Story perspectives

ABC Rolls Out Fall 2026 Lineup, Record 29 NFL Games

7/28/2026

Summary

ABC Announces Schedule

ABC announced its fall 2026 schedule, opening with Monday Night Football on Sept 14, 2026.
Dancing with the Stars premiered on Sept 15 at 8 p.m., followed by R.J. Decker season two at 10 p.m.
Scrubs and Shark Tank launched two-episode premieres on Sept 30 at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Abbott Elementary returned on Oct 7 at 8:30 p.m.

Summary

ABC Dominates

ABC placed 10 of the Top 20 Adults 18-49 programs for 2025-2026, the most of any network.
ABC secured its second-consecutive lead in Emmy® nominations among broadcast networks.
“Dancing with the Stars” earned its first Outstanding Reality Competition nod in a decade, drawing half a billion votes.
ABC/ESPN will broadcast a record 29 NFL games, ending with Super Bowl LXI on Valentine’s Day.
“Inside Out 2” will premiere on television September 27 while streaming live on Disney+.

History

Historical Context

In 1970, ABC seized a primetime slot by debuting Monday Night Football, the NFL’s first weekly national prime-time broadcast, after earlier short NFL stints in 1948-50. The success anchored a 36-year ABC-NFL partnership that ended in 2005, moving the games to ESPN in 2006. Renewed contracts now let ABC simulcast or air exclusive games, proving that marquee sports remain a ratings engine.

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ABC Announces Schedule

ABC announced its fall 2026 schedule, opening with Monday Night Football on Sept 14, 2026.
Dancing with the Stars premiered on Sept 15 at 8 p.m., followed by R.J. Decker season two at 10 p.m.
Scrubs and Shark Tank launched two-episode premieres on Sept 30 at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Abbott Elementary returned on Oct 7 at 8:30 p.m.

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