Law & Order : Special Victims Unit ( season 20 ) - wikipedia Law & Order : Special Victims Unit ( season 20 ) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( August 2018 ) This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. Please help improve it by replacing them with more appropriate citations to reliable, independent, third - party sources. ( August 2018 ) Law & Order : Special Victims Unit ( season 20 ) Season 20 promotional poster Starring Mariska Hargitay Kelli Giddish Ice - T Peter Scanavino Philip Winchester Country of origin United States No. of episodes 6 Release Original network NBC Original release September 27, 2018 ( 2018 - 09 - 27 ) -- present ( present ) Season chronology ← Previous Season 19 List of Law & Order : Special Victims Unit episodes The twentieth season of Law & Order : Special Victims Unit premiered on Thursday, September 27, 2018, at 9PM ET with a two - part premiere episode. The following Thursday, the series started airing new episodes at 10PM ET. This landmark season of SVU tied it with both the original Law & Order series and Gunsmoke as longest - running scripted non-animated U.S. primetime TV series. Contents 1 Production 2 Cast 2.1 Main cast 2.2 Recurring cast 2.3 Guest stars 3 Episodes 4 Ratings 5 References Production Law & Order : Special Victims Unit was renewed for a twentieth season on May 9, 2018. Production started on July 16, 2018. On July 12, 2018, Executive Producer Julie Martin posted a photo of a script on Twitter, teasing that the first hour of the two - hour season premiere is tentatively titled `` Man Up ''. Martin teased on August 14, 2018, that the fourth episode of the season ( titled `` Revenge '' ) would be `` a devious twist and turn edge - of - your - seater ''. The episode also featured Callie Thorne as Defense Attorney Nikki Stanies. A deleted scene featuring Benson and Noah from the previous season will be re-shot and placed into an episode this season. This season is also set to feature an introduction of the latest franchise installment Law & Order : Hate Crimes which will occur in the latter part of the season. Cast See also : List of Law & Order : Special Victims Unit characters Main cast Mariska Hargitay as Lieutenant Olivia Benson Kelli Giddish as Detective Amanda Rollins Ice - T as Sergeant Odafin `` Fin '' Tutuola Peter Scanavino as Detective Dominick `` Sonny '' Carisi, Jr. Philip Winchester as ADA Peter Stone Recurring cast Ryan Buggle as Noah Porter - Benson Vivian and Charlotte Cabell as Jesse Rollins George Newbern as Dr. Al Pollack Sandrine Holt as Psychologist Lisa Abernathy Ami Brabson as Judge Karyn Blake Lauren Noble as Carmen Mark Tallman as Deputy Chief Gavin Riley Yvonna Kopacz - Wright as Dr. Darby Wilder Carl Weathers as State 's Attorney Mark Jefferies Callie Thorne as Defense Attorney Nikki Staines Tom Titone as Judge Joshua Goldfarb Jolly Abraham as Dr. Patel Guest stars On July 13, 2018, Deadline announced that Scandal 's George Newbern would be guest starring over the course of the season in a recurring role as Dr. Al Pollack. Pollack is described as a charming, handsome, and wealthy doctor who is set to be a future as well as past love interest to Detective Amanda Rollins ( Kelli Giddish ). Rollins mentions him cheating on her with a prostitute in the previous season. Days later it was reported that Dylan Walsh would play John Conway, an abusive father who rapes his own son, in the season premiere. Walsh previously guest starred in the eighth season of SVU. Mark Tallman portrays Gavin Riley, the new chief of detectives, in a recurring role. Carl Weathers reprised his role as his Chicago Justice character, State 's Attorney Mark Jefferies, in the episode `` Zero Tolerance ''. On August 16, 2018, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Homeland actress Sandrine Holt would be cast in a recurring role this season, as Dr. Lisa Abernathy, a clinical psychologist that consults on cases for the district attorney 's office. Holt previously guest starred in the seventeenth season. On September 27, 2018, Entertainment Weekly reported that Sebastian Roché would guest star as Arlo Beck, the charismatic leader of a female empowerment group, in the episode `` Accredo '', which aired October 18, 2018. Roché previously made two guest appearances on the flagship series, Law & Order. Sasha Alexander is set to guest star as Anne Mill in the November 1st episode `` Caretaker. '' Episodes See also : List of Law & Order : Special Victims Unit episodes No. overall No. in season Title Directed by Written by Original air date Prod. code U.S. viewers ( millions ) 435 `` Man Up '' Alex Chapple Michael Chernuchin & Julie Martin September 27, 2018 ( 2018 - 09 - 27 ) 5.09 The Special Victims Unit are called in after a fifteen year old boy is sexually assaulted. Despite having evidence, he is too scared to name his attacker and therefore refuses to name who attacked him, making things complicated for the detectives. When it is discovered, the detectives do their best to protect the teenager from being abused again. Meanwhile, Rollins talks things out with her ex boyfriend who cheated on her with