ABC 2026 Midseason Premiere Dates Announced
ABC today announced its 2026 midseason premiere dates, featuring a slate of hilarious comedies, thrilling dramas, and high-stakes unscripted series. The announcement follows a fall season of unprecedented success across the ABC schedule.
As previously announced, the new drama series RJ Decker (working title) starring Scott Speedman will debut in 2026. The premiere date will be announced at a later time. With this newest addition to the schedule, ABC ups its drama count to seven series, and 10 scripted series overall.
ABC announced that America’s Funniest Home Videos will kick off the premieres on Sunday, January 4, 2026. It will be followed on Tuesday, January 6, by the premiere of Will Trent Season 4, which is directed by star and executive producer Ramón Rodríguez.
Next up on January 6 is the midseason return of High Potential, which continues to be a powerhouse, ranking as the No. 1 original broadcast series across platforms for the second season in a row among Adults 18-49, and the Season 8 premiere of The Rookie. Both Will Trent and The Rookie enjoyed tremendous ratings success last season, surging year over year and posting several new streaming highs.
Wednesday night comedies Shifting Gears and Emmy Award-winning Abbott Elementary return for a night of laughs on Wednesday, Jan. 7, followed by the return of Shark Tank.
The following day, ratings juggernaut dramas 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Nashville, and Grey’s Anatomy return to the Thursday night lineup on Jan 8.
Rounding out the week, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and Friday’s most-watched newsmagazine, ABC News’ 20/20, return to the schedule Friday, Jan. 9.
NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC returns for select Saturdays beginning Jan. 24 (Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks). The full ABC/ESPN NBA schedule can be found here.
American Idol premieres its ninth season on ABC and 24th season overall with a new schedule, airing Mondays beginning Jan. 26. Music superstars Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood return as judges alongside Emmy Award-winning host Ryan Seacrest.
For the first time, American Idol will bring the iconic Hollywood Week round to Nashville. “Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover” will feature one round only as the hopefuls from all musical genres take the stage for a make-or-break performance, facing the biggest Hollywood Week cut in Idol history.
Premiering Wednesday, Feb. 25, ABC is scrubbing back in for Sacred Heart Hospital with back-to-back episodes of comedy Scrubs, starring Zach Braff, Donald Faison, and Sarah Chalke.
Ken Jennings-hosted Celebrity Jeopardy! returns for Season 4 with a brand-new All-Stars Tournament on Friday, Feb. 27, while the drama-filled season premiere of The Bachelorette starring The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul and hosted by Jesse Palmer kicks off on its new night, Sunday, March 22.
ABC 2026 MIDSEASON PREMIERE DATES
Airdates are as follows (all times listed are Eastern/Pacific). All original programming will stream the next day on Hulu.
SUNDAY, JAN. 4
7:00 p.m. America’s Funniest Home Videos (Season 36 Return)
TUESDAY, JAN. 6
8:00 p.m. Will Trent (Season 4 Premiere)
9:00 p.m. High Potential (Season 2 Midseason Return)
10:00 p.m. The Rookie (Season 8 Premiere)
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 7
8:00 p.m. Shifting Gears (Season 2 Midseason Return)
8:30 p.m. Abbott Elementary (Season 5 Midseason Return)
10:00 p.m. Shark Tank (Season 17 Midseason Return)
THURSDAY, JAN. 8
8:00 p.m. 9-1-1 (Season 9 Midseason Return)
9:00 p.m. 9-1-1: Nashville (Season 1 Midseason Return)
10:00 p.m. Grey’s Anatomy (Season 22 Midseason Return)
FRIDAY, JAN, 9
8:00 p.m. Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (Season 6 Midseason Return)
9:00 p.m. 20/20 (Season 48 Midseason Return)
SATURDAY, JAN. 24
8:00 p.m. Inside the NBA
8:30 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks
MONDAY, JAN. 26
8:00 p.m. American Idol (Season 24 Premiere)
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25
8:00 p.m. Scrubs (Two-Episode Series Premiere)
FRIDAY, FEB. 27
8:00 p.m. Celebrity Jeopardy! All Stars (Season 4 Premiere)
SUNDAY, MARCH 22
8:00 p.m. The Bachelorette (Season 22 Premiere)
ABOUT SCRUBS
JD and Turk scrub in together for the first time in a long time: Medicine has changed; interns have changed; but their bromance has stood the test of time. Characters new and old navigate the waters of Sacred Heart with laughter, heart, and some surprises along the way.
The 30-minute revival comedy series stars Zach Braff as John “J.D.” Dorian, Donald Faison as Christopher Turk, and Sarah Chalke as Elliot Reid.
Bill Lawrence of Doozer Productions created the original series and serves as executive producer alongside Jeff Ingold and Liza Katzer, also of Doozer Productions. Zach Braff, Donald Faison, and Sarah Chalke will star and executive produce.
Aseem Batra serves as executive producer and showrunner; Tim Hobert and Randall Winston also serve as executive producers. The series is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios.
