Chicago Fire season 14 will not air more episodes in 2025 (but we have a return date) md19

For fans of NBC’s Chicago Fire—and the entire One Chicago franchise—the holiday season brings the unwelcome news of the annual midseason hiatus. After seven weeks of intense action and high-stakes drama, the brave firefighters of Firehouse 51 have officially hung up their gear for the rest of the year. This means that, definitively, there will be no more new episodes of Chicago Fire airing in 2025.

The fall finale, which typically airs in mid-November, left viewers with massive, heart-stopping cliffhangers—a tradition that makes the subsequent break agonizingly long. With the life of Lieutenant Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) hanging in the balance and the very existence of Firehouse 51 under threat, the wait for the show’s return is more intense than ever.

The good news, however, is that the waiting is not a mystery. NBC has officially announced the definitive date for the show’s midseason premiere. Fans can rest assured that Chief Boden (Eamonn Walker) and his crew will be back in the New Year to address the devastation and continue the fight for their station.

📅 The Official Return Date: Wednesday, January 7, 2026

The break is a necessary part of the broadcast schedule, accommodating holiday programming and allowing production to catch up on filming. The entire One Chicago block will return to its familiar Wednesday night home in the first week of 2026.

The Full One Chicago Comeback Schedule:

The midseason premiere, Season 14, Episode 8, is guaranteed to be one of the most action-packed episodes of the season, tasked with resolving the perilous double cliffhanger left by the fall finale, “Pierce the Vein” (aired November 12, 2025).

🚨 The Cliffhangers: Why Fans Can’t Wait

The end of the 2025 run was particularly brutal for the characters of Firehouse 51, introducing two major threats: one immediate and personal, and one institutional and long-term.

1. Severide Trapped and the Arsonist

The most pressing concern is the fate of Lieutenant Kelly Severide. He was last seen entering a building during a fire call, only for the stairwell to be deliberately set ablaze by an unseen arsonist.

• Life-or-Death Situation: The midseason premiere must open with a thrilling, desperate rescue attempt led by Truck 81 and Squad 3. The entire house will be on edge, particularly Lieutenant Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo), whose life with Severide is increasingly fragile due to her pregnancy.

• The Arson Arc: Severide’s survival will immediately launch a major arson investigation, forcing him to use his specialized skills to track down the perpetrator who tried to kill him. This storyline is poised to be the central procedural mystery of the second half of Season 14.

2. The Threat to Firehouse 51

Chief Dom Pascal delivered the devastating news that the city’s budget cuts could lead to Firehouse 51 being “permanently decommissioned.”

• The Loss of Home: This institutional threat is a personal attack on every character. Firehouse 51 is the central, immovable fixture of the show, and the fight to save it will unite the entire ensemble.

• A Political and Community Battle: The storyline will shift to a political battle, requiring Chief Boden, Captain Herrmann (David Eigenberg), and the rest of the crew to rally community support, appeal to the city council, and perhaps engage in some signature behind-the-scenes maneuvers to defend their home. This kind of “us vs. the administration” plot always delivers maximum emotional stakes for Chicago Fire fans.

🍿 Catching Up: Streaming and Reruns

While no new episodes are airing in late 2025, the hiatus offers the perfect time for fans to catch up on the season’s early developments and refresh their memories on key plot points.

Peacock is the Streaming Destination

The most reliable platform for watching or rewatching Chicago Fire is Peacock, NBC’s official streaming service.

• Next-Day Access: All episodes of Season 14 are available to stream on Peacock the day after their original broadcast.

• Full Series Library: Peacock also hosts the entire catalog of Chicago Fire, making it the ideal spot for dedicated viewers to revisit past seasons or catch up on any missed moments leading up to the Season 14 premiere.

Cable Reruns

Check your local listings. Networks often air reruns of popular shows during the holiday season. While they won’t be new stories, catching a familiar episode of Firehouse 51 can help ease the wait for the new year.

📈 What to Expect in the Midseason Premiere

When Chicago Fire returns in January 2026, the pacing will be relentless as the show tackles the immediate dangers and long-term threats simultaneously.

• The High-Stakes Rescue: Episode 8 will begin with a protracted, intense sequence focused on the team’s efforts to get Severide out of the blazing building. Expect major teamwork between Squad 3 and Truck 81, showcasing the unparalleled trust between the firefighters.

• Kidd’s Emotional Arc: Stella Kidd’s storyline will be hyper-focused on the trauma of nearly losing her husband while pregnant. This will push her character to confront the ultimate dilemma of being a first responder married to a first responder.

• The Political Fight: The immediate threat to Severide will quickly transition into the fight for the firehouse’s survival. Chief Boden will be front and center, leading the charge against the bureaucratic forces trying to dismantle his family. The character development of Mouch (Christian Stolte) and the new dynamics on Engine 51 will also play a role in the station’s defense.

The long break from mid-November 2025 to January 2026 will feel endless, but the drama that awaits is monumental, promising a second half of Season 14 that is both emotionally taxing and professionally challenging.

🔑 Conclusion: The Sirens Will Sound Again

While the answer to “Will Chicago Fire air more new episodes in 2025?” is a firm no, the official return date is locked in. The entire One Chicago family will be back on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

With the life of Kelly Severide hanging in the balance and the fate of Firehouse 51 threatened with decommissioning, the midseason premiere is set to be one of the most crucial episodes in the show’s history. Use the hiatus to catch up on Peacock, and prepare for the non-stop action and high-stakes emotional rescues that await the brave men and women of Chicago Fire in the New Year.