After months of speculation and fan theories swirling online, NBC has finally delivered the news that longtime viewers of the One Chicago universe have been desperately waiting for.
Fan-favorite former stars Jesse Lee Soffer and Tracy Spiridakos are officially set to reprise their iconic roles as Detective Jay Halstead and Detective Hailey Upton in an upcoming three-part crossover event uniting Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago P.D.
The special event is scheduled to air on March 4, 2026, marking the first time the two beloved characters will appear on screen since their emotional departures from the Intelligence Unit.
A Long-Awaited Reunion
Soffer exited the series back in Season 10 after more than a decade portraying Jay Halstead, leaving Chicago to join a military mission overseas. Meanwhile, Spiridakos said goodbye to Hailey Upton at the end of Season 11 following a seven-year run that saw her character evolve into one of the show’s most emotionally complex detectives.
Their sudden exits left a noticeable void in the Intelligence Unit — and in the hearts of fans who had grown deeply attached to their on-screen relationship, affectionately dubbed “Upstead.”
Now, for the first time since leaving the show, Halstead and Upton will reunite in what promises to be one of the most intense crossover storylines in recent franchise history.
What Brings Them Back?
According to early storyline details, Upton returns to Chicago not as a CPD detective, but as an FBI Special Agent working out of Detroit. A federal drug enforcement task force case eventually leads her back to familiar territory — and back into the orbit of her former colleagues.
At the same time, Halstead has reportedly been operating deep undercover, unknowingly investigating the very same case — setting the stage for an emotional and high-stakes reunion that could change everything.
More Than Just a Cameo
This is not expected to be a simple guest appearance. The upcoming crossover will serve as Episode 13 for each of the three interconnected series, bringing together characters across the entire Chicago franchise for a single large-scale emergency that threatens the entire city.
With Halstead’s return marking his first acting appearance in the franchise since 2022 and Upton stepping back into the action after her 2024 departure, the 2026 crossover is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated television events of the year.
And for fans still holding out hope for closure — or perhaps a new beginning — for Jay and Hailey, this reunion might finally provide the answers they’ve been waiting for.