Fans Blindsided by Sudden Break
Just when Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago PD were hitting their stride this fall, NBC has delivered a gut punch to loyal fans. After just seven episodes into the new seasons, the network has confirmed that Wednesday, November 12 will mark the fall finales for all three One Chicago shows.
This early exit has blindsided many viewers who were expecting the franchise to continue airing new content through late November or early December. Instead, NBC is pulling the plug on One Chicago Wednesdays for the remainder of 2025—much earlier than fans anticipated.
The Long Wait Begins: No New Episodes Until 2026
Once the November 12 episodes air, Chicago Fire (Season 14), Chicago Med (Season 11), and Chicago PD (Season 13) will head into an extended hiatus, with no new episodes expected to return until January 2026.
While NBC hasn’t confirmed the exact date, most expect the midseason return to land on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, following the pattern of previous seasons. That leaves fans facing seven long weeks without fresh One Chicago content—just as the shows were ramping up their most intense plotlines.
Why the Break Came So Early
Fall breaks are nothing new for network dramas, but what’s shocking this year is how early NBC is cutting the season short. In previous years, the One Chicago trio typically stayed on air until at least Thanksgiving week, sometimes even airing into December before pausing for the holidays.
NBC hasn’t offered a detailed explanation, but insiders believe this early break may help avoid a more disruptive hiatus later in the season, especially during the spring months when the network often juggles awards shows and sports broadcasts.
Still, that doesn’t soften the blow for fans who were hoping for at least two or three more episodes before the break hit.
What to Watch While You Wait
The good news? You don’t have to say goodbye completely. All past episodes of Chicago Fire, Med, and PD are available to stream on Peacock, offering the perfect binge-watch opportunity during the winter downtime.
From explosive rescues and hospital drama to tense police investigations, there’s no shortage of powerful episodes to revisit while you count down the days to January.
How are you coping with the early One Chicago break—are you rewatching old favorites or taking a breather until 2026?
