# NCIS season 24

**NCIS season 24** is the twenty-fourth season of the CBS police procedural *NCIS*, scheduled to premiere on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 8:00–9:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network, with episodes streaming on [Paramount+](https://www.edgepedia.org/paramount) (live and on demand for Premium subscribers, and on demand for Essential subscribers the day after broadcast)<sup>[1](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-studios/shows/ncis)</sup>. The season's headline change is the return of [Michael Weatherly](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-weatherly) as Tony DiNozzo, a character he played for 13 seasons before leaving in 2016<sup>[2](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/ncis-fan-favorite-tony-dinozzo-returns-after-10-years/)</sup>. It is the first season to air after the exit of Director Leon Vance, played by [Rocky Carroll](https://www.edgepedia.org/rocky-carroll)<sup>[3](https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/tv-shows/how-to-watch-ncis-season-24)</sup>.

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Premiere | Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 8:00–9:00 PM ET/PT, on CBS<sup>[1](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-studios/shows/ncis)</sup> |
| Renewal | Announced in January 2026 as part of CBS's 2026–2027 renewals, alongside NCIS: Origins (season 3) and NCIS: Sydney (season 4)<sup>[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/news/5644/ncis-ncis-renewed-for-season-24-at-cbs)</sup> |
| Headline casting | Michael Weatherly returns as Tony DiNozzo, his first season-regular era appearance since leaving in 2016<sup>[2](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/ncis-fan-favorite-tony-dinozzo-returns-after-10-years/)</sup> |
| Main cast | Sean Murray (Timothy McGee), Wilmer Valderrama (Nick Torres), Brian Dietzen (Jimmy Palmer), Diona Reasonover (Kasie Hines), Katrina Law (Jessica Knight), Gary Cole (Alden Parker)<sup>[1](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-studios/shows/ncis)</sup> |
| Early episodes | "Wayward Son" (Oct 6, 2026), "Clean Slate" (Oct 13, 2026), "Sleeping Dogs" (Oct 20, 2026)<sup>[5](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-studios/shows/ncis/episodes)</sup> |
| Streaming | Paramount+ (live for Premium plan, next-day for Essential plan)<sup>[1](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-studios/shows/ncis)</sup> |
| Production companies | CBS Entertainment, Production Office, and Belisarius Productions, among four attached companies<sup>[6](https://www.productionlist.com/production/ncis-season-24)</sup> |

## Renewal and production

CBS renewed NCIS for season 24 in January 2026, in a batch of renewals for the 2026–2027 season that also covered the spin-offs [NCIS: Origins](https://www.edgepedia.org/ncis-origins) and [NCIS: Sydney](https://www.edgepedia.org/ncis-sydney)<sup>[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/news/5644/ncis-ncis-renewed-for-season-24-at-cbs)</sup>. A trade production listing dated March 24, 2026, recorded the season in pre-production with four attached production companies, including CBS Entertainment and Belisarius Productions, and producers including Don Bellisario, Mark Harmon, and Steven D. Binder; the listed shoot locations were Santa Clarita and Los Angeles, California<sup>[6](https://www.productionlist.com/production/ncis-season-24)</sup>. Season 23 had concluded earlier in 2026<sup>[7](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/mark-harmon-admits-shock-struggling-ncis-still-on-the-air)</sup>.

## Cast and characters

The team remains led by Special Agent Alden Parker ([Gary Cole](https://www.edgepedia.org/gary-cole)), a former FBI agent, with senior field agent [Timothy McGee](https://www.edgepedia.org/timothy-mcgee) (Sean Murray), undercover specialist Nick Torres ([Wilmer Valderrama](https://www.edgepedia.org/wilmer-valderrama)), and REACT agent Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) as the core field team, supported by medical examiner Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) and forensic scientist Kasie Hines (Diona Reasonover)<sup>[1](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-studios/shows/ncis)</sup>. The team investigates crimes involving the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, from murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines<sup>[1](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-studios/shows/ncis)</sup>.

