CBS has delivered another frustrating update for NCIS fans eagerly waiting for the franchise’s 2026 return.
After going on winter break in December 2025, the three NCIS shows were originally expected back in February. The delay made sense at first — the Winter Olympics took over the schedule. But now, the wait has grown even longer, pushing the franchise’s return into March.
This time, politics is the reason.
According to Give Me My Remote, the State of the Union Address is set to air Tuesday, Feb. 24. Because all major broadcast networks carry the annual speech, regular programming — including NCIS — will be pre-empted. The address is typically held in January, so many hoped the later NCIS return would avoid another disruption, but that didn’t happen.
Instead, the entire franchise will now return on Tuesday, March 3 on CBS, starting at 8/7c. The night will roll out in order: NCIS, followed by NCIS: Origins, and then NCIS: Sydney. It’s still unclear whether NCIS: Sydney will air its previously planned fall finale first or treat it as the winter premiere.
The shows have been off the air since early December. NCIS: Origins left viewers with a major personal turning point as Gibbs rushed to Las Vegas for an impulsive wedding, while tension between him and Lala deepened after he failed to support her following her accident.
Meanwhile, NCIS: Sydney ended abruptly when its planned fall finale didn’t air in mid-December, possibly tied to real-world events at the time. That unresolved storyline still hangs over the series heading into its return.
The main NCIS series also closed on a high-stakes reveal: Ellie Bishop is now a target, setting up a major storyline for Knight as she leads the NCIS Elite team. With Bishop operating in the shadows since her departure in season 18, her past is clearly catching up with her.
Now, all three shows are officially set to return together on Tuesday, March 3 — extending the wait, but setting up a packed night for the franchise’s comeback.