# Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 26

The twenty-sixth season of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, an American police crime drama television series created by Dick Wolf, was ordered on March 21, 2024, by NBC alongside the twenty-fourth season of Law & Order, and is produced by Wolf Entertainment. It premiered on October 3, 2024.

## Cast and characters
### Main

* Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson
* Ice-T as Sergeant Odafin "Fin" Tutuola
* Peter Scanavino as Assistant District Attorney Dominick "Sonny" Carisi, Jr.
* Octavio Pisano as Junior Detective Joe Velasco
* Kevin Kane as Detective Terry Bruno
* Juliana Aidén Martinez as Junior Detective Kate Silva

### Special guest stars after their departure

* Kelli Giddish as Sergeant Amanda Rollins (episodes 3, 8 & 9)

### Crossover stars from Law & Order

* Zak Orth as Defense Attorney Harry Kagan
* Tony Goldwyn as District Attorney Nicholas Baxter

### Crossover stars from Law & Order: Organized Crime

* Christopher Meloni as Detective 1st Grade Elliot Stabler

### Recurring

* Elizabeth Alderfer as Kelsey Sommers
* Erin Anderson as Defense Attorney April Andrews
* Paul Bomba as Officer Bobby Nardone
* Stephen C. Bradbury as Judge Colin McNamara
* Ryan Buggle as Noah Porter-Benson
* Charlotte Cabell as Jesse Rollins
* Brian Cade as Defense Attorney Harris Malone
* Josh Cooke as Agent Harrison Clay
* Christine Toy Johnson as Dr. Celia Lee
* Aimé Donna Kelly as Captain Renee Curry
* Edie Salas Miller as Officer Tiffany Gómez

### Guests stars

* Zach Appelman as Michael Strickland
* David Alan Basche as Frank Bailey
* Johanna Braddy as Maggie Andrews
* Miguel Cervantes as Timothy Cottle
* Gina Costigan as Virginia Becker
* Brett Cullen as Judge Leonard Andrews
* Kelly Frye as Sharon Hayward
* Troy Garity as Josh Blake
* Amy Landecker as Katharine Vernon
* Graham Patrick Martin as Chris Becker
* Michael Mastro as Arraignment Judge D. Serani
* Allison McAtee as Paula Blake
* Michael McGrady as Jim Hogan
* Silas Weir Mitchell as Boyd Lynch
* Roman Mitichyan as Zef Sokoli
* Mark Moses as Defense Attorney Jan Green
* Leland Orser as Harris Vernon
* Erin Quill as Dr. Adrienne Wright
* Michael Shapiro as Dr. Isaac Haimes
* John Clarence Stewart as Detective Vince Corgan
* Pawel Szajda as Alex Neziri
* Jessica Tuck as Lillian Andrews
* Jama Williamson as Laura Hughes

