If you’re anything like me, your 7:00 PM (or 7:30, depending on where you live) feels a little empty right now. The click-clack of the thinking music is gone. The blue glow of the stage is replaced by reruns you’ve probably seen three times already. We’ve all been there. You’re sitting on the couch, snack in hand, only to realize within three minutes that you already know the Final Jeopardy answer because you watched this exact episode last March.
It’s the summer hiatus blues. It happens every year, yet it still catches us off guard.
So, let's get right to the point. When does the new season of jeopardy start in 2025? Mark your calendars for Monday, September 8, 2025. That is the official premiere date for Season 42. It’s the day Ken Jennings steps back behind the lectern, the "champion" podium gets a fresh face (well, sort of—more on Jonathan Hugendubler in a second), and the stats reset for a brand new year of trivia.
The Weird Gap Between Seasons
Jeopardy! is a well-oiled machine, but even machines need to cool down. Season 41 officially wrapped up on Friday, July 25, 2025. If you missed it, it was a total gut-punch. Scott Riccardi, who had been absolutely steamrolling through the competition with a 16-game streak, lost in a shocking Final Jeopardy miss.
Since then, Sony has been feeding us a steady diet of "Encore Presentations."
Honestly, the schedule for these reruns is actually pretty decent this year. They’ve been cycling through the 2025 Tournament of Champions (ToC) and the Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament (JIT). It’s basically a greatest hits album while we wait for the new stuff.
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What to Expect on September 8
When Season 42 kicks off, we aren't starting with a tournament. Thank goodness. I love a good ToC as much as the next person, but there’s something special about "regular" Jeopardy! where anyone can walk on and become a legend.
The first person we’ll see is Jonathan Hugendubler, the adjunct professor from Baltimore who took down Scott Riccardi in that wild finale. He’s the returning champion. He’s been sitting on that win all summer, probably itching to get back to Culver City.
Streaming is Finally a Real Thing
This is actually the biggest news for the 2025-2026 season. For years, if you didn’t have a cable hookup or a digital antenna, watching Jeopardy! was a nightmare. You had to hope your local affiliate had a decent app or wait for random clips on YouTube.
Basically, that's over. Starting with the premiere on September 8, Jeopardy! is going to be available for next-day streaming.
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- Hulu and Disney+ will have episodes ready to go.
- Peacock is also getting in on the action.
- Crave will handle the streaming for our friends in Canada.
If the show airs on Monday, you can stream it on Tuesday. It’s a massive shift for a show that has been stubbornly tied to old-school syndication for forty years.
The 2025-2026 Roadmap
Producers Michael Davies and Sarah Whitcomb Foss haven't been shy about the "postseason" plans. While the season starts with regular play, the tournament schedule for the rest of late 2025 and early 2026 is already taking shape.
We know that Second Chance and Champions Wildcard are returning. These are the "safety nets" for players who almost won or played well but got stuck behind a super-champ. Expect those to start popping up around December 2025.
In fact, the 2025 Second Chance tournament is slated to begin right around December 15. It’s become a bit of a holiday tradition at this point.
Why the Date Matters This Year
You might wonder why there's so much buzz about a start date. Isn't it always in September?
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Well, yeah. But the 2024 season was a bit of a mess because of the strikes. Schedules were wonky, and we had months of tournaments before we saw a single new contestant. Season 42 feels like a return to "normalcy."
It’s also about the "Ken Factor." Now that Ken Jennings is the sole, undisputed host, the show has found its rhythm again. There’s no more "who’s hosting this week?" drama. It’s just the game.
A Quick Reality Check on Reruns
If you’re looking at your DVR and seeing "New" labels on episodes right now, don't be fooled. Local stations are notorious for mislabeling reruns during the summer. If the episode number doesn't start with 42, it’s not the new season.
The very last rerun before the big launch will be the Season 41 finale on Friday, September 5. It’s a "refresher" episode so you remember exactly how Jonathan Hugendubler ended up in the winner's circle.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you want to be ready for the September 8 premiere, here is how you should prep:
- Check Your Local Listings: Since the show is syndicated, it airs at different times on different channels (ABC, CBS, NBC, or FOX). Use the Jeopardy! Station Finder to confirm your time slot hasn't shifted for the new season.
- Update Your Streaming Apps: If you plan on ditching the antenna, make sure your Hulu or Peacock subscription is active before Tuesday, September 9 (the first day of streaming availability).
- Clear the DVR: If you still record the show, make sure you have space for the 230 episodes coming your way this year.
- Follow the Substack: The show recently launched an official Substack. It’s actually pretty good for behind-the-scenes stats that Ken mentions briefly but doesn't have time to explain on air.
The wait is almost over. Six weeks of hiatus feels like an eternity when you're used to the nightly ritual, but the Alex Trebek Stage is about to get busy again. See you on the 8th.