You've probably spent at least one rainy Saturday—or three—curled up on the couch, watching Olivia Benson stare down a suspect with that look that says she knows exactly where they’re hiding the evidence. It’s comforting. It's legendary. But if you're trying to figure out exactly how many seasons of SVU Law and Order are there right now, the number is officially 27.
Yeah, you read that right. Twenty-seven years of "Dun-Dun."
The show is currently airing its 27th season in 2026. It premiered back in September 2025, and honestly, it’s wild to think about how much the world has changed while Benson has been walking those precinct halls. We’ve seen her go from a young detective to a sergeant, a lieutenant, and finally the Captain.
Why the season count matters for your binge-watching
If you're a newcomer or just a casual fan who lost track around the time Stabler left (the first time), the sheer volume of episodes is staggering. As of early 2026, the series has officially cleared the 580-episode mark. That is a mountain of television.
People always ask me if the show is actually still good. It's a fair question. After nearly three decades, you’d expect a show to run out of steam, right? Surprisingly, Season 27 has felt weirdly fresh. A lot of that comes down to a massive shake-up behind the scenes. Michele Fazekas, who was a writer way back in the early 2000s (Seasons 4 through 7), came back as the showrunner.
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Kelli Giddish also finally returned as a series regular this season after a couple of years of guest spots, which basically saved the show for a lot of us who felt the squad room was getting a little too empty.
The cast evolution in Season 27
If you haven’t tuned in for a minute, the squad room looks a bit different. We said goodbye to Joe Velasco and Kate Silva at the end of last year, which was kinda a bummer, but it made room for some new energy.
- Mariska Hargitay is still the heart of the show as Captain Olivia Benson.
- Ice-T (Fin Tutuola) is the undisputed king of one-liners and is still there, thank goodness.
- Peter Scanavino has fully settled into his role as ADA Carisi.
- Corey Cott joined as Detective Jake Griffin and was just promoted to a series regular.
It’s a mix of the old guard and the new kids, and it somehow works. They even did a massive memorial for Donald Cragen earlier this season that brought back George Huang and Brian Cassidy. It was a total nostalgia trip that reminded everyone exactly why this show has lasted through five different presidential administrations.
How SVU beat the "Original" Law & Order
It’s easy to forget that SVU is technically a spin-off. The original Law & Order actually took a huge break—it was canceled in 2010 and didn't come back until 2022. SVU, on the other hand, never stopped. It surpassed the original in 2019 to become the longest-running primetime live-action series in U.S. history.
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Basically, it outlasted Gunsmoke. It outlasted ER. It’s the ultimate survivor of the "Peak TV" era.
What to expect if you're catching up
If you're diving back in, you should know that the show has shifted its tone. The early seasons were very "case of the week," but lately, it’s much more focused on the personal lives and trauma of the detectives. Season 25 was a bit of a low point for some fans because it felt a little too much like a soap opera—and the 2023 strikes meant it only had 13 episodes.
But Season 26 and now Season 27 have returned to that gritty, "ripped from the headlines" feel. They’ve been tackling everything from AI-generated deepfakes to corruption within the Chief of Detectives' office. It’s less about simple whodunnits and more about how the system itself is often broken.
Where to watch every single season
Look, if you want to start from Season 1, Episode 1 ("Payback"), you’re going to need a lot of snacks and a very long vacation.
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- Peacock: This is your best bet. They have every single season, including the new episodes of Season 27.
- Hulu: They usually have the last few seasons, but they don't have the deep archives anymore.
- NBC: You can catch the new episodes live on Thursday nights.
If you're planning a massive rewatch, here is a pro-tip: don't feel like you have to watch every single episode. You can totally skip the "middle years" if you're just looking for the Stabler era or the modern Benson era. But honestly, the early 2000s episodes still hold up remarkably well.
Actionable next steps for fans
If you’re caught up on the fact that there are 27 seasons and want to engage with the show right now, here is what you should do:
Check out the 2026 Crossover. If you haven't seen it yet, there was a major event between SVU and the flagship Law & Order earlier this year. It’s one of the best they’ve done in years because it actually moves the plot forward for Benson personally rather than just being a random crime.
Track the New Cast. Keep an eye on Detective Jake Griffin (Corey Cott). The writers are clearly setting him up for a major arc, and his chemistry with Fin is actually pretty funny.
Follow the showrunner’s updates. Michele Fazekas has been much more open on social media about the direction of the show than previous bosses. If you want to know if there's a Season 28 on the horizon (and let’s be real, there probably is), following the official Wolf Entertainment accounts is your best source of truth.
The fact that we are even talking about a show in its 27th season is a miracle of modern television. Whether you’re here for the justice, the "Dun-Dun," or just to see what kind of blazer Benson is wearing this week, SVU isn't going anywhere.