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Law & Order is returning for season 26 on NBC — but not every cast member is coming back to the show.
The franchise is no stranger to cast members coming and going. NBC’s spinoff Law & Order: SVU recently faced a few shakeups when news broke in May 2025 that Octavio Pisano and Juliana Aidén Martinez were leaving the series before season 27. Pisano originally joined Law & Order: SVU in season 23, while Martinez came on board during season 26.
No further explanation was given for Pisano and Martinez’s departures. Pisano eventually returned for some episodes, but Martinez moved over to Dick Wolf’s FBI.
Law & Order: SVU, which premiered in 1999, follows detectives from the NYPD’s Special Victims Unit as they investigate and prosecute sexually based crimes. The legal drama stars Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Peter Scanavino and Kevin Kane.
Shocking exits aside, season 27 also marked the official return of Kelli Giddish‘s Rollins. Giddish previously departed Law & Order: SVU in the middle of season 24 in 2022 after more than a decade on the show. She was a guest star on various episodes throughout seasons 25 and 26 before being confirmed as a series regular for the 27th season.
Ice-T also confirmed he would be coming back in a larger capacity after being noticeably absent from more episodes than usual during season 27.
Keep scrolling to see who is and isn’t coming back on Law & Order:
Hugh Dancy
Dancy is returning as Executive Assistant District Attorney Nolan Price, whom he has played since Law & Order returned to NBC in 2022.
Odelya Halevi
Halevi is also coming back after portraying Assistant District Attorney Samantha Maroun.
Mechad Brooks
Brooks exited the show in season 25 and isn’t expected back.
David Ajala
Ajala’s character, Theo Walker, will have a new partner when Law & Order returns for season 26.
Reid Scott
Detective Vincent Riley (Scott) will be written off in season 26. Deadline reported that Scott will be in “a few episodes” before his exit is official. With the departure being Scott’s choice, the “amicable” decision will likely leave the door open for Riley to return in the future instead of killing the character off.
James Badge Dale
According to Deadline, James Badge Dale is going to be replacing Scott’s character as a new senior detective.
Maura Tierney
Tierney is set to return after being cast as Lieutenant Jessica Brady.
Tony Goldwyn
Goldwyn will be back front and center in season 26 on Law & Order.
