If you’ve ever sat down with a bowl of cereal at 9:00 PM on a Tuesday only to realize you have no idea where Peter Griffin went, you aren’t alone. Television is a mess right now. Networks move shows like they’re playing a shell game, and with the rise of exclusive streaming specials, the answer to what channel is Family Guy on changes depending on whether you're looking for the newest episodes or a 2:00 AM rerun of that one episode where Brian and Stewie go to the multiverse.
Honestly, the landscape for the Griffins has shifted significantly in the last couple of years. We used to just flip to FOX on Sunday nights and call it a day. While that's still mostly true for the "big" premiere events, the show has branched out into a multi-platform beast that lives on cable, broadcast, and streaming simultaneously.
The Current Home of New Episodes: FOX and Hulu
For the purists who want to watch Season 24 as it airs, your primary destination remains FOX. However, the schedule has been a bit of a roller coaster. In early 2026, the show is anchored in the "Animation Domination" block.
Currently, new episodes of Family Guy are scheduled to return to FOX on February 15, 2026.
Here’s the thing though: the time slot is a little slippery. On February 15, it’s slated for 9:30 PM ET, right after a massive milestone for The Simpsons (their 800th episode, which is frankly insane). But just a week later, on February 22, it moves back to its "normal" home at 9:00 PM ET. It’s followed by American Dad!, which recently made a bit of a homecoming move back to FOX after its long stint over at TBS.
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If you’ve cut the cord, "channel" is a loose term. For you, the channel is Hulu.
Disney (which owns the show now) has been leaning hard into Hulu-first content. Last year, they started dropping exclusive holiday specials—like the Halloween and Christmas episodes—directly on Hulu months before the rest of the season hit the airwaves.
- Broadcast: FOX (Sundays at 9:00 PM ET starting late February 2026).
- Streaming: Hulu (Next-day streaming for broadcast episodes; exclusive home for certain specials).
The Big Cable Comeback: Adult Swim and Comedy Central
For a few years there, it felt like Family Guy was slowly disappearing from its old haunts. But 2025 and 2026 have seen a massive resurgence in cable licensing.
The biggest news for long-time fans is the return to Adult Swim. If you remember the early 2000s, Adult Swim was the reason the show was even revived after its initial cancellation. After a period where FXX held the exclusive cable rights, the show has finally looped back. You can now find reruns of the classic seasons late at night on Adult Swim, usually in the 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM windows.
Then there’s Comedy Central. They picked up a non-exclusive licensing deal recently. This means if you’re channel surfing on a random weekday afternoon, there’s a high probability you’ll run into a "Family Guy" marathon there. It's basically the background noise of the American living room at this point.
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Where to Find Reruns Right Now:
- Adult Swim (Cartoon Network): Late nights, usually starting at 11:00 PM.
- Comedy Central: Frequent daytime and evening blocks.
- FXX: Still carries heavy rotations, often doing themed marathons.
- Local Syndication: Check your local CW or MyNetworkTV affiliates; they often run two episodes back-to-back around 6:00 PM or 10:00 PM.
Why Does the Schedule Keep Changing?
You might be wondering why it’s so hard to pin down what channel is Family Guy on without a map and a compass. The answer is corporate strategy. FOX renewed the show through Season 27 (which takes us into 2028-2029), but they are produce fewer episodes per season now.
Instead of the old 22-episode marathons, we're seeing shorter 15-episode runs. To fill the gaps, the network shuffles the show to midseason to make room for newer hits like Universal Basic Guys or Krapopolis. It's a strategy to keep the "Animation Domination" brand alive while stretching the life of their most expensive legacy shows.
Watching Family Guy Without a Cable Box
If you don't have a traditional cable subscription, you have plenty of options, but they'll cost you.
YouTube TV, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV all carry FOX. This is the only way to watch the episodes "live" as they premiere. If you're okay with waiting 24 hours, a standard Hulu subscription is significantly cheaper.
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Interestingly, if you're traveling outside the US, the "channel" is almost always Disney+. In the UK, Canada, and Australia, the Griffins live under the "Star" banner on Disney+.
Actionable Tips for Staying Updated
Stop guessing and start watching. If you want to make sure you never miss an episode in 2026, here is exactly what you should do:
- Set a DVR Alert for FOX: If you have a digital tuner or cable, search for "Family Guy" and set it to "New Episodes Only." The 9:00 PM Sunday slot is the gold standard, but the midseason shifts can be sneaky.
- Check the Hulu "Recently Added" Tab: On Monday mornings, the previous night's episode will be sitting there.
- Use an Antenna: Since FOX is a broadcast network, you can actually get it for free in high definition with a $20 set of rabbit ears. It's the most reliable "channel" there is.
- Watch for Adult Swim Marathons: If you're looking for the "edgy" early seasons (Seasons 1-10), the cable rotations on Adult Swim tend to favor the classics more than the new FOX airings do.
The Griffins aren't going anywhere. With a renewal that lasts through 2029, the only thing you really need to worry about is whether or not you have enough storage on your DVR.