‘NCIS’ Season 24 Release Date, Plot, Cast and Trailer as Tony DiNozzo Returns to a New Era
The wait is over for fans of CBS’s flagship procedural. The ‘NCIS’ Season 24 premiere lands on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 8 PM ET/PT. That makes today the day the team finally returns after a cliffhanger that kept viewers guessing all summer.
This season of ‘NCIS‘ arrives with plenty of change baked in. Michael Weatherly returns as Tony DiNozzo, and the season also marks Sean Murray’s 500th episode. Here is everything you need to know before the first scene rolls.
‘NCIS’ Season 24 Release Date Arrives Earlier Than Expected
CBS confirmed the October 6 return during the 90 minute premiere of ‘Big Brother 28’, and the date came earlier than fans predicted since the network did not bring its ‘NCIS’ shows back until mid October last year. The promo teased the return with the cast saying the clock was ticking.
The road to this premiere started months ago. CBS announced the renewal on January 22 alongside nine other series. That news came while the show was in the middle of a hiatus during its 23rd run, which was no surprise for a series that had just hit its 500th episode.
The new season belongs to the 2026 to 2027 television year. The network has not publicly revealed how many episodes are coming, but if recent patterns hold, the season will likely run from October through May.
What Time ‘NCIS’ Airs on CBS Tonight
Tuesday night is officially ‘NCIS’ night again. The original series airs at 8/7c, followed by the brand new New York spinoff at 9/8c and the third season of ‘NCIS Origins’ at 10/9c. That means a full evening of franchise storytelling for anyone willing to stay on the couch.
The show is also expected to keep its familiar Tuesday slot after a few seasons on Mondays. After tonight, one new episode will arrive every Tuesday at 8 PM ET/PT.
The lead in role is a notable one. The series now airs before the New York spinoff, which puts LL Cool J front and center as Sam Hanna. Strong ratings tonight could set the tone for the entire block.
Where To Watch ‘NCIS’ Season 24?
The simplest way to catch the premiere is live on CBS. New episodes also stream live on Paramount+ for subscribers on the Premium plan, while all other subscribers can stream them on demand the day after they air.
Viewers outside the United States face a longer wait. In the UK, new seasons arrive months late on Disney+, and this one has no confirmed date yet. That has left plenty of international fans looking for legal ways to keep up without spoilers.
Newcomers can jump in without homework. Paramount+ says new viewers can start with this season, and the earlier seasons are available for anyone who wants to catch up.
‘NCIS’ Season 24 Preview and What to Expect
The premiere picks up right where the finale left off. The episode titled “Wayward Son” follows the team dealing with the aftermath of the shooting involving McGee’s son, while they investigate a new threat against the Secretary of the Navy and Tony DiNozzo returns to help. A teaser also shows Tony back in D.C. with Salus Mondiale.
Weatherly’s comeback is the biggest storyline heading into the year. His return was announced on July 1 as a season long arc, and he later told fans at a UK convention that the season will not retcon the events of ‘NCIS Tony and Ziva’. The trailer also promises a fresh tone, with Jimmy saying it is a new era at NCIS.
Big questions hang over the squad as well. It remains to be seen who will be the new Director and how the characters will cope long term with the death of Leon Vance. Rocky Carroll will not appear as the director this season.
The early schedule offers a few more hints. The second episode, “Clean Slate,” follows a murder after a neighborhood dinner party, while the third, “Sleeping Dogs,” sees Torres working with his former handler Walt Keller after someone starts using his old undercover identity to commit murders. With Tony back, Vance gone and a new Director waiting in the wings, which change do you think will reshape the team most once the credits roll on tonight’s premiere?
