'Law & Order,' 'SVU' season premieres: release date, how to watch, cast

"Law & Order" is returning to NBC this week, kicking off the 23rd season of the iconic cop procedural and the landmark 25th season of one of TV's most popular spin-offs, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."

The original "Law & Order" was resurrected in 2022 after a 12-year hiatus, with Season 21 airing that fall. "SVU," however, never left, becoming one of the longest-running scripted television shows ever.

The newest season of "SVU" marks 25 years of the show, making Capt. Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) the longest-reigning character in primetime TV. Fans can expect to see her return alongside partner Sgt. Odafin "Fin" Tutuola (Ice-T) in the Season 25 premiere, which is set to drop this week.

The flagship "Law & Order" series is likewise set to debut the first episode of Season 23 on Thursday, followed by the newer spin-off, "Law & Order: Organized Crime," which is entering its fourth season.

Here's what you need to know to catch the new seasons as they air.

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When does 'Law & Order' Season 23 premiere?

"Law & Order" Season 23 is set to premiere Thursday, Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. EST/PST.

When does 'Law & Order: SVU' Season 25 premiere?

Season 25 of "Law & Order: SVU" will air at 9 p.m. EST/PST on Thursday, Jan. 18, followed by Season 4 of "Law & Order: Organized Crime" at 10.

Where to watch 'Law & Order' shows

All three "Law & Order" series will air new episodes on NBC weekly. They can also be streamed via the NBC app or NBC.com if you have a cable provider login.

A handful of other TV streaming platforms offer an NBC channel to watch the shows air live, including Hulu+ Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV and FuboTV.

Those not concerned with watching episodes in real time can stream them the next day on Peacock or Hulu.

What is the first episode of 'Law & Order' season 23 about?

The debut episode of "Law & Order" Season 23 is titled “Freedom of Expression.” According to the episode synopsis, the team will examine the difference between free speech and hate speech in the wake of a murder on a college campus.

What is the first episode of 'Law & Order: SVU' Season 25 about?

The first episode of "SVU" Season 25 is titled "Tunnel Blind" and features an appearance from returning cast member Kelli Giddish, playing Detective Amanda Rollins, who left the show in 2022.

The episode synopsis reads: “As the squad celebrates the birth of Rollins and Carisi’s child, another child goes missing in broad daylight.”

Cast of 'Law & Order' Season 23

• Sam Waterston as District Attorney Jack McCoy
• Camryn Manheim as Lt. Kate Dixon
• Odelya Halevi as assistant district attorney Samantha Maroun
• Hugh Dancy as assistant district attorney Nolan Price
• Mehcad Brooks as Detective Jalen Shaw
• Reid Scott as Detective Vincent Riley (replacing character Detective Frank Cosgrove played by Jeffrey Donovan)

Cast of "Law & Order: SVU" Season 25

• Mariska Hargitay as Capt. Olivia Benson
• Ice-T as Sgt. Odafin "Fin" Tutuola 
• Peter Scanavino as assistant district attorney Dominick "Sonny" Carisi, Jr.
• Octavio Pisano as Detective Jose "Joe" Velasco
• Kevin Kane as Detective Terry Bruno
• Jasmine Batcheloras Detective Tonie Churlish
• Kelli Giddish is set to make a return to the show, most likely reprising her role as Detective Amanda Rollins