For decades, CBS has thrived as the network of comfort TV: the home of cop dramas, quirky comedies, and procedural powerhouses that seem to run forever. But heading into the 2025–2026 season and beyond, the Eye Network is pulling off a daring gamble. The network is not just doubling down on its most successful franchises—it’s preparing to unleash a wave of new projects that could redefine what CBS stands for in 2026.
And yes, some of these moves are leaving fans stunned.
The Renewals Fans Begged For
Let’s start with the safe bets. CBS has officially locked in nine of its most beloved shows for another season. The NCIS universe continues to dominate, with NCIS, NCIS: Origins, and NCIS: Sydney all getting the green light. Fans of the paranormal hit Ghosts can relax too—the comedy has not just been renewed, but extended for two full seasons, stretching its run well into 2027.
Other returning staples include Elsbeth, the quirky The Good Wife spinoff; Fire Country, which remains one of CBS’s most-watched dramas; and Hollywood Squares, which proves that classic game shows never truly die.
It’s the kind of stability viewers expect from CBS. But stability is only half the story.
New Arrivals Ready to Disrupt
The real shockers are the new shows lined up for 2025–2026. Instead of playing it safe, CBS is trying something bold: weaving edgy dramas, workplace comedies, and even unscripted spectacles into its traditional lineup.
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Sheriff Country – Morena Baccarin leads this Fire Country spinoff, set in the small town of Edgewater, where the sheriff’s personal demons collide with the crimes of the present. It premieres October 17, 2025. Insiders say it’s CBS’s “next flagship drama.”
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Boston Blue – Donnie Wahlberg returns as Danny Reagan in a gritty Blue Bloods continuation, joined by Sonequa Martin-Green. Early buzz calls it “the evolution of the family cop drama.”
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CIA – Dick Wolf’s latest procedural juggernaut, starring Tom Ellis, was meant for fall 2025 but has been pushed to mid-season 2026. Rumor has it CBS is saving it as their biggest launch weapon.
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DMV – Yes, the Department of Motor Vehicles gets its own comedy. Think bureaucracy meets sitcom chaos. CBS hasn’t gone this quirky in years, and fans are cautiously intrigued.
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Y: Marshals – A Yellowstone spinoff for CBS? Believe it. Luke Grimes reprises his role as Kayce Dutton, in what could be a game-changer for the network in spring 2026.
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The Road – Taylor Sheridan produces a new music competition with Blake Shelton and Keith Urban. It’s Nashville drama meets prime-time spectacle.
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America’s Culinary Cup – Padma Lakshmi heads a new international food competition, slotted for 2026. Could this be CBS’s answer to Top Chef on steroids?
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Harlan Coben’s Final Twist – The best-selling author brings his knack for jaw-dropping thrillers into a true-crime series. Premiering mid-season 2026, it’s already being teased as CBS’s darkest show yet.
Why the Bold Moves?
Insiders say CBS executives know the landscape is changing. Streaming giants like Netflix and Disney+ are eating into broadcast ratings, and NBC and ABC have ramped up their scripted slates. For CBS, the answer isn’t abandoning its identity but evolving it: pairing NCIS-style comfort food with shocking new flavors.
The gamble is clear: by 2026, CBS doesn’t just want to be “the network your parents watch”—it wants to dominate every demo, from Ghosts’ young comedy fans to Sheriff Country’s gritty-drama audience.
The Schedule Shakeups
Even before the new shows land, CBS is shuffling its lineup:
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Watson has been bumped up to fall 2025 after performing strongly in its first season.
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CIA has been delayed to mid-season 2026, a move that has fans buzzing—does CBS fear it, or is it simply protecting its crown jewel?
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Legacy hits like FBI and NCIS remain steady anchors, but CBS wants fresher lead-ins for its new experiments.
Looking Ahead: Could 2026 Be CBS’s Wildest Year Yet?
Between the NCIS empire, bold genre swings, and high-profile partnerships (Taylor Sheridan, Dick Wolf, Harlan Coben, Padma Lakshmi), CBS’s 2026 schedule looks unlike anything it has done in years.
Fans are already debating online: will Y: Marshals really pull Yellowstone fans to CBS? Will America’s Culinary Cup become the next big unscripted obsession? And can CIA live up to the hype as Dick Wolf’s “biggest swing since Law & Order”?
One thing is clear: CBS isn’t playing it safe anymore.
As one network insider put it, “The 2026 lineup could either crown CBS as the last great broadcast giant—or mark the year it gambled too hard.”
For now, the countdown is on. Two seasons from now, we’ll know if CBS’s daring play was genius—or madness.