**Weatherly's return.** Michael Weatherly rejoins the series as Tony DiNozzo, who first appeared in the two-part JAG pilot before starring on [NCIS](https://www.edgepedia.org/ncis-tv-series) for 13 seasons; he left in 2016 to lead CBS's Bull and later headlined the Paramount+ spin-off [NCIS: Tony & Ziva](https://www.edgepedia.org/ncis-tony-and-ziva), which was canceled after one season<sup>[2](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/ncis-fan-favorite-tony-dinozzo-returns-after-10-years/)</sup>. Season 24 marks his return roughly ten years after his departure<sup>[2](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/ncis-fan-favorite-tony-dinozzo-returns-after-10-years/)</sup>.

**Milestones and departures.** Season 24 is also a milestone season for Sean Murray, whose character McGee reaches his 500th appearance on the show<sup>[3](https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/tv-shows/how-to-watch-ncis-season-24)</sup>. Murray and Dietzen are the two cast members who have been with the series since season 1<sup>[8](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/i-love-brian-dietzen-sweet-take-why-he-owes-ncis-stint-to-david-mccallum)</sup>. The season follows the exit of Director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll), and the premiere names a new permanent director while re-introducing Tony to Washington<sup>[3](https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/tv-shows/how-to-watch-ncis-season-24)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[9](https://www.tvinsider.com/1294851/)</sup>.

## Episodes

The season opens with "Wayward Son" on October 6, 2026. In the premiere, while dealing with the fallout from a shooting involving McGee's son, the team investigates a mysterious new threat to the Secretary of the Navy and receives help from Tony DiNozzo, newly arrived in D.C. to open a satellite office of his private security firm<sup>[10](https://www.cbs.com/shows/ncis/episodes/)</sup>. Episode 2, "Clean Slate" (October 13, 2026), follows a murder after a neighborhood dinner party in which every guest is lying about the break-in at the victim's house, what they were burning in their backyards, and who they really are<sup>[10](https://www.cbs.com/shows/ncis/episodes/)</sup>. Episode 3, "Sleeping Dogs," aired October 20, 2026<sup>[5](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-studios/shows/ncis/episodes)</sup>.

## Context within the series

NCIS premiered on September 23, 2003, as a spin-off of the military legal drama JAG, and season 24 continues the flagship's run alongside three spin-offs airing in the 2026–2027 season<sup>[1](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-studios/shows/ncis)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[7](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/mark-harmon-admits-shock-struggling-ncis-still-on-the-air)</sup>. The show is rated TV-14 and films in HD, with new episodes airing Tuesdays<sup>[1](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-studios/shows/ncis)</sup>.

## References

1. [NCIS – Paramount Press Express, CBS Studios](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-studios/shows/ncis)
2. ['NCIS' Fan Favorite Tony DiNozzo Returns After 10 Years, The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/ncis-fan-favorite-tony-dinozzo-returns-after-10-years/)
3. [How to watch NCIS season 24 online, TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/tv-shows/how-to-watch-ncis-season-24)
4. ["NCIS" Renewed for Season 24 at CBS, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/news/5644/ncis-ncis-renewed-for-season-24-at-cbs)
5. [NCIS – Episodes, Paramount Press Express](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-studios/shows/ncis/episodes)
6. [NCIS (Season 24) – Production List, Film & Television Industry Alliance](https://www.productionlist.com/production/ncis-season-24)
7. [Mark Harmon Is OK Admitting It's A Shock NCIS Is Still On The Air, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/mark-harmon-admits-shock-struggling-ncis-still-on-the-air)
8. [I Love Brian Dietzen's Sweet Take On Why He Owes His NCIS Stint To David McCallum, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/i-love-brian-dietzen-sweet-take-why-he-owes-ncis-stint-to-david-mccallum)
9. ['NCIS' Boss Explains Making Tony Director & What's Next for McGee and Mateo, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/1294851/)
10. [NCIS Season 24 Episode Guide, CBS](https://www.cbs.com/shows/ncis/episodes/)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Seasons, episodes, and installments › Screen seasons › American procedural and franchise drama seasons*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license
