CBS has confirmed the autumn premiere dates for its expanded NCIS lineup, with all three procedurals returning early on Tuesday, 6 October. The move comes at a pivotal moment for the franchise, which recently passed its 500th episode and has since unveiled a string of major changes, including the arrival of a new spin-off and the return of previously departed characters.

The flagship NCIS will open the night at 8pm, followed by newcomer NCIS: New York at 9pm, starring LL Cool J's Sam Hanna, and NCIS: Origins closing out the evening at 10pm. New York replaces NCIS: Sydney, which is being held back until 2027, while Origins will bring back Mark Harmon on-screen as part of a new mystery, and the original series welcomes back Michael Weatherly following the end of NCIS: Tony & Ziva. The early return date also gives fans a swift resolution to NCIS's cliffhanger finale, which followed the murder of Leon Vance and ended with another shooting.