Law & Order is moving to 10 p.m. ET for its 26th season on NBC, marking a significant shift from its longtime 8 p.m. Thursday slot that the show has held since returning to the network in 2021.
Beginning in fall 2026, the long-running procedural will air after Law & Order: SVU instead of before it, closing out NBC’s Thursday night lineup. The network announced the change as part of its 2026-2027 primetime schedule, which reshuffles the entire evening’s programming to make room for a new addition.
NBC’s Thursday night lineup will now feature The Traitors at 8 p.m. ET, Law & Order: SVU at 9 p.m. ET, and Law & Order at 10 p.m. ET. The Traitors is a civilian version of the Emmy-winning reality competition series from Peacock, hosted by Alan Cumming, and will lead into the two-hour crime drama block.
According to NBC, the schedule change comes as the network makes room for The Traitors to take the 8 p.m. slot that Law & Order previously occupied. The shift represents one of NBC’s biggest fall 2026 schedule changes, moving the flagship crime drama from its prime early-evening position to a later time slot.
The move was announced alongside Law & Order’s 11th-hour renewal for Season 26. NBC executives cited scheduling considerations as a key factor in the late decision to renew the show. Despite the time slot change, the series will continue to air new episodes on Peacock the day after broadcast.
Sources
- NBC Insider — Official announcement of Law & Order’s time slot change for 2026-2027 season and new Thursday night lineup
- Deadline — NBC Fall 2026-27 schedule details and Law & Order renewal information
- Yahoo Entertainment — Confirmation of The Traitors moving to 8 p.m. slot and Law & Order shift to 10 p.m.
- The Hollywood Reporter — NBC’s 2026-27 season schedule and Law & Order’s 11th hour renewal with scheduling concerns