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
| 552 | 1 | "Fractured" | Norberto Barba | David Graziano & Julie Martin | October 3, 2024 (2024-10-3) | 2601 | 3.81 |
| The squad is called to an off-campus dorm and the scene of a brutal attack on a trio of law students: Shelli Henson, beaten to death with a hammer; Damon Reynolds, in a coma with head trauma; Elodie Whitfield, raped and traumatized. A hidden camera recorded their threesome, but not the attack. The immediate suspect is their roommate Teddy Hall, but they also locate Sam Ellis who installed the camera. More evidence, a private video testimonial, is found at Rise and Radiate, a women's empowerment group. Carisi's tries catching the defendant in a lie to ensure a conviction. ||||||||
| 553 | 2 | "Excavation" | Juan J. Campanella | Teleplay by : Kathy Dobie Story by : David Graziano & Julie Martin | October 10, 2024 (2024-10-10) | 2602 | 3.77 |
| While helping her family to clean out her childhood home, Maggie Andrews finds an old notebook that triggers devastating repressed memories from when she was only eight years old, about her step-father, retired federal Judge Leonard Andrews. The squad investigates, but the judge claims he was only trying his hand at writing a fiction novel. Maggie's mother, Dr. Lillian Andrews, supports his side of the story and everyone knows Maggie is an alcoholic, unstable in her work and social life. Given the decades-old crime, bringing charges is even more difficult for Carisi when the judge layers up. ||||||||
| 554 | 3 | "Divide and Conquer" | Martha Mitchell | David Graziano & Julie Martin | October 17, 2024 (2024-10-17) | 2604 | 3.19 |
| Sergeant Rollins gives a briefing for the Intelligence Division with her new partner, Det. Vince Corgan, on a four-man "crime tourist" robbery crew from Albanian. Meanwhile, that same team is hitting the home of wealthy gym chain owner, James Fletcher. They shoot him, rape his wife Nora while he and two friends watch helplessly, and the crew make off with 10 million in gold. Rollins' Intelligence squad, and Benson's SVU squad "divide and conquer" to bring down the crew and find who hired them. A suspect is found, and Benson tries to help Nora deal with the trauma. ||||||||
| 555 | 4 | "Constricted" | Michael Smith | Teleplay by : Candice Sanchez McFarlane Story by : David Graziano & Julie Martin | October 24, 2024 (2024-10-24) | 2603 | 3.44 |
| Sixteen year-old first-timers, Hannah Brolin and Ryan Blake have a romantic date ending at her home with the blessing of her mom Allison (Rosie Benton), but Hannah winds up in the hospital with choke marks and a concussion. The SVU investigate how it turned so ugly so fast, and who is ultimately responsible. When two thirteen year-old boys attempt a choking rape of twelve year-old Eliza Quinn, she is hit by cab trying to escape. One of the boys is Ryan's cousin, who claims Ryan show them choke-porn provided by Ryan's father, Josh. Now armed with causation, Carisi pursues charges. Carisi asks Benson for advice concerning his own two growing daughters. ||||||||
| 556 | 5 | "Economics of Shame" | Jean de Segonzac | Teleplay by : Brendan Feeney Story by : David Graziano & Julie Martin | October 31, 2024 (2024-10-31) | 2605 | 3.52 |
| TV reporter Kelsey Sommers goes on her first date in a year after her engagement imploded, but she falls victim to a sextortion ring and fears it will end her career. Benson helps talk her down from a ledge, and urges her take back control. The SVU uncovers more victims of the ring, and Velasco goes undercover, posing as a rich venture capitalist from Mexico City in order to work their way up to the ring leaders. Benson has an idea to help Kelsey reclaim control. ||||||||
| 557 | 6 | "Rorschach" | Oscar René Lozoya II | Teleplay by : Nicholas Evangelista Story by : David Graziano & Julie Martin | November 7, 2024 (2024-11-7) | 2606 | 3.13 |
| FBI Agent Harrison "Clark Kent" Clay visits the SVU for help on a case that involves a couple of Los Angeles travel influencers and an apparent rape at a remote campground in Rockland County off the Appalachian Trail that straddles fourteen states. Ellie Hughes was found half naked and bludgeon with a rock, and Chris Becker was stabbed near his heart. Because of Silva's past experience in the Homicide Division, Benson sends her out to the scene, accompanied by Velasco who challenges her instincts. The squad begin to question the difference between the couple's online and off-line personas after Silva does an NCIC search that reveals they were pulled over in Georgia. Fin and Velasco talk to State Trooper Jonah Nelson who reveals their body cam footage of the stop. Silva and Bruno comb their online footage to unravel what actually happened. Chris' mom Virginia Becker does everything she can to block the investigation and protect her son. Bruno asks Silva what prompted her to move from Homicide to the SVU. ||||||||
| 558 | 7 | "Tenfold" | Jonathan Herron | Teleplay by : Gabriel Vallejo Story by : David Graziano & Julie Martin | November 14, 2024 (2024-11-14) | 2607 | 3.32 |
| Wallen Sipes (from Season 24's "Blood Out") uses the card given to her by Det. Bruno to call the SVU after being attacked and raped. Fin and Bruno respond to track down a serial rapist. Carisi tries to stop a pedophile from a sex crime before it is committed by enlisting Benson's help to investigate a substitute elementary school teacher, Timothy Cottle (after the events in "Constricted"). ||||||||
