| Chicago Fire (Season 15) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| Chicago Med (Season 12) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| Chicago P.D. (Season 14) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| Happy’s Place (Season 3) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| St. Denis Medical (Season 3) | ✅ Officially Renewed |
| Law & Order | 🟡 A Safe Bet — expected to return for Season 26 |
| Law & Order: SVU | 🟡 A Safe Bet — holds the record as longest-running live-action scripted primetime series; Season 28 essentially guaranteed |
| The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins | 🟡 A Safe Bet — ratings have softened since its football-boosted premiere, but NBC will take its time given the limited run |
| The Hunting Party | 🟠 Could Go Either Way — struggling to retain its SVU lead-in; fate may hinge on incoming pilots |
| Stumble | 🔴 Long Shot — cheerleading mockumentary has failed to gain traction on Fridays |
| Brilliant Minds | ⚠️ Essentially Cancelled — pulled from Mondays after 14 episodes of Season 2 in February 2026; remaining episodes may air over summer |
Post Upfronts Report: Brilliant Minds, Stumble, Law and Order: Organized Crime, and The Hunting Party were cancelled. Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, and The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins were all renewed.
THE CW
Sadly, the CW’s story this season is largely one of retreat. The network is now down to just one homegrown scripted original, All American, which will air its eighth and final season this year. The CW has otherwise filled its primetime schedule with acquired titles, sports (including NASCAR), and returning game show fare.
| Show | Status |
| Penn & Teller: Fool Us | ✅ Renewed (through future seasons) |
| Whose Line Is It Anyway? | ✅ Renewed (through future seasons) |
| All American (Season 8) | ❌ Ending — final season currently airing |
| Good Cop/Bad Cop | ❌ Cancelled after Season 1 |
Post Upfronts Report: No change.
If I had to summarize, I would say the 2025–26 broadcast season reflects a TV landscape that’s still finding its footing in the streaming era. CBS remained the most aggressive in locking down its slate early, and working on expanding its various drama franchises this year. NBC leaned in both its procedural empire, and sports programming, to stay on top this season, while FOX protected its animation tentpoles for years to come. ABC enjoyed a strong year on the back of High Potential and Abbott Elementary, and The CW continues its quiet pivot away from scripted originals entirely.
Final renewal and cancellation decisions are expected to land in the coming weeks as the various network Upfronts approach in May 2026. Stay with TV Pulse Magazine for more.
