Why ‘Chicago Fire’, ‘Chicago PD’ are delayed tonight and their new air times explained
Chihards will be treated to brand new episodes of 'Chicago Fire,' 'Chicago Med,' and 'Chicago P.D.' on NBC after a one-week hiatus. The last episodes of 'One Chicago' aired on March 18 and were followed by a break on March 25. But the trio of procedural shows has returned to the small screen, albeit with a small schedule change. This Wednesday's 'One Chicago' lineup has been changed slightly to accommodate an important announcement from President Donald Trump, which Deadline reported was notified to the broadcast networks just 24 hours prior on March 31.
'Chicago Med' will air at its usual slot from 8 to 9 p.m. ET on NBC. At 9 p.m., instead of airing a brand-new episode of 'Chicago Fire,' the network will air an NBC News Special Report featuring President Trump's live address to the nation regarding the war in Iran, which is in its second month. The speech is reported to last around 25-30 minutes, but it is unclear whether he will extend the time. After the address is over, the primetime schedule will resume with brand-new episodes of 'Chicago Fire' at roughly 9:20 p.m., followed by 'Chicago P.D.' at around 10:20 p.m. This delayed scheduling will also affect late-night shows, such as 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' and 'Late Night with Seth Meyers.' The latter is airing reruns this week as the show is currently on hiatus.
Fans can also stream all three episodes from ‘One Chicago’ the next day on Peacock. Additionally, the schedule shakeup will only affect ‘One Chicago’ viewers on the East Coast, as fans on the West Coast will follow the regular schedule without any delays. President Trump’s address will air on the East Coast at 6 p.m. PT; hence, it will not affect the schedule of ‘One Chicago’ shows. The address has also impacted other major networks, such as ABC, CBS, and Fox. The synopsis for 'Chicago Med' Season 11 Episode 16, titled 'The Book of Charles,' states that "Dr. Charles grapples with his own mental health following a harrowing experience working the suicide prevention line."
Similarly, in 'Chicago Fire' Season 14 Episode 16, titled 'Firehouse 66,' it states, "Severide is forced to overcome obstacles at the firehouse; Cruz finds himself at a loss amid the new changes in his family." Furthermore, "Torres tries to stop the cycle of violence after a teenager is killed in an act of revenge," as per the official description of 'Chicago P.D.' Season 13 Episode 16, titled 'Restored.' The latest episodes in 'One Chicago' serve as the penultimate episodes as the season finale is set to air next Wednesday, April 8. Moreover, NBC has renewed 'Chicago Fire' for Season 15, 'Chicago P.D.' for Season 14, and 'Chicago Med for Season 12 for the 2026-2027 season. These shows will return in Fall 2026.
