NCIS fans hoping for new episodes in January 2026 will need to adjust their expectations. Despite ending the fall finale on a major cliffhanger, season 23 will not return until late February, leaving viewers with an extended midseason pause.
Episode 9 delivered emotional closure for Alden Parker, finally unraveling the mystery surrounding his mother Eleanor and the truth behind Lily. But just as one chapter closed, another opened. Jessica Knight accepted her first ELITE mission — a case that unexpectedly pulls former agent Ellie Bishop back into the spotlight.
So why the delay? CBS has chosen to hold its entire NCIS Tuesday lineup until after the Winter Olympics. Rather than returning in January only to disappear again during February, the network is prioritizing consistency.
When NCIS returns on February 24, it will do so with fewer interruptions — and a storyline that promises personal stakes, moral gray areas, and unfinished business.
