The Rookie has left fans on quite a cliffhanger since wrapping season 8 in May 2026.
The show follows the lives of police officers at LAPD Mid-Wilshire and just gave fans its most heart-pumping twist yet: Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) and Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) were kidnapped during their engagement.
After that shocking development, we couldn’t help but wonder when season 9 will premiere—and we may have some details.
Is The Rookie coming back in 2026?
Unfortunately, The Rookie will not return for new episodes in 2026.
According to a report from ABC in May, the show will return in January 2027. The Rookie will begin its season 9 on the same night as the new seasons of High Potential (season 3) and Will Trent (season 5).
“Our focus has always been simple: Make the best shows on television and get them to audiences however they want to watch,” Craig Erwich, President of Disney Television Group, stated at the time. “That strategy continues to drive the success of ABC and Hulu—from legacy hits being embraced by new generations to breakout series becoming the next cultural touchstones.”
In better news, the show is in the middle of filming—and Jenna Dewan (who plays Bailey Nune) teased how excited she is to shoot new episodes every day.
“Season 9!” she confirmed when guest hosting Live With Kelly and Mark on August 4. “I know! I wake up every day grateful for this job. I love it so much. I love the people ... The show is a joy, and it’s fun. I mean, every season is ... the stakes get higher.”
The Rookie creator Alexi Hawley shared his own sneak peek.
“It’s a two-parter, so it won’t all be resolved in one episode—there’s a lot going on,” he said during The Rookie panel at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2026, according to Deadline. “I think it’s the best of what we do, it’s incredibly high stakes, dramatic. It’s a love story, it’s funny and unexpected.”
Looks like we have a lot to explore come January!
