You turned on the TV this morning and things felt just a little bit... off. Maybe the couch on the 3rd Hour looked different or the weather map was missing its most cheerful face. Naturally, the first thing anyone does is hit the search bar to find out: is dylan dreyer leaving today?
Honestly, the rumor mill is always working overtime when it comes to the Today show cast. We just watched Hoda Kotb walk out the door for her final show on January 10, 2025, and now Craig Melvin is settling into that main anchor seat. With all that shaking up, it's easy to assume everyone else is packing their bags, too.
But take a breath. As of right now, Dylan Dreyer isn't going anywhere permanently. She was seen leaving the studio on January 8, 2026, looking perfectly normal, and she’s been active on the air throughout the first half of this month. If she's missing from your screen this morning, there is usually a very specific—and often repetitive—reason for it.
Why Dylan Dreyer is missing from the 3rd Hour
People panic the second a favorite host isn't in their usual spot. It's human nature. But with Dylan, she is arguably the busiest person at NBC.
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She isn't just the meteorologist for the 3rd Hour of Today. She’s also the host of Earth Odyssey, a wildlife show that requires her to travel to some pretty remote places. Back in late 2025, her co-stars Craig Melvin and Al Roker joked on air that she was "on assignment," which usually means she's somewhere like Alaska or California filming with animals instead of standing in front of a green screen in Midtown Manhattan.
There's also her personal life, which has been through the ringer lately.
Last summer, Dylan shocked fans by announcing her separation from her husband of 12 years, Brian Fichera. Since then, she’s been incredibly open about the "new normal" of co-parenting their three boys—Calvin, Oliver, and Rusty. She recently ditched her Manhattan condo, which she and Brian sold after a price cut, and moved the boys out to the suburbs in Long Island.
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Moving house with three kids while going through a split is exhausting. If she takes a Friday off, she’s probably just being a mom or unpacking another box of LEGOs in the new house.
Is Dylan Dreyer leaving today for a new career?
Speculation about her exit often stems from Dylan’s own "passion projects." She’s a successful children's author—her Misty the Cloud series and her latest book, A Peak Out of Your Window, are huge hits.
She’s also been very vocal about her respect for Al Roker. In fact, she’s joked more than once that she’s "waiting for the day he retires" so she can fully step into his legendary shoes. Since Al is still very much part of the team, Dylan seems content to balance her current roles.
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Recent "Close Calls" and Gaffes
- The Security Incident: Remember when she was "kicked out" of the studio? That was just a hilarious Halloween mishap where security didn't recognize her in her Frankie Valli costume.
- The "Assignment" Breaks: She often travels for Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, leading fans to think she’s quit the morning desk.
- The Weekend Shift: Sometimes she covers Weekend Today or fills in for Savannah Guthrie, which shifts her schedule and makes her "disappear" from her usual weekday slot.
What's next for Dylan at NBC?
Looking at the 2026 schedule, Dylan is still a heavy hitter for the network. She’s already slated for the American Century Championship golf tournament in July 2026—she’s a stickler for the game and a regular celebrity guest.
The truth is, the Today show is in a transition era. With Craig Melvin moving to the 7-9 a.m. slot to replace Hoda, the chemistry of the 3rd Hour is shifting. Dylan, Sheinelle Jones, and Al Roker remain the "glue" that keeps that middle hour feeling like a conversation between friends.
If you don't see her today, check her Instagram. She’s usually the first one to post a photo of a chaotic school morning or a "hospital photo" during a rough flu season with the kids. She is one of the most transparent people on television, so if a real exit were happening, she wouldn't leave fans in the dark.
Actionable Insight: If you're looking for Dylan and she's not on the 3rd Hour, check the 4th Hour (Today with Jenna & Sheinelle) or the weekend broadcasts. She frequently guest-hosts when Jenna Bush Hager is away. You can also track her "on assignment" updates through her official NBC social media channels to see which part of the world she's currently exploring for Earth Odyssey.