When does Law & Order: Special Victims Unit return?

The first spin-off of Law & Order, it stars Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson, now the commanding officer of the Special Victims Unit. The series, produced by Dick Wolf, premiered on September 20, 1999, and has aired 551 episodes. It is the longest-running primetime live-action series on American television. The 25th season premiered on January 18, 2024, and NBC renewed the series for its 26th season.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit delves into the dark side of the New York underworld. The series often uses stories that are "ripped from the headlines" or based on real crimes. Its stories touch on the political and societal issues associated with gender identity, sexual preferences, and equality rights.