Where Are Grey’s Anatomy and the 9-1-1 Shows? Why ABC’s Biggest Dramas Haven’t Returned Yet

The fall television season is officially underway, and while NBC and CBS have been busy welcoming back some of their biggest hits, ABC viewers might be wondering why a few familiar faces are still missing. Where are the doctors of Grey’s Anatomy, the first responders of 9-1-1, and the Nashville crew who certainly know how to find themselves in the middle of a crisis?

If you've been checking ABC's Thursday night lineup and wondering whether you missed an announcement, there's no need to panic. All three dramas are returning, and the wait is almost over. ABC just decided to make fans exercise a little more patience this fall.

When Do Grey's Anatomy, 9-1-1, and 9-1-1: Nashville Return?

ABC has scheduled all three season premieres for Thursday, October 15, 2026, bringing its Thursday night drama lineup back in one shot.

Here's how the night will unfold:

Time (ET/PT)	Series	Season
8:00 PM	9-1-1	Season 10
9:00 PM	9-1-1: Nashville	Season 2
10:00 PM	Grey's Anatomy	Season 23

That's three consecutive hours of emergencies, complicated relationships, and people making questionable decisions when their lives are already chaotic enough. In other words, Thursday nights on ABC are about to feel familiar again.

Why Haven't ABC's Thursday Night Dramas Premiered Yet?

Unlike several competing networks that launched major scripted dramas earlier in October, ABC opted for a staggered fall rollout. The network brought back Scrubs and Shark Tank on September 30, followed by Abbott Elementary on October 7, leaving its Thursday night drama block for October 15.

There's no cancellation drama or unexpected scheduling shake-up behind the absence of these three shows. Their later premiere dates were part of ABC's previously announced fall schedule, although that probably hasn't made the wait any less frustrating for viewers eager to return to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital or check in with their favorite first responders.

9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Nashville Are Both Coming Back

The original 9-1-1 returns for its tenth season, continuing a franchise that has made spectacular emergencies and deeply personal drama part of its identity. After nine seasons of putting its characters through just about every imaginable disaster, the series will once again anchor ABC's Thursday night programming.

Immediately afterward, 9-1-1: Nashville returns for Season 2. The spinoff made its debut last fall, and ABC is keeping the two shows together, giving audiences back-to-back installments of the emergency-response franchise.

Whether you're watching for the rescues, the relationships, or the moments when everything goes spectacularly wrong, the network has devoted two full hours to making sure fans get their fix.

Grey's Anatomy Returns for Season 23

And then there's Grey's Anatomy, the medical drama that has survived enough cast departures, heartbreaks, hospital crises, and romantic disasters to fill several lifetimes. Somehow, Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital is still standing, and its doctors are preparing for yet another season.

Season 23 premieres at 10 PM on October 15, maintaining the show's place as the final hour of ABC's Thursday night drama lineup. For longtime viewers, the return means another opportunity to see what awaits the doctors professionally and personally, although experience suggests that keeping those two worlds separate will remain a challenge.

After more than two decades on television, Grey's Anatomy remains one of ABC's most recognizable scripted series. Its continued presence on the schedule is a reminder that no matter how much television changes, the hospital drama still has plenty of stories left to tell.

What About High Potential, The Rookie, and Will Trent?

ABC has a few other popular dramas missing from its fall schedule, but viewers will have to wait longer for those returns.

High Potential Season 3, The Rookie Season 9, and Will Trent Season 5 are all being held for 2027. The network also has The Rookie: North and a new Grey's Anatomy spinoff set in Texas planned for next year, with specific premiere dates still to be announced.

So while the Thursday night dramas are only a week away, fans of those other ABC favorites have a much longer wait ahead.

ABC's Thursday Night Lineup Returns October 15

For anyone wondering why Grey's Anatomy, 9-1-1, and 9-1-1: Nashville aren't airing new episodes tonight, October 8, the answer is simple: their new seasons haven't started yet.

All three return Thursday, October 15, beginning with 9-1-1 at 8 PM, followed by 9-1-1: Nashville at 9 PM and Grey's Anatomy at 10 PM on ABC. Episodes will also be available to stream the following day on Hulu.

The wait is nearly over. Get ready for three hours of emergencies, emotional meltdowns, and the kind of television chaos that makes Thursday nights worth staying home for.