Overview

• The season debuted Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on NBC, with new episodes streaming the next day on Peacock.
• Michele Fazekas, the series’ first female showrunner and an early‑years alum, returns with a quicker pace, updated cameras, a new producing director and subtle set changes.
• Mariska Hargitay and Ice‑T lead the returning cast, Kelli Giddish is reinstated as a series regular, and the opener features franchise favorites in a brief on‑screen reunion.
• The premiere sets season‑long threads that include a significant farewell, a violent setback for a core team member, unresolved questions about a detective’s future and talk of potential organizational changes to SVU.
• SVU extends its record as TV’s longest‑running primetime live‑action drama, with Olivia Benson recognized as the longest‑running primetime drama character.