The Official 9-1-1 Return Date: Everything You Need To Know About Season 9’s Mid-Season Premiere And The New Thursday Night Lineup

The most anticipated return of the winter break is finally locked in. Fans of the high-octane procedural drama 9-1-1 can mark their calendars, as the show is officially returning to the air to finish its ninth season. After a thrilling first half that left the 118 crew facing new leadership and personal crises, the series will be back on ABC as part of a newly established, action-packed Thursday night block. The good news is the mid-season hiatus is shorter than previous years, bringing the drama back to screens sooner than expected.

As of today, December 18, 2025, the flagship series is on its winter break, but the official premiere date for the second half of 9-1-1 Season 9 is Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. This massive return is part of a major franchise push, as it will be immediately followed by the new spin-off, 9-1-1: Nashville. This article breaks down everything you need to know about the franchise's return, the new schedule, and the surprising fate of its original spin-off, 9-1-1: Lone Star.

The Confirmed Return Date: 9-1-1 Season 9, Part 2

The core question, "When does 9-1-1 come back on," now has a definitive answer. The show's ninth season, which premiered on Thursday, October 9, 2025, will resume with its mid-season premiere episode on ABC in the new year. This is a crucial date for fans who were left hanging after the intense fall finale.

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• Show: 9-1-1 (Main Series)
• Season: Season 9 (Part 2)
• Mid-Season Premiere Date: Thursday, January 8, 2026
• Time Slot: 8:00 p.m. ET/PT
• Network: ABC
• Streaming: New episodes will be available to stream the next day on Hulu and Disney+.

The move to a January return, rather than the traditional spring slot, marks a significant shift in ABC’s scheduling strategy for the popular procedural drama. This is a direct response to the show's continued strong performance in ratings since its shift from Fox to ABC starting with Season 7. The mid-season return will kick off the remainder of the 18-episode season, diving deeper into the personal and professional lives of the 118 crew.

The fall finale of Season 9 set the stage for major developments, including Howie "Chimney" Han officially being inducted as the new Captain of the 118, a role that comes with its own set of unique challenges and pressures. The return will explore the aftermath of this promotion and the team's adjustment to the new leadership structure.

The 9-1-1 Franchise’s New Thursday Night Takeover

The return of the flagship series is just the beginning of a major franchise night for ABC. The network is solidifying a two-hour block of emergency drama that will dominate Thursday evenings, immediately followed by the long-running medical drama Grey's Anatomy.

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The biggest news alongside the 9-1-1 return is the mid-season premiere of the newest entry into the universe:

9-1-1: Nashville Returns on the Same Night

The newest spin-off, 9-1-1: Nashville, is also set to resume its debut season immediately after the main series. The show, which introduces a new team of first responders in the heart of Music City, will air at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The mid-season premiere is rumored to be a high-stakes episode, focusing on a massive emergency that puts one of the new characters, Blythe, in immediate danger.

• Show: 9-1-1: Nashville (Season 1, Part 2)
• Mid-Season Premiere Date: Thursday, January 8, 2026
• Time Slot: 9:00 p.m. ET/PT
• Network: ABC

This back-to-back scheduling creates a powerful synergy, establishing the 9-1-1 universe as a tentpole for ABC's mid-season schedule. The new spin-off is led by a fresh cast, including veteran actor Chris O'Donnell, and promises the same blend of dramatic rescues and character-driven storylines that made the original a hit.

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The End of an Era: The Fate of 9-1-1: Lone Star

While the main series and the new Nashville spin-off are thriving, the status of the original spin-off, 9-1-1: Lone Star, is a major point of discussion for the franchise’s fans. Unfortunately, the news is definitive and disappointing for the 126 crew.

The series, starring Rob Lowe as Owen Strand, was officially canceled after its fifth season, which concluded on Monday, February 3, 2025. Despite strong fan support and a dedicated following, a Season 6 has not been picked up by any network or streaming service. The cancellation was reportedly linked to financial and production decisions following the main show's move to ABC, with Fox opting not to renew the Texas-based spin-off.

Therefore, for those searching for the return date of 9-1-1: Lone Star, the answer is sadly: It will not be coming back for a sixth season. The Season 5 finale served as the series finale, wrapping up the storylines for characters like Owen Strand, T.K. Strand, Carlos Reyes, Tommy Vega, and Judd Ryder.

The Core Team: Cast and Character Entities Returning in 2026

The strength of 9-1-1 has always been its incredible ensemble cast, and all major players are confirmed to return for the second half of Season 9. Fans can look forward to seeing their favorite first responders continue to navigate the high-stress world of the 118 and their complicated personal lives. The following key entities will be featured in the January 8, 2026, mid-season premiere:

• Angela Bassett as Athena Grant (LAPD Patrol Sergeant)
• Peter Krause as Bobby Nash (Fire Captain, though currently navigating a difficult storyline)
• Oliver Stark as Evan "Buck" Buckley (Firefighter)
• Jennifer Love Hewitt as Maddie Buckley (9-1-1 Operator)
• Kenneth Choi as Howie "Chimney" Han (New 118 Captain)
• Aisha Hinds as Henrietta "Hen" Wilson (Firefighter/Paramedic)
• Ryan Guzman as Eddie Diaz (Firefighter)
• Gavin McHugh as Christopher Diaz (Eddie's son, a key supporting entity)
• Tracie Thoms as Karen Wilson (Hen’s wife)
• Anirudh Pisharody as Ravi Panikkar (Firefighter)

The second half of Season 9 is expected to continue the emotional fallout from the Season 8 finale, "Seismic Shifts," which saw the team dealing with a massive natural disaster and a "recent loss," as mentioned in the synopsis. Furthermore, the storyline will explore the new dynamic between Chimney and Bobby Nash now that Chimney has taken on the mantle of Captain, a major development hinted at in the fall finale. Fans will also be relieved that Eddie Diaz has made his commitment to Los Angeles, ensuring his place with the 118 is secure for the foreseeable future.

How to Catch Up Before the January 8 Premiere

With the return date set for early January 2026, now is the perfect time to catch up on any missed episodes or rewatch the intense first half of Season 9. Since the show's network move, the streaming home has changed, making it easier than ever to binge the entire series.

All current and past seasons of 9-1-1 are available to stream on Hulu and Disney+ (in certain international markets). The episodes from the first half of Season 9 are already available on these platforms, allowing viewers to refresh their memory on the latest emergencies, the drama surrounding Maddie Buckley and Chimney, and the ongoing journey of Athena Grant and Bobby Nash before the mid-season premiere on January 8, 2026. The new 9-1-1: Nashville episodes are also available on the same platforms.