The Ultimate 2025 Law & Order Schedule Guide: When To Watch The Triple-Header And Where To Stream
The Law & Order universe remains a dominant force in television, offering a compelling weekly dose of "ripped from the headlines" drama across three active series. As of today, December 11, 2025, the flagship series and its most popular spin-off, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU), are back in their regular prime-time slots on NBC, having returned from their mid-season break.
If you’re wondering exactly "when is Law & Order on," the answer is a little more complicated—and more exciting—than just one night. The franchise has established a powerful "Law & Order Thursday" block, though the newest series, Organized Crime, has a unique streaming-first schedule that every fan needs to know about to catch the latest action from Detective Stabler.
The Complete Law & Order 2025 Television Schedule (NBC & Peacock)
The core of the Dick Wolf procedural empire is built around a consistent, must-watch night of television. For the 2024-2025 television season, the schedule is split, with the original and SVU airing on NBC, and Organized Crime moving to a new platform for its premiere season.
The three shows—Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Law & Order: Organized Crime—are currently airing new episodes or have recently premiered their new seasons, ensuring a steady flow of police procedural and legal drama content for fans.
Here is the definitive schedule for watching new episodes in 2025:
- The Original Series: Law & Order (Season 24)
- When: Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET/PT
- Channel: NBC
- Premiere Date: October 3, 2024
- Mid-Season Return: January 16, 2025
- The Longest-Running Series: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU) (Season 26)
- When: Thursdays at 9:00 PM ET/PT
- Channel: NBC
- Premiere Date: October 3, 2024
- Mid-Season Return: January 16, 2025
- The Streaming Spin-Off: Law & Order: Organized Crime (Season 5)
- When: New episodes released weekly on Thursdays (after initial two-episode drop)
- Platform: Peacock (Streaming Exclusive)
- Premiere Date: April 17, 2025 (First two episodes)
This "Law & Order Thursday" block on NBC is a television tradition. The original series leads the night, followed by the groundbreaking SVU, starring the iconic Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson. While Organized Crime has moved to a streaming-only home on Peacock for its fifth season, it maintains the Thursday release schedule, keeping the franchise's weekly rhythm intact.
Where to Stream Every Law & Order Episode (The Peacock Factor)
In the age of streaming, knowing the broadcast time is only half the battle. NBC has made its streaming service, Peacock, the exclusive home for the entire Law & Order universe, making it the most critical platform for catching up or watching new episodes on demand.
Watching New Episodes
For fans who miss the live broadcast on NBC, there is good news. New episodes of both the flagship Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU are available to stream on Peacock the very next day, typically starting Friday morning.
Crucially, Law & Order: Organized Crime has transitioned completely to a streaming-first model for its fifth season. This means the only way to watch Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and the Organized Crime Control Bureau is by subscribing to Peacock. The 10-episode season premiered with a two-episode drop on April 17, 2025, with subsequent episodes following weekly.
Binging Past Seasons
Peacock is the ultimate destination for dedicated Law & Order fans looking to binge-watch. The service hosts the full back catalog of all currently airing series, including all 25+ seasons of SVU, which is a massive undertaking for any viewer. This includes the original series, SVU, and all previous seasons of Organized Crime.
Why the Law & Order Schedule is a Must-Watch Triple-Header
The entire Thursday night block is a carefully curated event designed by creator Dick Wolf to maximize viewer engagement and allow for seamless crossover storylines. This programming strategy creates a high-stakes, interconnected universe where characters frequently appear on each other's shows, driving topical authority for the entire franchise.
The Crossover Dynamic
The most anticipated element of the Thursday line-up is the potential for crossovers, particularly between SVU and Organized Crime. The complex, decades-long relationship between Captain Olivia Benson and Detective Elliot Stabler (Benson and Stabler) is a central pillar of the franchise's appeal. While Organized Crime is now a streaming exclusive, occasional crossovers or guest appearances are still possible, keeping the emotional core of the "Benson & Stabler" saga alive for dedicated viewers.
Anticipating the Future: Fall 2025 Schedule
For those planning ahead, NBC has already announced the schedule for the Fall 2025 television season, confirming the franchise's continued dominance:
- Thursday, September 25, 2025:
- 8:00 PM ET/PT: Law & Order (Season 25 Premiere)
- 9:00 PM ET/PT: Law & Order: SVU (Season 27 Premiere)
- 10:00 PM ET/PT: Law & Order: Organized Crime (Reruns)
This confirms that the two main NBC shows will return in their traditional slots in late September 2025. Interestingly, the 10 p.m. slot on NBC will be filled with reruns of Organized Crime Season 5, a clear move to promote the streaming-exclusive season on Peacock to a wider audience.
Key Entities and Topical Authority in the Law & Order Universe
To truly understand the "when" and "why" of the schedule, it helps to know the key players and concepts that define this massive television franchise. These entities are frequently discussed in relation to the schedule and plot lines:
- Dick Wolf: The creator and executive producer responsible for the entire franchise, often referred to as the "Wolf Entertainment" universe.
- NBC: The primary broadcast network that has aired all three shows for decades.
- Peacock: The NBCUniversal streaming service, now the exclusive home for new episodes of Organized Crime.
- Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay): The longest-running character in a prime-time live-action series, the heart of SVU.
- Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni): The lead of Organized Crime and Benson's former partner.
- Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston): The iconic District Attorney, a staple of the original Law & Order.
- Triple-Header: The common term for the three-hour block of Law & Order programming on Thursday nights.
- The Mothership: A fan nickname for the original Law & Order series.
- Special Victims Unit (SVU): The division focusing on sexually based offenses and crimes against children.
- Organized Crime Control Bureau (OCCB): Stabler's unit, which focuses on long-term investigations into criminal syndicates.
- Mid-Season Break: The traditional hiatus that occurs between December and January for most network television shows.
- "Ripped from the Headlines": The franchise's signature style of developing plots inspired by real-life events.
- New York City: The essential backdrop and setting for all three series.
- Procedural Drama: The genre that follows a set process, from investigation (the police) to prosecution (the law).
- Season 24, 25, 26, 27: The current and upcoming season numbers, showcasing the franchise's longevity.
In summary, the most critical takeaway for fans in 2025 is the split schedule: Law & Order and SVU remain on NBC every Thursday night, while Organized Crime has fully embraced the streaming model on Peacock. Whether you prefer the classic "dun-dun" sound of the original, the emotional depth of Benson's unit, or the high-octane action of Stabler's team, Thursday remains the day to get your fix of justice in the Big Apple.
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