| 559 | 8 | "Cornered" | Juan J. Campanella | David Graziano & Julie Martin | November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21) | 2608 | 4.23 |
| Carisi, two college graduates Tess Milburn and Elizabeth Alden, and store clerk Ali Imran are all cornered in a bodega by the recently released convict Boyd Lynch and his parolee accomplice, Deonte Mosley. Benson, wondering why Carisi is running late, checks the bodega and a hostage situation ensues. Carisi tries to protect the hostages, but Boyd is beyond reason, so Carisi tries to persuade Mosley. Rollins arrives on the scene, and Benson tries a risky plan. ||||||||
| 560 | 9 | "First Light" | Norberto Barba | David Graziano & Julie Martin | January 16, 2025 (2025-1-16) | 2609 | 4.55 |
| English professor Harris Vernon and his wife Katharine start the day in good spirits until they find the word "WHORE" spray-painted on their garage door. When Katharine receives a video of her having sex with a stranger, of which she has no recollection, they contact the SVU to report a rape. Lies and betrayal are uncovered from an online forum for married couples who've stopped having sex called Roommate Syndrome. Carisi asks Rollins to have her authorship attribution specialist analyze the handwriting characteristics (grammar, syntax, punctuation) to determine who invited a stranger into Katharine's bed. Carisi struggles with PTSD from the bodega incident, and Benson helps him wake up and get back to the job at hand. ||||||||
| 561 | 10 | "Master Key" | Norberto Barba | Teleplay by : Nicholas Evangelista Story by : David Graziano & Julie Martin | January 23, 2025 (2025-1-23) | 2610 | 4.76 |
| When sixteen year-old Anthony Reed goes missing from the West Harlem Boys' Home, the squad tries to deduce if he ran away or was abducted. An Amber Alert is issued, and the trail leads to a hotel where a locksmith named Colin Clark is found shot to death. Anthony is found holding the gun and the SVU try to get to the truth despite Anthony's string of lies. They talk to the group home director Aurora Miller and Anthony's CPS case worker Michael Strickland, while TARU digs through phone and internet records. The truth about the failure of the system is soon revealed. ||||||||
| 562 | 11 | "Deductible" | Oscar René Lozoya II | Kathy Dobie | January 30, 2025 (2025-1-30) | 2611 | 3.94 |
| When his sister Kyra doesn't come home from work, nine year-old Jay Thompson contacts the 11th precinct which refers him to the SVU. Kyra is found at Mercy hospital after a sexual assault by Jim Hogan, CEO of commuter helicopter business Helivate, seemingly arranged as a "closing gift" by Frank Bailey of AmeriWatch liability. A systematic pattern of blackmail and coercion emerges. Carisi asks Benson and Tutuola to find any past victims, and a witness comes forward. When it looks as if Bailey's charges might be dismissed, Benson asks AmeriWatch COO Grace Callahan to do the right thing. ||||||||
| 563 | 12 | "Calculated" | Batán Silva | Teleplay by : Greg Contaldi Story by : David Graziano & Julie Martin | February 13, 2025 (2025-2-13) | 2612 | 3.99 |
| Headmaster Hobbs busts a Harrington Prep sixteen year-old student Eli Sanders for a girl's nude photo sent via a phone app Ghost Letter. Benson and Silva interview Eli and sends his phones to TARU. Silva and Bruno interview Sharon Hayward and her daughter Leah who says she never sent it to Eli, but instead to her fellow Ellsworth Academy student Oliver Banks. What began as a de minimis case, explodes into a major sting operation. TARU finds sixty Ghost Letter accounts, uncovering a distribution network involving hundreds of underage students. The SVU find a common denominator in college admissions advisor Adam Parker, who tries to make a plea deal but Carisi and Benson don't agree. Carisi wants to arrest fifty pedophiles to whom Parker sold the photos, but Benson wants to involve the FBI, and possibly even Interpol. Parker breaks, giving up the Wish Crafter app, and the SVU go to work arresting pedophiles. Silva, however, pleads for mercy for intellectually challenged Matthew Daly, whom she believes is innocent. Benson and Carisi go to Baxter with the request. ||||||||
| 564 | 13 | "Extinguished" | Heather Quick | Teleplay by : Gabriel Vallejo Story by : David Graziano & Julie Martin | February 20, 2025 (2025-2-20) | 2613 | 3.84 |
| Two high school teens are assaulted at knife-point and the girl is raped in Highbridge Park in Washington Heights, close to Velasco's building. Velasco and Bruno investigate, while Silva and Fin talk with the victims. Velasco's neighbor Danny Rocha, an overzealous security guard and aspiring cop, is jailed for assaulting a suspect with a baton. Velasco's community goes up-in-arms in protest with "Free Rocha" slogans. Fin tries to help Velasco to develop some community roots to deal with their anger. The suspect is cleared. Velasco frees Rocha and they team up to canvas the neighborhood. A second attempted rape is reported soon afterwards. ||||||||
| 565 | 14 | "The Grid Plan" | Norberto Barba | David Graziano & Julie Martin | February 27, 2025 (2025-2-27) | 2614 | 3.81 |
| 566 | 15 | "Undertow" | Martha Mitchell | Brendan Feeney | March 13, 2025 (2025-3-13) | 2615 | 3.50 |
| 567 | 16 | "Let Me Bring Pardon" | TBA | David Graziano & Julie Martin | March 20, 2025 (2025-3-20) | 2616 | TBD |
| 568 | 17 | "Accomplice Liability" | TBA | David Graziano & Julie Martin | April 3, 2025 (2025-4-3) | 2617 | TBD |