an escort and also confides in Benson that she is pregnant for a second time, who worries that she is not as strong or fast as she used to be. 436 `` Man Down '' Alex Chapple Michael Chernuchin & Julie Martin September 27, 2018 ( 2018 - 09 - 27 ) 5.09 The case involving a teenager who was sexually assaulted continues and Stone takes the rapist to court. However, an unexpected verdict comes back in, shocking everyone involved. The victim ends up making a tragic decision which results in several people dead and injured and the Special Victims Unit must charge the victim. An upset Stone along with the rest of the squad decide to try their best to charge the boy 's rapist as well in order to get justice for all the victims who were killed or injured in the attack. Meanwhile, Rollins starts having doubts about her pregnancy. 437 `` Zero Tolerance '' Michael Pressman Richard Sweren & Céline C. Robinson October 4, 2018 ( 2018 - 10 - 04 ) 2002 4.21 A nine year old girl is taken from her mother at the US Mexico border and ends up in a child sex trafficking ring in New York, which quickly comes to the attention of the Special Victims Unit. Benson and Stone try and fight their hardest to try and reunite the girl with her family with the court system but meet many obstacles. Eventually, Stone decides to ask for help from an old friend. Meanwhile, Rollins decides to give her rocky relationship with Pollack another chance. 438 `` Revenge '' Martha Mitchell Michael Chernuchin & Lawrence Kaplow October 11, 2018 ( 2018 - 10 - 11 ) 2003 4.44 The Special Victims Unit are called in after a seemingly random young couple is brutally assaulted by a masked pizza delivery man in their apartment. The detectives soon realise they are dealing with a serial rapist when another couple is assaulted. Eventually, the detectives discover a complicated and twisted revenge plot from one of the victims and the rapists past and dig into the victims past to reveal what could of caused someone to attack her and several others. 439 5 `` Accredo '' Jean de Segonzac Julie Martin & Brianna Yellen October 18, 2018 ( 2018 - 10 - 18 ) 2005 3.95 The Special Victims Unit are called in after a woman who is part of a women empowerment group is found brutally sexually assaulted and murdered. The prime suspect quickly becomes her ex husband due to her violent past with him, but eventually the detectives are led to the empowerment groups charismatic male leader, who may not be as charming as he seems to be. Meanwhile, Rollins tries to keep her pregnancy under wraps to avoid desk duty and Tutuola and Carisi start wondering who the baby 's father is. Episode inspired by the NXIVM case. 440 6 `` Exile '' Stephanie Marquardt Michael Chernuchin & Allison Intrieri October 25, 2018 ( 2018 - 10 - 25 ) 2006 4.22 The Special Victims Unit are called in to investigate the sexual assault of a young homeless woman. The squad soon realise that the woman has a dual personality which makes things complicated. However, when she goes missing, the squad becomes challenged to not only uncover her whereabouts but also her real identity. The detectives later discover that someone from her past may be responsible and that the assault may have happened a long time ago. However, the squad meet a dead end in their investigation and Benson makes a generous decision to help the victim recover from her ordeal. 441 7 `` Caretaker '' TBA TBA November 1, 2018 ( 2018 - 11 - 01 ) 2007 TBD 442 8 `` Hell 's Kitchen '' TBA TBA November 8, 2018 ( 2018 - 11 - 08 ) 2008 TBD 443 9 `` Mea Culpa '' TBA TBA November 15, 2018 ( 2018 - 11 - 15 ) 2009 TBD Ratings No. Title Air date Rating / share ( 18 -- 49 ) Viewers ( millions ) DVR ( 18 -- 49 ) DVR viewers ( millions ) Total ( 18 -- 49 ) Total viewers ( millions ) `` Man Up '' September 27, 2018 1.1 / 4 5.09 1.1 3.33 2.1 8.42 `` Man Down '' September 27, 2018 1.1 / 4 5.09 1.1 3.33 2.1 8.42 `` Zero Tolerance '' October 4, 2018 1.0 / 4 4.21 1.0 3.14 2.0 7.36 `` Revenge '' October 11, 2018 0.9 / 4 4.44 1.0 3.13 1.9 7.58 5 `` Accredo '' October 18, 2018 1.0 / 5 3.95 TBD TBD TBD TBD 6 `` Exile '' October 25, 2018 0.9 / 4 4.22 TBD TBD TBD TBD 7 `` Caretaker '' November 1, 2018 TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 8 `` Hell 's Kitchen '' November 8, 2018 TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 9 `` Mea Culpa '' November 15, 2018 TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD References Jump up ^ Roots, Kimberly ( May 9, 2018 ). `` SVU Renewed for Season 20 at NBC ''. TVLine. Retrieved July 23, 2018. Jump up ^ `` ICE T ( @ FINALLEVEL ) : `` Back on the set... ! '' ``. Twitter / ICE T. July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Julie Martin ( @ JulieMartinSVU ) : `` # SVU20 # SoItBegins '' ``. Twitter / Julie Martin. July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Julie Martin ( @ JulieMartinSVU ) : `` The return of Nikki Staines... '' ``. Twitter / Julie Martin. August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Julie Martin ( @ JulieMartinSVU ) : `` This scene will be in an upcoming episode... '' ``. Twitter / Julie Martin. August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2018. