NBC drops major renewal update for all three ‘Chicago’ shows and we are really not surprised
NBC just doubled down, with a full-on vote of confidence, on its long-running ‘Chicago’ franchise. Yes, all three shows are coming back, as confirmed by the social media announcement. The network has officially ordered fresh seasons of ‘Chicago Fire’, ‘Chicago P.D.’, and ‘Chicago Med’ for the 2026-27 broadcast cycle. Let’s break it down. ‘Chicago Fire’ has been renewed for Season 15, which is kind of wild when you think about it, as most shows barely make it past five without losing steam or cast or both. Yet, here we are, still watching the crew at Firehouse 51 charge into burning buildings and saving people. Meanwhile, ‘Chicago P.D.’ is gearing up for Season 14, continuing its focus on the Intelligence Unit and the messy, often morally gray situations they deal with on the streets.
And then there’s ‘Chicago Med’, lining up Season 12, still putting its doctors and nurses through high-stakes medical cases that rarely give them a moment to breathe. The franchise, often referred to as ‘One Chicago,’ continues to anchor NBC’s Wednesday nights. And NBC is clearly aware of what it has. That’s because the network did not just renew the shows and move on. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, the studio called the ‘Chicago’ lineup “the most dominant scripted franchise across all of television.” It is a bold claim, sure, but not entirely out of left field when you look at the numbers tied to their recent crossover event.
Earlier this month, on March 4, the franchise pulled off another major three-show crossover, and viewers turned out in large numbers, pushing each show to its highest total audience figures of the current season. It’s the kind of result that makes renewal decisions feel less like a gamble and more like a formality. Behind the scenes, the machine is still very much in motion, with different creative leads steering each series while keeping them connected enough to feel like parts of a larger world rather than isolated stories. Andrea Newman continues to oversee ‘Chicago Fire’, Allen MacDonald is at the helm of ‘Chicago Med’, and Gwen Sigan guides ‘Chicago P.D.’
And then, of course, there’s the larger force tying it all together: Dick Wolf, the creator and executive producer of the ‘Chicago’ franchise. The trio remains under the umbrella of Universal Television, working alongside Wolf Entertainment, which explains the consistency. What’s interesting, though, is how little the formula seems to age. Firefighters risking everything, cops chasing leads that do not always end cleanly, doctors making split-second decisions that can change lives. These are familiar setups, but the audience connection has not worn thin. So while newer shows come and go, sometimes barely making a dent before disappearing, this ‘Chicago’ universe just keeps rolling forward.
