The first responders of the 9-1-1 universe are about to take a well-deserved breather. ABC has confirmed that both 9-1-1 and its hit spin-off 9-1-1: Nashville will be going on a winter hiatus in the coming weeks, with new episodes returning on Thursday, January 7, 2027, in their usual time slots.
Since making the leap to ABC nearly three years ago, 9-1-1 has become a cornerstone of the network's lineup. The procedural drama, created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Tim Minear, has consistently delivered strong ratings and a devoted fanbase. Its success paved the way for the Nashville-set spin-off, which premiered last season and quickly found its own audience. Together, the two shows anchor Thursday nights from 8 to 10 p.m., and they're still going strong.
According to Nielsen data, the Season 10 premiere of 9-1-1 drew an impressive 8.14 million total viewers across ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+, and digital platforms after seven days of viewing. That's a bump from the previous season's average of 7.82 million. Meanwhile, 9-1-1: Nashville pulled in 6.76 million viewers for its Season 2 opener, outperforming its Season 1 finale and nearly doubling its initial live-plus-same-day audience.
The tenth season of 9-1-1 kicked off with a blockbuster three-episode arc featuring a volcanic eruption in the middle of Los Angeles, forcing the 118 and other first responders into action. After that explosive start, the show has settled back into its signature mix of high-stakes rescues and personal drama, with new episodes airing weekly on Thursdays.
Now, as the holidays approach, both shows are taking a brief pause—a common move for fall TV schedules, especially when a season has a longer episode order. The good news? ABC has already locked in the return date, and fans won't have to wait long. 9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Nashville will both be back on Thursday, January 7, 2027, in their regular time slots.
While the hiatus is short, there's still plenty to look forward to in the next episode before the break. The upcoming installment, titled "Who's Your Daddy?" (Season 10, Episode 5), finds Athena Grant—now officially Detective Athena Grant, played by the always-compelling Angela Bassett—investigating a suspicious death after a jogger stumbles upon a body. The case gets complicated when she crosses paths with a guest character played by Arrow's David Ramsey, who has his own ideas about what happened.
Meanwhile, the 118 responds to a gruesome emergency when a woodchipper accidentally activates and drags a father into it. The injuries are severe, and Chimney (Kenneth Choi) isn't optimistic about the victim's chances. It's the kind of intense, edge-of-your-seat scenario that has made the show a fan favorite.
For those looking to fill the void during the hiatus, ABC has also announced return dates for other anticipated shows, including Will Trent's fifth season and the January return of Tim Allen's Shifting Gears. And if you're in the mood for a different kind of action, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is heading back to theaters this December.
So mark your calendars: 9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Nashville will be back on January 7, 2027, on ABC. Until then, catch up on any episodes you might have missed and get ready for more high-octane drama in the new year.
