You’re sitting there, remote in hand, wondering when Chris Hardwick is going to start dropping those glowing green and red balls again. It’s a simple question: when is The Wall show on? But the answer is rarely a straight line because network television in 2026 loves a good scheduling shuffle. NBC has treated The Wall as a versatile utility player for years now. Sometimes it’s a mid-season replacement, sometimes it anchors a random Tuesday in July, and occasionally it just vanishes for six months while a singing competition takes its spot.
Honestly, if you're looking for the show right now, you have to look at the current seasonal "bridge." NBC typically slots The Wall into the 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM ET/PT time slots on Monday or Tuesday nights, depending on whether The Voice is currently occupying the stage. For the 2025-2026 broadcast cycle, the show has been leaning heavily into its identity as a "gap filler." This means when a scripted drama goes on hiatus or a limited series ends its run, the four-story tall pegboard is rolled out to keep the ratings steady.
It's massive. That's the first thing everyone says when they see the set in person. We're talking about a 40-foot tall monstrosity that determines whether a family walks away with $12 million or literally zero dollars. This isn't Jeopardy! where you win on sheer intellect alone. This is about gravity, physics, and a massive amount of luck.
The Current NBC Broadcast Window
Right now, the best way to catch The Wall is to keep an eye on the Monday night lineup. Historically, NBC has used the show to lead into their prestige dramas. If you are checking your local listings and seeing "TBA," there is a very high probability that a repeat or a fresh episode of The Wall is waiting in the wings.
Why the inconsistency? Well, LeBron James and Maverick Carter, the executive producers through SpringHill Company, designed the show to be high-impact. It’s expensive to produce. The lighting alone is a logistical nightmare. Because of that, NBC doesn't usually run 22-episode seasons like they do with Law & Order. Instead, they drop "batches" of episodes. You might get six weeks of play, a three-month break, and then another four weeks. It's frustrating for fans who just want a routine, but it's the reality of modern linear TV.
Streaming Options: Where to Watch if You Miss the Airing
If you missed the live broadcast, don't panic. Peacock is basically the permanent home for the series. Usually, new episodes of The Wall land on Peacock the very next day, typically by 6:00 AM ET.
I’ve found that the streaming experience is actually a bit better for this specific show. You can skip the repetitive "coming up next" segments and get straight to the ball drops. Plus, Peacock carries the entire back catalog. If you’re asking "when is The Wall show on?" because you have a craving for high-stakes drama right this second, the answer is "anytime" if you have a subscription.
🔗 Read more: Can't You See Lyrics Marshall Tucker Band: What Most People Get Wrong
- Peacock: New episodes next day.
- Hulu: Currently carries selected past seasons, though this varies by licensing agreements.
- NBC App: Requires a cable log-in, but usually hosts the last five episodes aired.
Why the Schedule Always Feels Like a Guessing Game
Network TV is a battlefield. The Wall often gets moved to accommodate sporting events or "Special Reports." If there’s a holiday, expect a themed episode. We’ve seen Christmas specials, Thanksgiving events, and tribute episodes for frontline workers. These usually air on Sunday or Monday nights in the late fall.
Glassman Media and SpringHill have a rhythm, but it’s a rhythm dictated by the "sweeps" periods. November, February, and May are the big months. If the show isn't on during those months, it's because NBC is saving it to bolster their "summer slump" numbers. It’s a weirdly resilient show. It survived the pandemic filming restrictions, it survived shifts in the game show landscape, and it remains a staple because it's one of the few things families actually watch together without everyone being on their phones.
The Strategy Behind the Wall
Most people think it’s just about the drop. It isn't. The real game is in the "Contract."
One player stays on stage to manage the drops. The other is locked in a soundproof isolation room. They have no idea how much money is on the board. Near the end of the game, the player in isolation is sent a contract. They can sign it for a guaranteed, smaller amount of money, or tear it up and take whatever is on the wall.
It’s a psychological horror show disguised as a game. I’ve seen people tear up a $200,000 guarantee only to find out the person on stage hit the "red" balls and brought the total down to $0. It’s devastating. That’s why people keep asking when the show is on—it's the raw emotion of seeing a life-changing windfall evaporate in seconds.
International Versions and Syndication
If you are outside the US, the "when" becomes even more complicated. The Wall is a global franchise. There’s a version in the UK (hosted by Danny Dyer), one in Australia, and versions across Europe and South America. If you are seeing clips on TikTok and wondering why the host looks different, you're likely seeing the BBC version or the French adaptation.
In the United States, syndication isn't really a thing for The Wall yet. You won't find it on Game Show Network (GSN) as often as you’d find Family Feud. NBC keeps it close to the chest to drive traffic to Peacock.
How to Get Notified of New Episodes
If you're tired of checking the guide every week, there are a few practical ways to stay ahead of the curve:
💡 You might also like: Patrick Watson Je te laisserais des mots: Why This 2010 Song Is Still Breaking Records
- Set a DVR Keyword Search: Set your cable box or YouTube TV to record anything with the title "The Wall." It will automatically grab the new episodes regardless of what night they move to.
- Follow Chris Hardwick on Socials: He’s surprisingly active about announcing when the show returns from hiatus.
- NBC’s Press Site: If you want to be a real nerd about it, the NBC Universal Media Village site posts schedules weeks in advance.
The show is fundamentally about the "Free Fall." Those first few balls that drop simultaneously. It sets the tone. If the players get lucky early, the tension for the rest of the hour is unbearable. If they miss, it’s a long climb back up.
Final Insights for the Dedicated Viewer
Don't expect a rigid 52-week schedule. That’s the biggest mistake viewers make with The Wall. Treat it like an event series. It pops up, delivers ten weeks of heart-pounding moments, and then goes back into the vault for a bit.
To stay updated, check the Monday night 8/7c slot first. If it's not there, check your Peacock "New Releases" tab on Tuesday mornings. The show isn't going anywhere—it's too cheap to produce relative to the ratings it pulls—but it will always be a nomad on the NBC schedule.
Keep an eye on the "special" episodes. NBC loves to air these on the off-nights like Sundays or during the holiday season. The next time you see a commercial for a "Million Dollar Event," that's your cue that a new block of episodes is starting. It's usually a two-week warning, so keep your eyes peeled during the commercial breaks of The Voice or America's Got Talent. That is when the network does its heavy lifting for promotion.
Actionable Steps:
- Check Peacock: If you want to watch right now, 90% of the series is sitting there waiting.
- Toggle Notifications: Turn on "New Episode" alerts for NBC on your smart TV or streaming device.
- Watch the 'Special' Cycles: Look for the show to reappear in mid-summer (June/July) and mid-winter (January) as these are the most common re-entry points for the series.