ABC fall 2026 premiere dates set for Grey’s, Scrubs and DWTS
ABC’s fall rollout starts with football before DWTS, Scrubs, Shark Tank, 9-1-1 and Grey’s Anatomy return in September and October.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
2 min read
The ABC fall 2026 premiere dates are now set, putting the network’s September and October return plan in place for Dancing with the Stars, Scrubs, Abbott Elementary, Shark Tank, Grey’s Anatomy and both 9-1-1 series.
Deadline reported that ABC was the last of the Big 4 broadcast networks to announce its fall 2026 schedule, after CBS released its own lineup earlier Monday. ABC’s rollout begins before the entertainment slate, with college football on August 29 and NFL Monday Night Football on September 14.
The network’s scripted returns are spread across several weeks. R.J. Decker opens its second season on September 15, Scrubs returns for Season 2 on September 30, Abbott Elementary starts Season 6 on October 7, and Thursday drama night arrives October 15 with 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Nashville and Grey’s Anatomy.
What are the ABC fall 2026 premiere dates?
ABC said all listed times are ET/PT. The schedule released by the network is:
- Saturday, August 29, 7:30 p.m.: College Football: Alabama A&M vs. Howard
- Monday, September 14, 8 p.m.: Monday Night Football: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
- Tuesday, September 15, 8 p.m.: Dancing with the Stars Season 35 premiere
- Tuesday, September 15, 10 p.m.: R.J. Decker Season 2 premiere
- Wednesday, September 16, 8 p.m.: Dancing with the Stars, special night
- Friday, September 25, 9 p.m.: 20/20 Season 49 premiere
- Sunday, September 27, 7 p.m.: America’s Funniest Home Videos Season 37 premiere
- Sunday, September 27, 9 p.m.: The Wonderful World of Disney, featuring Inside Out 2
- Wednesday, September 30, 8 p.m.: Scrubs Season 2 premiere
- Wednesday, September 30, 9 p.m.: Shark Tank Season 18 premiere
- Friday, October 2, 8 p.m.: Celebrity Wheel of Fortune Season 7 premiere
- Wednesday, October 7, 8:30 p.m.: Abbott Elementary Season 6 premiere
- Wednesday, October 7, 10 p.m.: Shark Tank time slot premiere
- Thursday, October 15, 8 p.m.: 9-1-1 Season 10 premiere
- Thursday, October 15, 9 p.m.: 9-1-1: Nashville Season 2 premiere
- Thursday, October 15, 10 p.m.: Grey’s Anatomy Season 23 premiere
Which ABC shows are waiting for midseason?
ABC previously said at its May upfront that several series would be held for midseason: The Bachelor, High Potential, The Rookie, spinoff The Rookie: North, Shifting Gears and Will Trent.
The network also said Monday that the untitled Texas-set Grey’s Anatomy spinoff will launch in midseason. Deadline reported that the new season of Celebrity Jeopardy!, which had been planned for fall, is also shifting to midseason.
Midseason means those programs are being kept out of the early fall premiere window, with their returns or debuts planned for later in the TV season.
This story draws on original reporting from Deadline.