NCIS Episode Schedule May 2026 Reveals A Surprising Gap
The NCIS episode schedule for May 2026 shows season 23 airing its next new episode on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, with the following episode projected for Tuesday, May 12, 2026, continuing CBS's weekly Tuesday-night run at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
What airs in May 2026
Based on the current season-23 listing, May episodes begin with "Deal With the Devil" on May 5, 2026, which is episode 19 of the season and centers on a case involving a secret immunity deal and Parker's estranged sister.
The next listed airdate after that is May 12, 2026, which appears as the next episode countdown date in schedule trackers, indicating the series is maintaining its weekly pace into mid-May.
| Date | Episode | Season/Episode | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 2026 | Deal With the Devil | S23 E19 | Aired / listed on CBS |
| May 12, 2026 | Next episode date shown by trackers | Likely S23 E20 | Projected |
| Later May 2026 | Weekly Tuesday episodes | TBA | Expected if season continues |
Schedule context
NCIS season 23 returned from its midseason break on March 3, 2026, after CBS delayed the originally planned February return, and the show has continued with weekly Tuesday episodes since then.
That Tuesday slot remains part of CBS's broader franchise strategy, with NCIS airing at 8 p.m. followed by its spinoffs in adjacent hours during the 2025-2026 season.
"New episodes will debut weekly on Tuesdays," according to a March 2026 season update, which is the clearest public schedule guidance available for the run into May.
Episode timeline
- March 3, 2026: Season 23 resumed with new episodes.
- April 7, 2026: The season reached episode 15, "Knick-Knack."
- April 14, 2026: Episode 16, "S.O.S.," aired.
- April 21, 2026: Episode 17, "Reboot," aired.
- April 28, 2026: Episode 18, "Bad Impressions," aired.
- May 5, 2026: Episode 19, "Deal With the Devil," aired.
- May 12, 2026: The next episode date is listed by trackers, suggesting the season is still rolling forward.
Why viewers are asking
NCIS fans are asking about May 2026 because the show's spring schedule has been unusually easy to miss, with the midseason return shifting later than first expected and the franchise occupying a tightly coordinated Tuesday lineup.
That created some confusion online, especially because the season arrived with a gap between the fall launch and the spring restart, then resumed with a steady cadence that makes it harder to spot the next episode without a current guide.
- Network: CBS.
- Night: Tuesday.
- Time: 8 p.m. ET/PT.
- May 2026 confirmed episode: "Deal With the Devil" on May 5.
- Next known airdate: May 12, 2026.
What to expect next
Season 23 had not yet publicly announced a finale date in the latest season update, so the safest assumption is that CBS continues the series on its normal weekly Tuesday pattern until the network officially stops it for the season.
For viewers planning ahead, the practical rule is simple: check Tuesdays in May, starting with May 5 and May 12, because that is the established rhythm the schedule currently supports.
Practical takeaway
The most useful answer to the episode schedule question is that NCIS is airing new episodes every Tuesday in May 2026, with May 5 already confirmed and May 12 listed as the next known airdate.
What are the most common questions about Ncis Episode Schedule May 2026 Reveals A Surprising Gap?
When is the next NCIS episode in May 2026?
The next clearly listed NCIS episode is May 5, 2026, with the following date shown by schedule trackers as May 12, 2026.
What time does NCIS air?
NCIS airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
Is there a May 2026 finale?
No finale date had been announced in the latest available season update, so May 2026 appears to be part of the regular weekly run rather than the end of the season.
Where can I stream the episodes?
Paramount+ Premium subscribers can stream episodes live as they air, while other Paramount+ plans get new episodes the following day.