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Law & Order Season 26

Season· 2026· Drama

Created by Dick Wolf

In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate, yet equally important, groups: the police, who investigate crime; and the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories.

Law & Order Season 26, Episode 3, “Bad News,” airs Thursday, October 22, 2026 on NBC.

Next episode

6 nights

S26 E3

Bad News

10:00 PM ET

Airs on

NBC

When a prominent newspaper editor is murdered, Shaw and Calvino uncover a web of newsroom secrets that obstructs their investigation. Price must weigh the public's right to know against a journalist's duty to protect a source.

Up next
S26 E4 · Property

Where to watch in the US

Current US catalog status not verified

The official NBC page may list episodes and access options. Search other services on JustWatch (opens in a new tab)

Official show page on NBC (opens in a new tab)

Release details

Known dates and milestones

  • Released

    NBC

    Since Oct 8

Episode guide

Episodes

Premiere dates and destinations, not current availability.

  1. 1

    Ghost in the Machine source at TVmaze

    Originally aired on NBC

    A software engineer's murder sends Riley and Walker into the rapidly evolving world of A.I. As Baxter pursues justice in a groundbreaking case, he's confronted with a technology advancing faster than the laws designed to govern it.

  2. 2

    Into the Mystic source at TVmaze

    Originally aired on NBC

    Price and Walker are forced off a high-stakes case when their connection to a murder suspect creates a conflict of interest. Baxter faces mounting pressure when a key witness for the prosecution suddenly changes their story.

  3. 3

    Bad News source at TVmaze

    Airs on NBC

    When a prominent newspaper editor is murdered, Shaw and Calvino uncover a web of newsroom secrets that obstructs their investigation. Price must weigh the public's right to know against a journalist's duty to protect a source.

  4. 4

    Property source at TVmaze

    Airs on NBC

  5. 5

    TBA source at TVmaze

    Airs on NBC

  6. 6

    TBA source at TVmaze

    Airs on NBC

  7. 7

    TBA source at TVmaze

    Airs on NBC

Episode data from TVmaze.

Cast and crew

Cast
Sam Waterston, S. Epatha Merkerson, Jerry Orbach, Steven Hill, Jesse L. Martin, Fred Dalton Thompson, Chris Noth, Benjamin Bratt
Produced by
Arthur W. Forney, Dick Wolf, Peter Jankowski, Rick Eid

More to watch

From the same filmmakers, stars, studios or franchises.

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About this information

Sources and attribution

Supporting links and attribution for the dates, credits, schedules and watch options shown on this page.

  • Official show page

    Link supplied by TVmaze under CC BY-SA 4.0. A series-level destination, not confirmation of US availability or any specific season.

  • Season premiere · NBCOctober 8, 2026
    ReportedTVmaze
    “TVmaze: Law & Order season 26 episode 1 "Ghost in the Machine" airs 2026-10-08 on NBC”
  • Cast and crew data

    TVmaze · CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Next episode schedule

    TVmaze · normalized by Release Night · CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Season release history

    TVmaze · 1 season record · CC BY-SA 4.0

Release dates retain the source wording. Season history records original premieres; availability receipts identify options that can be used now or later.

Past changes1 update

  1. Season premiere date announced: October 8, 2026 on NBC

    Reported by TVmaze

How Release Night verifies and updates information