Following the fatal finale of NCIS Season 22, the next chapter of the long-running police procedural is sure to look very different. One of the newly announced differences is the release schedule, as the series’ airtime will shift to a different hour and day of the week for its 2026 return. Beyond the release shake-up, the producers have announced the release date for the Season 22 premiere and how the series will spotlight more characters, developing their personal and professional relationships.
While more information is sure to come out in the weeks and months ahead, it’s time to present all the information known about NCIS Season 23 thus far. One thing is known for sure: Alden Parker (Gary Cole) will lead a much different life given what transpired at the end of Season 22. Not only with his father, but possibly with his mother after Palmer’s postmortem medical exam.
What Will Happen in ‘NCIS’ Season 23?
Although the entire scope of Season 23 has not been revealed, NCIS showrunner Steven D. Binder has given clues regarding what fans can expect when the series returns in 2026. The first thing Binder is adamant about is leaning more into the show’s character development. Even when characters like Parker go through unspeakable tragedy, layering textures onto the character makes them recognizable. According to Binder via TV Line:
‘“We really want to get to everyone in a big way. I watch the show for the characters’ — that was always our thing — and I really want to make this a character-forward show in a way we haven’t seen before. So, if you’re invested in these people, this is going to be the season for you.”
Fans have undoubtedly been interested in “these people” for over 20 years, with no signs of slowing down soon. Of course, given how much time was dedicated to his arc, Binder was asked about what fate holds for Parker after the devastating Season 22 finale. According to Binder:
“He’s [Parker] going to be destroyed, and he’s going to be out for revenge and out for blood in a way that it will seem very atypical for someone like him, not a way you’d expect a character like him to behave and yet entirely motivated and justified.
We had some precedents in the past in our show with this. Gibbs was a man on fire when his wife and daughter were killed. Bishop was a woman on fire when someone was attempting to kill Torres. We’re going to see some of that.”
Speaking of being out for blood, chances are high that Nexus will go hunting for LaRoche after his betrayal. Meanwhile, Parker must also grapple with Palmer’s (Brian Dietzen) discovery that Parker’s mother’s death certificate was tampered with. As for the other characters receiving more of the limelight, more details are likely to emerge as production thickens.
‘NCIS’ Season 23’s Premiere Date & New Schedule
As mentioned, NCIS is making a significant change to its release schedule, one that is sure to attract fans’ attention. The long-running cop show is moving from its long-held Monday timeslot to the following day. Starting with Season 23, NCIS will now air on Tuesday nights at 8/7c on CBS.
That means the show is not only changing days of the week, but it also means that episodes will air one hour earlier than normal. Since 2021, NCIS has been airing on Monday nights at 9:00 pm (8:00 p.m. Central) but will now air one day later and one hour earlier than it has for years.
In addition to the day and time change, CBS announced that NCIS Season 23 will premiere on October 14, 2025. The announcement was made on Instagram, with a picture of the show title and release date, with a caption reading: “Tuesdays, we’re coming home,” punctuated with a pair of hand-clapping emojis.
Of course, NCIS fans know that Tuesday used to be the show’s usual timeslot. Seasons 1 through 18 aired on Tuesday nights, with the shift to Mondays beginning in 2021 for Season 19. While Seasons 20 through 22 remained on Monday, Season 23 returned to the originally allotted weekday. Therefore, the most significant time change for fans is the time of day, with 8/7c the new air time.
While it was not explicitly stated why the return to Tuesdays was made, the prevailing wisdom is that CBS is clearing the way for additional NCIS spinoffs for fans to watch on the same day. Season 2 of NCIS: Origins and Season 3 of NCIS: Sydney have also been renewed and are scheduled to premiere on CBS on October 14, 2023. NCIS Season 23 will air on Tuesdays at 8/7c, NCIS: Origins Season 2 will air on Tuesdays at 9/8c, and NCIS: Sydney Season 3 will follow at 10/9c.
