Full Breakdown
ABC Unveils Fall 2026 Television Lineup
7/28/2026, 12:41:55 PM
Core Event
ABC released its full slate of fall 2026 premiere dates, detailing when returning series, new seasons and unscripted specials will return to the broadcast schedule. The rollout begins with college football on August 29, followed by Monday Night Football on September 14. A two-night premiere of “Dancing With the Stars” launches on September 15, and the Thursday night “9-1-1” franchise and “Grey’s Anatomy” return on October 15. Several high-profile dramas, comedies and reality shows are slated for mid-September through mid-October, while a number of flagship series are held for mid-season or a 2027 debut.
Background & Context
ABC was the last of the four major broadcast networks to publish its fall schedule, after CBS announced its lineup earlier in the week. The schedule reflects ABC’s strategy of pairing sports lead-ins with flagship scripted and unscripted programming and follows a successful 2025-2026 season in which the network delivered ten of the top-20 programs among adults 18-49.
Timeline of Key Premiere Dates
- August 29 – College football kickoff (Alabama A&M vs. Howard).
- September 14 – Monday Night Football begins (Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs).
- September 15 – “Dancing With the Stars” two-night premiere; “R.J. Decker” season 2 follows.
- September 25 – New season of “20/20.”
- September 30 – Two-episode premieres of “Scrubs” (season 2) and “Shark Tank.”
- October 2 – “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” with Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White.
- October 15 – Return of “9-1-1,” “9-1-1: Nashville,” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Data & Statistics
- Sports lead-ins: College football (Aug 29) and Monday Night Football (Sept 14).
- Scripted returns: “R.J. Decker,” “Scrubs,” “Abbott Elementary,” “9-1-1” franchise, and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
- Mid-season holds: “The Bachelor,” “High Potential,” “The Rookie,” “The Rookie: North,” “Will Trent,” and an untitled Texas-based “Grey’s Anatomy” spinoff slated for 2027.
Official Statements & Responses
Executive producer Deena Katz said the upcoming “Dancing With the Stars” cast includes personalities from “Love Island,” “Summer House,” the Savannah Bananas and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” and that the production is designed to meet audience expectations for novelty and excitement.
Why It Matters
The lineup positions ABC to capitalize on strong sports viewership, using football broadcasts to boost lead-in audiences for prime-time programming. By pairing high-profile dramas and comedies with popular unscripted series, the network aims to maintain its dominance in the 18-49 demographic. Shifting “Celebrity Jeopardy!” to 2027 and holding several series for mid-season spreads new content across the broadcast year, helping smooth ratings fluctuations.
What’s Next
ABC will detail the mid-season and 2027 premieres—including “The Rookie: North,” the Texas-based “Grey’s Anatomy” spinoff, and “Celebrity Jeopardy!”—at a later date.
