"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." — ABC's fall 2026 schedule sees minimal changes, with the biggest shake-up being the shift of its top-rated drama, High Potential, to midseason to avoid interruptions.
Schedule Structure
ABC has announced its primetime schedule for fall 2026, retaining most of its current lineup with few alterations. The most notable change involves shifting High Potential, the network's top-rated drama, to a midseason premiere. Network executives cited a strategy of airing the series without interruption as the reason for the move.
The fall 2026 schedule is as follows:
- Monday: 8 p.m. – Monday Night Football (ESPN)
- Tuesday: 8 p.m. – Dancing with the Stars; 10 p.m. – R.J. Decker
- Wednesday: 8 p.m. – Scrubs; 8:30 p.m. – Abbott Elementary; 9 p.m. – Celebrity Jeopardy!; 10 p.m. – Shark Tank
- Thursday: 8 p.m. – 9-1-1; 9 p.m. – 9-1-1: Nashville; 10 p.m. – Grey’s Anatomy
- Friday: 8 p.m. – Celebrity Wheel of Fortune; 9 p.m. – 20/20 (two hours)
- Saturday: 7:30 p.m. – College Football
- Sunday: 7 p.m. – America’s Funniest Home Videos; 8 p.m. – The Wonderful World of Disney (premiering with Inside Out 2)
Key Programming Changes
High Potential
- The series, starring Kaitlin Olson, will not air during the fall season and is scheduled for a midseason return.
- A network executive stated the decision was made to air the season without interruptions, reflecting a strategy previously applied to other series.
R.J. Decker
- This drama will occupy the Tuesday 10 p.m. time slot, following Dancing with the Stars.
- The series was renewed after its previous season, with executives noting its linear viewership remained above 3 million and its streaming performance peaked after the finale.
Scrubs Revival
- The revival is scheduled to air at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, leading into Abbott Elementary.
- A network executive reported that its premiere was the highest-rated comedy telecast on any network for the season.
The Bachelor Franchise
- No Bachelor branded series is listed on the fall schedule for the first time since the 2019-2020 season.
- The Bachelor is planned for midseason 2027, and Bachelor in Paradise is scheduled for summer 2027.
- Regarding The Bachelorette, an executive said no scheduling announcement has been made, and the network is taking a "day by day" approach due to the legal situation involving host Taylor Frankie Paul.
Midseason and New Series
Scripted series slated for midseason include High Potential, The Rookie, Will Trent, and Shifting Gears.
The Rookie: North
- A new spinoff of The Rookie is scheduled for a midseason debut.
- The series is set in Pierce County and follows rookie Alex Holland, played by Jay Ellis.
- Executive producers include Alexi Hawley, Nathan Fillion, Mark Gordon, Bill Norcross, and Michelle Chapman.
Executive Statements
- Ari Goldman, ABC’s Senior Vice President of Content Strategy and Scheduling, stated that the network renewed every scripted series for the first time in its history. He described the minimal schedule changes as following an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach.
- Goldman noted that R.J. Decker benefits from its lead-in with Dancing with the Stars and that the network plans heavy summer repeats to promote the series.
- Craig Erwich, Disney Television Group President, cited the network’s ratings strength and highlighted upcoming 2027 events, including the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff, the Grammy Awards, and the Academy Awards.
- ABC has not announced which entertainment series will serve as the lead-out program for the 2027 Super Bowl broadcast.