Right now, Grey’s Anatomy is in the middle of Season 22.
Honestly, it feels a little surreal even typing that number. Twenty-two seasons. Most shows are lucky to get five, but the doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial seem to have some sort of supernatural stamina. If you’re checking your DVR or wondering why your Thursday nights feel a little empty—or suddenly very full—here is the deal: we are officially in the 2025-2026 television cycle.
The show just came back from its winter hiatus on January 8, 2026. This was actually a bit of a surprise for long-term fans. Usually, ABC likes to keep us waiting until March to see the fallout of whatever bridge blew up or secret baby was revealed. Not this time.
The Season 22 Status Report: Where We Stand
So, let's break it down. Season 22 premiered back on October 9, 2025. It kicked off with an episode called "Only the Strong Survive," which had to clean up the literal and metaphorical mess of the Season 21 finale explosion.
- Current Season: 22
- Episode Count: 18 episodes total.
- Where we are now: We’ve just crossed the midseason mark. Episode 8, "Heavy on Me," aired in mid-January, leaving us with roughly ten episodes left to go before the summer.
- The Meredith Factor: Ellen Pompeo is still the voice of the show, but if you’re looking for her face in every episode, you'll be disappointed. She’s slated for about seven on-screen appearances this season. It's basically a "guest star in her own show" vibe at this point.
If you’re trying to catch up, the first half of the season is currently sitting on Hulu. If you’re a Netflix person, you’re going to have to wait. Traditionally, the full season doesn't hit Netflix until about a month after the finale airs, which puts the Netflix release date for Season 22 somewhere around June 2026.
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Why the 2026 Schedule is Kinda Weird
For the last few years, ABC had this habit of airing a few episodes in the fall and then disappearing until the spring flowers started blooming. It was frustrating. This year, they changed the playbook.
By bringing the show back in January instead of March, the network is trying to keep the momentum going. But there's a catch. Because there are only 18 episodes this season—the same count as Season 21—they have to stretch them out. This means we’re going to see more "mini-breaks." You might get two new episodes, then a week of reruns, then another new one. It’s a bit of a scheduling rollercoaster.
Basically, don't get too comfortable with a weekly routine.
What’s Actually Happening in Season 22?
If you haven't scrubbed in yet this year, the drama is... well, it's Grey's. The big "A-plot" right now involves Richard Webber. James Pickens Jr. is putting in some heavy work as Richard faces a prostate cancer diagnosis. It’s a "doctor becomes the patient" arc that we’ve seen before, but it feels weightier this time given how long we've known the Chief.
Then there's the Jo and Link of it all. After the Season 21 finale where Jo's life was hanging by a thread (classic), Season 22 has been about the aftermath of her pregnancy and the sheer chaos of their domestic life. Also, Jamie-Lynn Sigler joined the cast recently as a urologist, Dr. Laura Kaplan, which has added a fresh dynamic to the hospital halls.
Looking Ahead: Is Season 23 Happening?
This is the million-dollar question. As of early 2026, ABC hasn't officially pulled the trigger on a Season 23 renewal.
Don't panic yet. The ratings for Season 21 took a bit of a dip—down about 30% in total viewership— but it’s still a powerhouse for Disney on streaming platforms. It’s the "comfort food" of television. Usually, we hear about renewals around March or April, so we're currently in that "wait and see" window. Shonda Rhimes has famously said the show will go on as long as Ellen Pompeo wants to do it, and even with her limited role, the engine is still humming.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the ABC App: Since the schedule is "sporadic" this spring, bookmark the official ABC schedule page to see if a new episode is actually airing this Thursday.
- Hulu is your best friend: If you missed the fall run, you have 12 episodes of catch-up to do before the Season 22 finale in May.
- Watch for the 450th: Season 22 featured the 450th episode of the series (Episode 2). If you’re a completionist, that’s a "must-watch" milestone for the history books.