For millions of Chicago Fire fans, the TV schedule in early 2026 has been anything but predictable. As part of NBC’s primetime programming, Chicago Fire usually airs weekly on Wednesdays at 9/8c in the United States — but that rhythm has been disrupted by something much bigger than fires or emergencies at Firehouse 51. In early February, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago P.D. were all pulled from the schedule to make room for the network’s exclusive coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, leaving fans waiting to find out when new episodes would return.
🗓 Winter Olympics Takes Over NBC’s Primetime
NBC is the official broadcast home of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, which ran from February 6 through February 22, 2026. During that period, the network dedicated most of its evening primetime slots to live Olympic coverage, pre-empting almost all of its regularly scheduled dramas and scripted series, including Chicago Fire.
This isn’t an unusual occurrence; NBC traditionally pulls its scripted shows when it holds major sports broadcasting rights, and the Winter Olympics always take precedence because of their massive global audience. But for Chicago Fire fans, the result has been a mid-season broadcast blackout — with no new episodes airing throughout most of February.
📉 What Happened to Chicago Fire in February?
The show’s last new episode before the break aired on February 4, 2026. After that, NBC entirely removed Chicago Fire from the schedule for the remainder of February — even after Olympic coverage ended on February 22.
NBC’s primetime lineup for the final Wednesday in February didn’t include new episodes of Chicago Fire, which has disappointed many viewers hoping for reruns or catch-up episodes. Instead, the network opted to fill the Wednesday night slots with different programming, including encore presentations of other shows.
🔥 When Chicago Fire Will Return
The good news is that Chicago Fire will return after the Olympics — and it’s coming back in a big way.
NBC has scheduled a special One Chicago crossover event for Wednesday, March 4, 2026. This event will mark the official return of new episodes for Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago P.D. following the Olympic hiatus.
📅 March 4, 2026 Crossover Event
On March 4, all three shows in the “One Chicago” franchise will air in continuity:
-
8:00 p.m. ET/PT — Chicago Fire
-
9:00 p.m. ET/PT — Chicago Med
-
10:00 p.m. ET/PT — Chicago P.D.
This three-hour event ties together storylines across all three series and serves as a special launch back into the regular season.
📍 What This Means for Fans
🕐 Regular Schedule Resumes
After the March 4 crossover, Chicago Fire is expected to return to its normal Wednesday night timeslot on NBC for the rest of the season. The crossover provides a strong kickoff to the late winter and spring run of episodes that will lead into season finales later in the spring, usually in April or May.
📺 Streaming Availability
Like most NBC scripted programming, new episodes that air on NBC will be available for streaming the next day on Peacock, NBC’s streaming service. This gives fans who missed the broadcast a chance to catch up quickly.
📌 Why the Hiatus Was Longer Than Expected
There were some questions from fans about why Chicago Fire and its sister shows were held off the air even after the Olympics concluded. Although the Winter Games wrapped up on February 22, NBC chose not to bring back its scripted lineup immediately. Instead, the network used that final week of February to air other content, pushing the Chicago Fire return to March 4.
🧑🚒 Final Thoughts
The broadcast disruption caused by the Winter Olympics was frustrating for many fans of Chicago Fire, but the payoff with the March 4 crossover event should make the wait worthwhile. After weeks of Olympic broadcasts dominating primetime, NBC will finally bring back Firehouse 51, offering new story developments and dramatic rescues that audiences have come to expect.
In an era where live sports and major events drive a huge portion of network scheduling, shows like Chicago Fire sometimes get a temporary break. But with a clear return date and a special event planned, fans can look forward to seeing their favorite firefighters back in action very soon.
