CBS set its fall 2026 premiere dates on Monday, drawing a clear map across September and October for new and returning drama, comedy and unscripted series. The schedule gives viewers a first look at when shows such as NCIS, Survivor, Tracker and several newcomers will land, while also pushing a few expected titles to midseason.
For Kathy Bates, that means Matlock Season 3 is not on the fall clock yet. CBS said the series will bow in midseason, along with Season 6 of Ghosts and Einstein, even as the network locked in detailed dates for much of the rest of its lineup. The timing matters because the network is trying to steer viewers into a crowded launch window while leaving room for some of its best-known shows later in the season.
The rollout starts with 60 Minutes Season 59 on Sunday, September 13, followed by Survivor Season 51 on Wednesday, September 23 and The Amazing Race Season 39 on Wednesday, September 30. From there, CBS moves into October with Marshals and Tracker on Sunday, October 4, FBI, CIA and Harlan Coben’s Final Twist on Monday, October 5, then NCIS Season 24, NCIS: New York and NCIS: Origins on Tuesday, October 6. Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, Eternally Yours, Elsbeth and Cupertino are set for Thursday, October 8, while Sheriff Country, Fire Country and Boston Blue arrive Friday, October 9. 48 Hours follows on Saturday, October 10, and 60 Minutes, Marshals and Tracker return to their regular time periods on Sunday, October 11.
Ghosts stands out in the middle of that schedule. CBS is holding Season 6 for midseason, but it will still get two two-episode specials, one tied to Halloween on October 29 and another tied to the holiday season on December 10. That split schedule suggests the network wants the series to keep a presence in the fall without counting it as part of the main launch slate.
The part CBS has not spelled out is why Matlock, Ghosts and Einstein were reserved for midseason while the rest of the fall calendar was pinned down to the day. What is clear is that CBS has now given viewers, advertisers and the people waiting on Kathy Bates’s next turn a firm timeline for the first wave, while leaving three headline titles to wait for the next chapter. All of the listed programs will stream live and on demand on Paramount+.
