Season 25 of Law & Order and Season 27 of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit have been delivering non-stop suspense, but weekly watchers will need to press pause as NBC makes way for the 2026 Olympic Games.
For several decades, NBC has delivered elite coverage of the Olympic Games, making sure sports fans get the details on the latest action. As athletes all over the world gear up for the Winter Games in northern Italy this year, those watching at home may notice some programming shake-ups to make way for the Olympic Games. Instead of criminal chases and courtroom showdowns, viewers can tune in for bobsledding, skiing, and more thrilling winter events. But worry not, Law & Order fans — new episodes of the primetime staple will return to NBC soon enough.
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Find out when new episodes of Law & Order Season 25 and Law & Order: SVU Season 27 return on NBC, below.
Law & Order Thursdays are heading into a winter break for the 2026 Winter Olympics
Both Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit are going on a three-week hiatus. But fans won’t be in any shortage of action as NBC makes way for the Milan Cortina Winter Games. Whether you like watching the skaters fly on the ice or seeing the skiers zoom down the slopes, viewers won’t miss a moment of the action, thanks to NBC’s Olympic coverage, also available to stream on Peacock.
When will new episodes of Law & Order and SVU return on NBC?
Once the Olympic Games are Dun Dun, viewers can anticipate the return of Law & Order Season 25 and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 on Thursday, February 26 at 8/7c on NBC.
As usual, new episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.
Season 27 of SVU has been a wild ride as Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and her elite squad tackle whatever heinous case comes their way. From sinister guest stars to fan favorites returning to the squad room, viewers have been on the edge of their seats to see what happens next.
“I love my job. I love going to work every day. I love the community that I’m in,” Hargitay told NBC Insider in a 2023 interview. “I love my cast, my crew, and I love the intimacy of it all and the fact that we work in a culture that says, ‘Let’s do the work, let’s have a fun time, and the best idea wins.’ It is such a team. It is such an incredible team, and we rely so much on each other. We’re a unit. It’s so sacred to me.”
Meanwhile, the action has been firing off on all cylinders on Season 25 of Law & Order, which is celebrating a milestone chapter this year. From blood-curdling crime scenes to the arrival of Detective Theo Walker (David Ajala), the original series is also delivering the goosebumps. Fans even got to enjoy a blood-pumping crossover episode, where Benson and Lt. Jessica Brady (Maura Tierney) teamed up on a mind-boggling case together. With over 35 years of Law & Order chills, fans never get tired of watching these elite squads deliver justice.
“There is something very, very special about being part of this franchise,” Ajala told NBC Insider in a 2025 interview. “Because when you’re out in New York City, and you’re shooting scenes, people recognize it, you know? They recognize the show, they recognize the actors, and it means a lot to them, and they like to take photos and videos. And to be part of something that is so well-loved is very special.”
During the Olympics hiatus, stream episodes of Law & Order and SVU on Peacock for a marathon of your favorite cases.