Law & Order: SVU season 26 – Release date, cast and latest news

The most recent season of the procedural series first premiered back in October 2024 in the US, with the Law & Order spin-off continuing to chime with viewers and provide them with updates on the long-running, beloved characters.

While the show has yet to be officially renewed for a 27th season yet, one big update suggests that is firmly on the cards, as a new showrunner has just been appointed.

From the end of season 26, Michele Fazekas will take over from David Graziano - meaning it seems highly unlikely that the show is in line for cancellation.

But when exactly is Law & Order: SVU returning for the rest of season 26? Read on for everything you need to know.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 26 release date

The 26th season of Law & Order: SVU premiered on NBC in the US on Thursday 3rd October 2024, before taking a mid-season break at the end of the year. It then returned on Thursday 16th January 2025.

It premiered an hour after the return of the 24th season of Law & Order that same evening, with the two continuing to air weekly every Thursday on the American network.

Meanwhile, the 26th season of SVU is now finally arriving in the UK, with the first episode set to air at 9pm on Thursday 3rd April 2025 on Sky Witness. New episodes are expected to air weekly.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 26 cast news

One of the great things about such a long-running series is the fact that the cast are full of the same familiar faces from years past. That's exactly why it wouldn't quite be a series of SVU without Mariska Hargitay at its helm as Captain Olivia Benson or Ice-T as Fin Tutuola.

The pair returned to head up the new season along with Peter Scanavino as Dominick "Sonny" Carisi Jr, Demore Barnes as Christian Garland and more.

Season 25 did also mark the cameo return of Kelli Giddish as Amanda Rollins and it was confirmed that Giddish would appear in multiple season 26 episodes.

Executive producer Julie Martin told TVLine: “Rollins is definitely coming back to the show. She’s coming as a guest star, and she’s going to make a bunch of appearances throughout the season."

It's good news for Kevin Kane as Detective Terry Bruno is playing a more prominent role than ever after he was bumped to series regular. And there's a whole new detective on the scene, as Griselda star Juliana Aidén Martinez joined the cast.

Speaking about her character, Martinez told The Hollywood Reporter: "Kate Silva is the daughter of a deputy commissioner, so she’s already facing these preconceived notions that she’s a nepo baby, which, granted, her father was in the force, but she’s also someone that was deeply impacted by 9/11."

She added: "She was a homicide detective previously, so she’s very perceptive with people, very smart. She’s detail-oriented, so she kind of has the expertise of being a homicide detective, but then experiencing real-time victims."

The cast of Law & Order: SVU season 26 is as follows:

• Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson
• Ice-T as Odafin "Fin" Tutuola
• Peter Scanavino as Dominick "Sonny" Carisi Jr
• Demore Barnes as Christian Barland
• Octavio Pisano as Joe Velasco
• Terry Serpico as Chief Tommy McGrath
• Kevin Kane as Detective Terry Bruno
• Peter Scanavino as Sonny Carisi
• Juliana Aidén Martinez as Kate Silva

What is Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 26 about?

As fans of the series will know, the great thing about SVU (and the other Dick Wolf series) is that each episode is self-contained with its own crime, story and set of guest stars.

In the mid-season finale, Carisi went on quite the emotional rollercoaster as he was caught up in a burglary and didn't appear to be coping well in the aftermath of it. We do know that the events of that burglary will change Carisi but as for in what ways, we'll have to wait and see.

Law & Order: SVU will continue to use the important stories within the news cycle to colour what will unfold in season 26 – as the series has been known to do.

One thing's for certain – we do know that we'll continue to follow Olivia Benson and her team as they investigate New York's sexually-based crimes.

Is there a trailer for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 26?

Yes!

You can watch a trailer for all of the Law & Order show's most recent seasons here.

Meanwhile, you can grab a look at the mid-season premiere of SVU season 26 along with Law & Order in the promo trailer below.

However, fans should be aware that if you're watching on UK time, you will be getting a glimpse of episodes which are currently still some way off.

Law & Order: SVU season 26 starts airing on Sky Witness in the UK on Thursday 3rd April 2025 at 9pm.

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