NBC Confirms Early Fall Finales for Chicago Fire, Med, and PD — Fans Face Long Wait Until 2026
Fans of NBC’s One Chicago universe received disappointing news this week: Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago PD will each air their final new episodes of 2025 next week, marking an early start to the holiday hiatus.
Fall Finales Coming November 12
NBC confirmed that the November 12 episodes will serve as the fall finales for all three dramas — Chicago Med season 11, Chicago Fire season 14, and Chicago PD season 13. After that, the network’s powerhouse Wednesday lineup will go dark for the remainder of the year, with new episodes not returning until January 2026.
The timing caught viewers off guard. Typically, the One Chicago shows air until late November or even early December before taking their winter break. But this season, NBC is pulling the plug after just seven episodes, sending the franchise into an extended two-month pause.
Why the Early Break?
While NBC didn’t give a specific reason for the early break, the decision likely stems from holiday scheduling logistics. Most broadcast networks avoid premiering new episodes in December, when ratings tend to dip due to holiday specials, sports coverage, and travel.
By ending the fall run earlier, NBC gives the shows room to return strong in January and potentially maintain more consistent scheduling through the spring — avoiding long gaps later in the season.
According to industry insiders, the new episodes are expected to resume on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, following the same pattern as last year’s winter return.
A Tough Wait for One Chicago Fans
The One Chicago fandom, known for its loyalty, wasn’t thrilled with the announcement. Many expressed frustration over the early hiatus, especially since the latest episodes have introduced major storylines across all three shows — including Chicago Fire’s leadership shake-up, Chicago Med’s high-stakes ethical dilemmas, and Chicago PD’s ongoing internal conflict within Intelligence.
The good news? Viewers can still stream all previous seasons and current episodes on Peacock, ensuring no shortage of firefights, surgeries, and police drama during the holiday break.
Looking Ahead
Though the early break is disappointing, NBC’s decision means fewer interruptions later — setting up a strong, uninterrupted run in 2026 as each show pushes toward its midseason climaxes.
Until then, One Chicago fans will have to settle for reruns, speculation, and plenty of rewatches on Peacock as they count down the weeks to the return of Firehouse 51, Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, and District 21.