NBC Renews Law & Order SVU for 28th Season as Summer 2026 Production Nears

3 articles · Updated · HollywoodLife · May 14

Season 28 of Law & Order: SVU has been officially renewed by NBC, extending the show’s record run as primetime TV’s longest-running live-action drama.
Summer 2026 production is expected to set up a fall return, with NBC targeting a premiere window between September and October 2026.
May 14’s season 27 finale is expected to close another turbulent year for Captain Olivia Benson and could launch storylines that carry into the new season.
Mariska Hargitay is expected back as Benson, with Ice-T, Peter Scanavino and Kevin Kane also likely to return, though NBC has not confirmed the full cast.
Since its 1999 debut, SVU has remained a core NBC procedural, with new episodes airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock.

With SVU's 28th season confirmed, will Benson and Stabler's story finally get the closure fans crave after so many years of tension?

How is SVU managing to boost viewership and stay culturally relevant in a streaming-first era, while other long-running dramas face cancellation?

Now that the 'End the Backlog' campaign has reached its goal, what new real-world advocacy will Mariska Hargitay and the SVU team champion next?