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( September 4, 2018 ). `` NBC Orders ' Law & Order : Hate Crimes ' Series From Dick Wolf & Warren Leight ''. Deadline. Retrieved September 5, 2018. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( July 13, 2018 ). `` ' Scandal 's George Newbern Joins ' Law & Order : SVU ' As Recurring ''. Deadline. Retrieved June 23, 2018. Jump up ^ Nemetz, Dave ( July 17, 2018 ). `` Law & Order : SVU Taps Dylan Walsh for Season 20 Recurring Role ''. TV Line. Retrieved June 23, 2018. Jump up ^ Petski, Denise ( August 8, 2018 ). `` ' Law & Order : SVU ' : Mark Tallman To Recur On NBC Drama Series ''. Deadline. Retrieved August 9, 2018. Jump up ^ Carter, Matthew ( August 10, 2018 ). `` Law & Order : SVU season 20 : Carl Weathers to reprise Chicago Justice character ''. Matt Carter Media. Retrieved August 17, 2018. Jump up ^ Porter, Rick ( August 16, 2018 ). `` ' Law & Order : SVU ' Puts Sandrine Holt on the Case ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 17, 2018. Jump up ^ Derschowitz, Jessica ( September 27, 2018 ). `` The Originals star Sebastian Roché to appear on Law & Order : SVU ''. Entertainemnt Weekly. Retrieved October 2, 2018. Jump up ^ Carter, Matt ( October 13, 2018 ). `` Law & Order : SVU season 20 episode 7 : Sasha Alexander to appear ''. Matt Carter Media. Retrieved October 21, 2018. ^ Jump up to : Welch, Alex ( September 28, 2018 ). `` ' Grey 's Anatomy, ' ' Big Bang Theory, ' and ' Thursday Night Football ' adjust up : Thursday final ratings ''. TV by the Numbers. Retrieved September 28, 2018. ^ Jump up to : Welch, Alex ( October 5, 2018 ). `` ' Thursday Night Football ' adjusts up : Thursday final ratings ''. TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 5, 2018. ^ Jump up to : Welch, Alex ( October 12, 2018 ). `` ' Big Bang Theory ' and ' Thursday Night Football ' adjust up, ' I Feel Bad ' adjusts down : Thursday final ratings ''. TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 12, 2018. ^ Jump up to : Welch, Alex ( October 19, 2018 ). `` ' Big Bang Theory, ' ' Superstore, ' and ' Thursday Night Football ' adjust up : Thursday final ratings ''. TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 19, 2018. ^ Jump up to : Welch, Alex ( October 26, 2018 ). `` ' Big Bang Theory, ' ' Supernatural, ' and ' Thursday Night Football ' adjust up, ' Will & Grace ' adjusts down : Thursday final ratings ''. TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 26, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Caretaker ''. The Futon Critic. Retrieved October 16, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Hell 's Kitchen ''. The Futon Critic. Retrieved October 16, 2018. Jump up ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/BpUSsQuhegZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link. Missing or empty title = ( help ) ^ Jump up to : Pucci, Douglas ( October 10, 2018 ). `` Live + 7 Weekly Ratings : ' Manifest ' is Most - Watched NBC Drama Series Premiere in 19 Years ''. Programming Insider. Retrieved October 10, 2018. Jump up ^ https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/dvr-ratings/broadcast-live-7-ratings-oct-1-7-2018/. Missing or empty title = ( help ) Jump up ^ https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/live-plus-7-ratings-oct-8-manifest-1202990062/. Missing or empty title = ( help ) Law & Order : Special Victims Unit Characters Detectives Elliot Stabler Olivia Benson John Munch Monique Jeffries Fin Tutuola Chester Lake Nick Amaro Amanda Rollins Dominick Carisi Jr. Commanding officers Donald Cragen Olivia Benson Assistant District Attorneys Alexandra Cabot Casey Novak Kim Greylek Rafael Barba Peter Stone Doctors George Huang Melinda Warner Other characters Barry Moredock Brian Cassidy Elizabeth Donnelly Michael Cutter Sonya Paxton Jack McCoy Seasons Episodes Season 1 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Notable episodes `` Payback '' `` 911 '' `` Authority '' `` Cold '' `` Zebras '' `` Behave '' `` Smoked '' `` Scorched Earth '' `` Justice Denied '' `` Father Dearest '' `` Rhodium Nights '' `` Lost Reputation '' `` Above Suspicion '' `` Acceptable Loss '' `` Manhattan Vigil '' `` Comic Perversion '' `` Glasgowman 's Wrath '' `` Chicago Crossover '' See also Cast members Awards and nominations Law & Order franchise Chicago franchise Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Law_%26_Order:_Special_Victims_Unit_(season_20)&oldid=866239929 '' Categories : Law & Order : Special Victims Unit seasons 2018 American television seasons Hidden categories : Pages with citations lacking titles Pages with citations having bare URLs Articles needing additional references from August 2018 All articles needing additional references Articles lacking reliable references from August 2018 All articles lacking reliable references Talk Contents About Wikipedia Italiano Nederlands Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 29 October 2018, at 04 : 16 ( UTC ). 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Question: when does law and order svu start new season
Answer: September 27, 2018 (2018-09-27)