Earlier this year, Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 went out with a literal bang, as a massive explosion rocked the halls of Grey Sloan. And the veteran ABC medical drama plans to continue to bring that explosiveness in its upcoming Season 22, which may include an increased number of appearances from Ellen Pompeo.
Here’s everything to know about Season 22 of Grey’s Anatomy.
What is the Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 release date?
Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 will premiere Thursday, Oct. 16 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
What time does Grey’s Anatomy come on?
Fans can check out Grey’s Anatomy at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The series shifted back to this timeslot starting last season.
How to stream Grey’s Anatomy
You can stream Grey’s Anatomy on Hulu the day after each episode airs on Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.
Related: Sandra Oh Makes a Bold Statement About Whether She’ll Return to ‘Grey’s Anatomy’
How many episodes are in Grey’s Anatomy Season 22?
Season 22 is expected to run 18 episodes. That marks the same episode count as the year before.
Who is in the Grey’s Anatomy cast for Season 22?
The following are, per their contracts, confirmed cast members returning for Grey’s Anatomy Season 22:
Ellen Pompeo (Meredith Grey)
Chandra Wilson (Miranda Bailey)
James Pickens Jr. (Richard Webber)
Kevin McKidd (Owen Hunt)
Kim Raver (Teddy Altman)
Caterina Scorsone (Amelia Shepherd)
Camilla Luddington (Jo Wilson)
Will Link be returning for Grey’s Anatomy Season 22?
The biggest character whose fate was left up in the air with the Season 21 finale was Link. The Chris Carmack character sets off the spark to ignite the entire cliffhanger, lighting up a bone saw that creates the explosion that rocks the upper floor of the hospital. While this doesn’t guarantee Link’s death, he will at least be very badly injured to start Season 22.
For what it’s worth, Carmack has been very cagey about the status of his character. In a recent interview with Women’s World, the actor said, “I don’t know what I can share because I don’t know anything yet. Wait — now that I think about it, I haven’t gotten the call yet saying, ‘See ya in July.’”
Related: How Every Grey’s Anatomy Character Got Written Off the Show
Will Ellen Pompeo be in Grey’s Anatomy Season 21?
Pompeo exited the long-running medical drama as a series regular in Season 19, but she hasn’t said goodbye to the show for good. Instead, she’s stayed on as a producer and narrator, and she pops in when her schedule (and storyline) permits.
Related: 50 ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Quotes That Will Give You All the Feels
Was Javier Bardem on Grey’s Anatomy?
No, Javier Bardem was not on Grey’s Anatomy. However, many people think that because of his resemblance to actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who starred as heart transplant patient Denny Duquette in Season 2. The two not only look similar but are only three years apart in age (Bardem is younger). You may recognize Morgan for his more recent and higher-profile role as Negan Smith on The Walking Dead.
Denny remains a memorable character to Grey’s fans because of his role in a powerful storyline with Dr. Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) during his time at Seattle Grace awaiting the transplant. While the character’s fate is tragic, he continues to factor heavily in Stevens’ story for several more seasons.
How did Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 end?
Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 had many of the Grey Sloan staff facing some major changes in its finale. The drama of the episode chiefly focused on a mother holding several doctors hostage to get a life-saving brain surgery for her child. While our main characters were able to eventually talk her down from her threat to blow up the hospital with her husband’s gas tanks, it seems some of the noxious fumes lingered inside the hospital. And so the episode concluded with an unaware Link lighting up a bone saw, and Ben running into the ensuing inferno to try to save him.
But Grey’s Anatomy‘s cornerstone is chiefly around the drama with Grey Sloan’s hottest couples. And there’s plenty of it going into Season 22. Simone (Alexis Floyd) made up with Lucas (Niko Terho), only for the man she had a one-night stand with previously (Trevor Jackson) to show up at Grey Sloan as a new intern. Meanwhile, Jules (Adelaide Kane) confronted Winston (Anthony Bell) about dumping her from his service because feelings between them became blurry. And Teddy (Kim Raver) told Owen (Kevin McKidd) that she was finally done changing her life for him after she performed a daredevil heart surgery on the woman he slept with during their brief experiment with an open marriage.
Related: ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Boss Answers the Biggest Questions From That Explosive Season Finale (Exclusive)
How to watch Grey’s Anatomy Season 22
Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET (an hour later than usual) on ABC. Viewers will be able to stream the next day on Hulu.
How long has Grey’s Anatomy been on?
In March 2025, Grey’s Anatomy celebrated its 20th anniversary. The show premiered on March 27, 2005, and is the longest-running medical drama on primetime TV.
What awards has Grey’s Anatomy won?
Grey’s Anatomy has won many nominations and awards over the years, honoring outstanding performances, writing, and overall quality.
Some of the most notable awards for Grey’s include: five Primetime Emmy Awards, with 39 total nominations; a SAG award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series; 10 Golden Globe nominations and two wins (Best Television Series – Drama in 2007 and a 2006 win for Sandra Oh for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television); and several NAACP Image Awards, People’s Choice Awards, and BET Awards, among others.
