The NCIS universe is hit with a couple of downgrades, and that’s disappointing.
While the 2025-2026 TV cycle enters its final few weeks, the majority of the focus has been on how scripted shows are wrapping up their respective years. ABC projects like High Potential season 2 and Abbott Elementary season 5 have both released their finales, as well as Kathy Bates’ Matlock on CBS. That said, the majority of the traditional broadcast’s biggest series have a couple of weeks left in their runs.
Simultaneously, however, broadcasters are also finalizing their rosters for fall 2026. ABC and NBC still have a few shows in the renewal/cancellation bubble, but the Eye network has already locked in their programming for the next cycle. CBS unveiling their fall 2026 schedule meant that they have already decided the fates of their existing projects, particularly whether they are set to return beyond this season. All three NCIS shows have been renewed for the 2026-2027 cycle, but with some major setbacks.
Per Deadline, both NCIS: Origins season 3 and NCIS: Sydney season 4 are going to have significantly reduced episode counts. Both shows will produce 10 episodes next cycle, down from 18 and 20, respectively, from the 2025-2026 year. Instead of having their designated timeslots, the NCIS spinoffs will be sharing the same one-hour block, as NCIS: Origins wraps up early in the year and will be replaced by NCIS: Sydney during the midseason.
Olivia Swann as Michelle Mackey and Todd Lasance as JD Dempsey in NCIS: SydneyParamount+ / ©CBS / Courtesy MovieStillsDB
It’s worth noting that amid all of these changes, CBS is also launching a brand new offshoot — NCIS: New York, starring LL Cool J, reprising his role from NCIS: Los Angeles, Sam Hanna, and Scott Caan playing a fresh role. Specific plot details about the project are still scant at the moment, but thanks to its debut next cycle, the network is able to maintain its NCIS’s Super Tuesday block despite the shortened year for NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney.
Meanwhile, NCIS remains strong in the 8 PM ET, Tuesday night slot. It’s no secret that the last few years have been difficult for the legacy show, especially on the heels of Mark Harmon’s exit as Leroy Jethro Gibbs after nearly 20 years. After a period of identity crisis and rebranding, the procedural has seemingly finally found its footing again, as NCIS season 23 is arguably its strongest year in recent memory. The death of Director Leon Vance, however, poses a challenge, which will likely be the final piece in this rebirth.
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How this new strategy pans out will dictate what the future of CBS’s programming will look like. For what it’s worth, NCIS isn’t the only one hit with these episode reductions, as Fire Country and Matlock are also coming back next year with fewer output. Still, it’s disappointing that these expansion shows will not have as much opportunity to tell their stories as the flagship and their offshoots predecessors did.
Cast
Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette, Cote de Pablo, Sean Murray, Rocky Carroll, Brian Dietzen, Wilmer Valderrama
Created by
Donald P. Bellisario, Don McGill
Latest TV Show
NCIS: Sydney
Upcoming TV Shows
NCIS: Origins, NCIS: Tony & Ziva