👻 The Mid-Season Haunting: A January Without Woodstone
If you were planning to kick off your 2026 with a cozy blanket and the latest supernatural shenanigans from Sam and Jay, I have some news that might make you feel like you’ve been “sucked off” into a void of boredom. While we usually expect our favorite sitcoms to come roaring back after the Christmas holidays, CBS has officially confirmed that Ghosts Season 5 will not return with new episodes in January 2026.
I know, I know—take a deep breath. We’ve survived cliffhangers, basement ghosts, and Thor’s cod-based tantrums before, so we can survive this. But why the sudden change in schedule? Usually, January is the prime time for mid-season premieres. This year, however, the television landscape is shifting, and our beloved spirits are caught in the crossfire of a massive global event. Let’s dive into why the mansion is staying quiet this month and when exactly we can expect those library doors to swing open again.
❄️ The Winter Olympics Factor: CBS Plays Defense
The biggest “villain” in our January schedule isn’t a shadowy figure in the woods or a rival B&B owner—it’s the 2026 Winter Olympics.
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The NBC Dominance: NBC will be airing the Winter Games throughout much of February. When a major sporting event like the Olympics hits the airwaves, it draws millions of viewers away from traditional scripted television.
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Strategic Retreat: CBS, like many other networks, doesn’t want to burn through their high-rated episodes while half the country is busy watching figure skating and curling. By holding Ghosts back, they ensure that when the show does return, it has the full attention of its massive audience.
🗓️ When Will Ghosts Season 5 Actually Return?
Mark your calendars, set your phone alerts, and maybe light a candle for Hetty, because the wait is going to be a bit longer than usual.
The Official February 2026 Return Date
Current reports and network schedules indicate that Season 5 will return on Thursday, February 26, 2026. That’s right—we have to wait nearly two full months from the December finale to see what happens next.
Consistency is Key for CBS
You might wonder why they couldn’t just air a couple of episodes in January before the Olympics start. Well, CBS is actually doing us a favor here. By waiting until after the Games end (February 22), the network can provide a consistent, weekly schedule for the rest of the spring. No more “new episode this week, repeat next week” confusion!
😱 Recapping the “Ghostmas” Cliffhangers
The reason this wait feels so excruciating is because the December double-feature, “It’s A Wonderful Christmas Carol,” left us with so many burning questions.
Patience and “The Others”
The introduction of Patience, the strict Puritan ghost from the dirt, has added a layer of tension we haven’t seen since the early days of the show.
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Trevor’s Fear: The look on Trevor’s face when Patience mentioned “The Others” was enough to give anyone chills. Who are they? Are they other ghosts who were trapped in the dirt, or something even more ancient?
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Sass’s Connection: We’ve been teased that “The Others” might have a specific history with one of our favorite ghosts. My money is on Sasappis—could this finally lead to the story of how he died?
H3: Jay’s New Reality
After seasons of being the “ghost-blind” husband, Jay’s interactions with the spirits have become increasingly complex. While he still can’t see them, his role as the bridge between the living and the dead is evolving. Every episode he misses out on in January is an episode where he isn’t accidentally insulting Hetty or being used as a vessel for a ghost possession!
🛠️ Production Status: What’s Happening Behind the Scenes?
While we aren’t seeing new episodes on our screens, the hustle and bustle at Woodstone (or rather, the set in Montreal) is still going strong.
Filming Through February 2026
Believe it or not, production on Season 5 is scheduled to run all the way through February 20, 2026. This means the cast is actually filming the final episodes of the season while we are waiting for the mid-season premiere to air!
H4: Guest Star Rumors and “Young Sheldon” Links
There’s some major buzz about guest stars coming in the back half of the season.
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Iain Armitage Guest Spot: We already know that Young Sheldon star Iain Armitage is set to appear as a “heightened version of himself” in an episode airing later in April. The delay in January allows the production team to polish these high-profile episodes to perfection.
📺 How to Survive the Ghosts Hiatus
Since we have zero new episodes for the next several weeks, what’s a fan to do?
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Revisit the UK Original: If you haven’t watched the BBC version of Ghosts, now is the perfect time. It has five seasons of incredible heart and humor, and it’s fascinating to see the DNA that inspired our US version.
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Paramount+ Binge: Re-watch the first four seasons. Trust me, you’ll catch jokes and “ghost powers” hints that you missed the first time around.
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The “Ghostmas” Rewatch: Watch the December finale again. Specifically, look at the backgrounds—there are often “easter egg” ghosts hidden in the shots that hint at future plotlines.
💎 Why This Delay Might Actually Be a Good Thing
I know it sounds like I’m trying to find the silver lining in a haunted cloud, but there are genuine benefits to this January break.
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Higher Production Quality: More time in post-production means better visual effects (those “ghost-power” transitions aren’t cheap or easy!).
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Stronger Ratings: A return in late February aligns perfectly with “Sweep Periods,” which helps the show secure its already-promised Season 6 and potentially even a Season 7.
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No “On-Again, Off-Again” Schedule: There is nothing more frustrating than a show returning for one week and then disappearing for three. This long break prevents that.
Conclusion
While the news that Ghosts Season 5 will not return in January 2026 is a bit of a bummer, it’s clear that CBS is making a strategic play. By dodging the Winter Olympics and waiting for a clear path in February, the network is setting Sam, Jay, and our favorite spectral residents up for a massive, uninterrupted spring run. We’ve got the mystery of “The Others,” the potential reveal of Sass’s death, and a star-studded guest list to look forward to on February 26. So, keep your proton packs (or, you know, just your remotes) ready—the mansion will be lively again before you know it!
❓ 5 Unique FAQs After The Conclusion
Q1: Is Ghosts Season 5 canceled or just delayed?
A1: It is absolutely not canceled! In fact, CBS has already renewed Ghosts for Season 6. This is simply a scheduled mid-season hiatus to avoid competing with the Winter Olympics.
Q2: Will the show still air on its usual night and time?
A2: Yes! When Ghosts returns on February 26, 2026, it will keep its “perfect” time slot of Thursdays at 8:30/7:30c on CBS.
Q3: How many episodes are left in Season 5?
A3: Season 5 was ordered with a full 22-episode count. Since we only saw about half of those in the fall of 2025, we have a huge block of new episodes coming our way starting in February.
Q4: Will we finally find out how Sass died in the 2026 episodes?
A4: Showrunners Joe Port and Joe Wiseman have teased that “it’s possible” we will get the Sasappis death story in the “tail-end” of Season 5. They’ve noted it’s a story they are very excited to tell.
Q5: Is there any way to watch Ghosts in January if there are no new episodes?
A5: You can stream every previous episode on Paramount+. Additionally, CBS will likely air reruns of popular Season 4 and 5 episodes during the Thursday night slot throughout January.
