Renewals are obvious: new season = yay! Cancelations are more complicated. When a network or streaming service announces that they’re not making another season of a show, we count that as cancelled (or “canceled” if you spell it without SEO considerations). Sure, some shows “come to a natural end,” but someone somewhere said “enough.” So to avoid debating the semantics of “cancelled” versus “retired,” we’re just going to go with the former. There are also some instances, either due to scheduling conflicts, or various delays, where the answer is “I dunno.” In those instances, we will leave the series as renewed and list the most recent season until we’re told otherwise. Feel free to debate specific titles in the comments. But first: learn which series will live on, which were renewed and then cancelled, which are switching channels and which have simply reached their expiration date.
If you’re a fan of CBS programming, you might be curious about which of your favorite shows are coming back in 2026 — and which are being sent off for good. Well, good news: I’ve parsed through the latest renewals, cancellations, and new series orders to give you a clear, up-to-date guide. Think of this as your CBS 2026 cheat sheet.
The Big Picture — Why CBS Is Reshuffling the Deck
CBS is making major moves heading into the 2025–2026 broadcast season. They’re renewing many long-running series, but also ending others — even some that have been around for years. The goal appears to be refreshing their lineup, managing production costs, and betting on new stories.
Expect a mix of steady favorites, bold cancellations, and brand-new series to shake things up.
Returning in 2026 — Longtime Favorites & Fan-Favorites
Here’s a rundown of shows that survived the cut and are set to return in 2026:
Core Procedurals Still on Deck
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FBI — The flagship FBI series was renewed through at least the 2026-27 season.
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NCIS & its spin-offs NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney — All three are returning (NCIS Season 23, Origins Season 2, Sydney Season 3).
Dramas & Action Shows Holding Strong
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Fire Country — Renewed for Season 4.
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Elsbeth — Returns for Season 3.
Comedies & Light-Hearted Hits
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Ghosts — Scored a two-season pickup, meaning it will air at least through 2026-27.
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Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage — The spinoff/comedy gets a second season.
Reality, Unscripted & Other Returning Series
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Survivor — Renewed for Seasons 49 and 50.
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The Amazing Race — Also returns for 2025-26.
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Tracker — Coming back for Season 3.
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Matlock, Watson, Hollywood Squares — All among returning series for 2025-26.
Final Farewells — Series Ending in 2025/2026
Not all CBS shows made it to 2026. Some fan-favorites are being retired. Here are the notable ones:
High-Profile Cancellations
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FBI: Most Wanted — Concluded after six seasons.
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FBI: International — Ended after four seasons.
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S.W.A.T. — Final season (eight) aired in 2024–25; the series is now over.
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Blue Bloods — After a long 14-season run, the show wrapped up in December 2024 / early 2025.
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The Equalizer — Ended after five seasons.
Other Shows Bidding Goodbye
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Poppa’s House — The comedy lasted just one season; CBS did not renew.
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The Summit — The reality-competition series was canceled after its first run.
What’s New? — Fresh Series Joining CBS in 2025-26 & Beyond
To make space for returning hits and fresh energy, CBS is also debuting new shows in 2025–2026. Some are spinoffs, others entirely new concepts:
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Boston Blue — A new drama, reportedly a broader offshoot tied to the universe of Blue Bloods.
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CIA — A new spinoff in the universe of FBI, starring a lead character for the 2025–2026 season.
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Other fresh entries include DMV, Sheriff Country, The Road, Harlan Coben’s Final Twist, Y: Marshals, and America’s Culinary Cup among others.
The lineup reflects CBS’s push to balance legacy franchises with bold new content.
Why Some Shows Survived — While Others Got the Axe
Ratings, Cost & Network Strategy
Even if a show has loyal fans, networks often weigh ratings, production cost, and scheduling needs. Series like FBI: International reportedly struggled with cost due to overseas shoots — a key factor behind its cancellation.
Franchise Fatigue & Overlap
CBS appears to be consolidating its procedural lineup. With shows like FBI, NCIS, and Fire Country still drawing viewers, spin-offs such as FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted may have become redundant.
The Demand for Fresh Stories
Some cancellations — like Blue Bloods and S.W.A.T. — might reflect the network’s desire to refresh its roster before storylines grow stale. As one network exec reportedly said, shows eventually “have to end” to make way for new content.
What This Means for Viewers
If you’re a loyal CBS watcher, here’s what to expect:
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The spies, investigators, and crime-fighters you know and love — like FBI, NCIS, Fire Country, and Elsbeth — are still on the roster.
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Some heartbreaks: Spin-offs and staple dramas like FBI: Most Wanted, FBI: International, S.W.A.T., Blue Bloods, and The Equalizer are gone for good.
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New adventures await: Series like CIA, Boston Blue, and more are in the pipeline — offering fresh stories and characters.
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Change in tone: With a mix of comedies, reality shows, procedurals, and new concepts, the upcoming season could feel like a reset of CBS’s creative direction.
Basically: some endings you’ll mourn — others will open doors to surprising new possibilities.
Quick List — Returning vs Ending (2026 CBS Edition)
| Returning / Renewed | Canceled / Ended |
|---|---|
| FBI | FBI: Most Wanted |
| NCIS, NCIS: Origins, NCIS: Sydney | FBI: International |
| Fire Country | S.W.A.T. |
| Elsbeth | Blue Bloods |
| Ghosts | The Equalizer |
| Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage | Poppa’s House |
| Survivor, The Amazing Race, Tracker, Matlock, Watson, Hollywood Squares (returns) | The Summit |
| Many new shows coming (CIA, Boston Blue, DMV, etc.) | — |
What’s Next? What to Watch Out For
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Keep your eyes on the new shows. With spin-offs like CIA and Boston Blue, CBS is trying to reimagine old universes. Some might catch fire — others may fade.
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Long-running shows aren’t safe forever. Even classics like Blue Bloods eventually reached their end. Fans should cherish returning favorites while they last.
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Expect scheduling shifts. With new series entering the lineup, air days and times may shuffle — so don’t assume shows will stick to the same slots.
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Opportunity for fresh genres. CBS seems to be expanding beyond just crime and procedural dramas, dipping more into unscripted, comedy, and diverse storytelling.
Conclusion
CBS’s 2026 lineup paints a clear picture: the network isn’t afraid to shake things up. Some of the most familiar shows — FBI, NCIS, Ghosts, Fire Country — are back and ready for new seasons. Meanwhile, long-time staples and spin-offs such as FBI: Most Wanted, FBI: International, S.W.A.T., and Blue Bloods are being retired. At the same time, CBS is ushering in fresh shows like CIA and Boston Blue, betting that the future belongs to new stories and reinvention.
For viewers, that means it’s a bittersweet moment: saying goodbye to old favorites, but also embracing new possibilities. If you’ve got a subscription to CBS or are planning a watch-list — now is the time to refresh your lineup.