## Ratings

Viewership and ratings per episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 26 :
| No. | Title | Air date | Rating/share (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | DVR (18–49) | DVR viewers (millions) | Total (18–49) | Total viewers (millions) |
| 1 | "Fractured" | October 3, 2024 (2024-10-3) | 0.4/4 | 3.81 | — | — | — | — |
| 2 | "Excavation" | October 10, 2024 (2024-10-10) | 0.4/4 | 3.77 | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | "Divide and Conquer" | October 17, 2024 (2024-10-17) | 0.3/3 | 3.19 | 0.3 | 1.93 | 0.6 | 5.16 |
| 4 | "Constricted" | October 24, 2024 (2024-10-24) | 0.4/4 | 3.44 | 0.2 | 1.83 | 0.6 | 5.27 |
| 5 | "Economics of Shame" | October 31, 2024 (2024-10-31) | 0.3/3 | 3.52 | 0.3 | 2.06 | 0.7 | 5.58 |
| 6 | "Rorschach" | November 7, 2024 (2024-11-7) | 0.3/3 | 3.13 | 0.3 | 2.09 | 0.6 | 5.22 |
| 7 | "Tenfold" | November 14, 2024 (2024-11-14) | 0.3/3 | 3.32 | 0.3 | 2.08 | 0.6 | 5.40 |
| 8 | "Cornered" | November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21) | 0.4/4 | 4.26 | 0.2 | 1.73 | 0.6 | 5.96 |
| 9 | "First Light" | January 16, 2025 (2025-01-16) | 0.5/7 | 4.55 | 0.2 | 1.89 | 0.7 | 6.44 |
| 10 | "Master Key" | January 23, 2025 (2025-01-23) | 0.4/6 | 4.76 | 0.3 | 1.98 | 0.7 | 6.76 |
| 11 | "Deductible" | January 30, 2025 (2025-01-30) | 0.3/5 | 3.94 | 0.3 | 1.86 | 0.6 | 5.81 |
| 12 | "Calculated" | February 13, 2025 (2025-02-13) | 0.4/5 | 3.99 | 0.3 | 1.69 | 0.6 | 5.68 |
| 13 | "Extinguished" | February 20, 2025 (2025-02-20) | 0.4/4 | 3.84 | 0.2 | 1.80 | 0.6 | 5.64 |
| 14 | "The Grid Plan" | February 27, 2025 (2025-02-27) | 0.3/5 | 3.81 | 0.3 | 1.77 | 0.6 | 5.58 |
| 15 | "Undertow" | March 13, 2025 (2025-03-13) | 0.3/4 | 3.50 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |