The full Midseason 2026 TV Schedule has been released, detailing premiere and return dates for major broadcast networks including ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and The CW. Fans can now plan their viewing with key shows returning from hiatus and several new series making their midseason debuts. Highlights include Wild Cards Season 3, American Idol Season 24, and Survivor Season 50. Midseason premieres kick off in early January 2026 and continue into March, bringing a mix of scripted dramas, comedies, reality TV, and live events. Networks aim to capture audiences with fresh storylines and high-profile events like the Winter Olympics and Super Bowl LX.
Premiere & Return Dates
ABC starts the midseason schedule with Will Trent Season 4 on January 6, followed by The Rookie Season 8 and returns of High Potential and Grey’s Anatomy. American Idol shifts to Mondays for its new season on January 26, while The Bachelorette returns March 22.
Fox introduces Best Medicine and Memory of a Killer in early January, alongside The Masked Singer and Fear Factor: House of Fear. Returning comedies include Animal Control and Going Dutch.
NBC’s lineup features new series The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins and The Hunting Party Season 2. February highlights include the Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games (Feb 6–22), Super Bowl LX (Feb 8), and NBA All-Star Game (Feb 15).
CBS’s midseason lineup includes CIA (Feb 23), Y: Marshals (Mar 1), and Survivor Season 50 (Feb 25), celebrating its milestone with returning players and special programming.
The CW returns Wild Cards Season 3 on January 26, alongside Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit premieres on January 22.
Quotes & Network Insights
Network executives highlight the strategic timing of midseason schedules to maximize viewership during key events. ABC’s programming VP emphasized, “Our midseason strategy balances returning favorites with fresh content to maintain audience engagement.” Fox noted, “New series like Fear Factor: House of Fear aim to capture younger viewers alongside our established hits.” NBC cited the Winter Olympics as a major midseason anchor driving traffic for surrounding series. CBS emphasized milestone events such as Survivor Season 50 to retain long-time viewers.
Viewership & Scheduling
The Midseason 2026 TV Schedule impacts network ratings by positioning high-profile premieres and returning hits around major live events. Shows like Wild Cards and American Idol are expected to boost ratings on Mondays, while NBC leverages Olympic coverage for primetime exposure. CBS aims to maximize engagement with milestone programming for Survivor and strategic scheduling of new dramas. Networks are balancing competition across genres, from reality TV and sports to scripted dramas and comedies, aiming to capture wide audience demographics during the midseason window.
Upcoming Premieres & Events
Viewers can expect continuous updates to the midseason schedule as networks finalize additional premiere dates. Key series returning in February and March include The Bachelorette, Y: Marshals, Survivor, and NCIS franchises. Live events such as the Winter Olympics, Super Bowl LX, and NBA All-Star Game will continue to anchor network schedules. Fans are advised to check network announcements for changes and new show additions.
