Law & Order franchise marks 36 years on television

Nbc reports the Law & Order franchise has been on television for 36 years as of 2026, a run that includes the original series and long‑running spin‑off Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

The original Law & Order premiered in September 1990, ended its initial run in 2010 and was revived with Season 21 in 2022. SVU debuted in 1999 and, with 27 seasons and counting, has remained a primetime staple; at SVU’s 2023 wrap party Mariska Hargitay told the outlet she found reaching 25 seasons surreal.

Series casting has continued to evolve: Season 25 introduced David Ajala, who told the outlet in a 2025 interview that joining the franchise felt “very, very special,” and the season pairs Detective Vincent Riley with Detective Theo Walker. Beyond those changes, the show’s multi‑decade presence and ongoing seasons are the main confirmed facts provided in the report.

Key Topics

Culture, Law & Order, Special Victims Unit, Mariska Hargitay, David Ajala, Sam Waterston