Elsbeth Season 3 is set to continue after its December 2025 break, returning to CBS on February 26, 2026, for the midseason schedule. The hit crime dramedy will pick up right where it left off, with new mysteries, guest stars, and ongoing plots that make Elsbeth’s strange world even stranger.
Fans can look forward to new cases and favorites coming back when the strange lawyer starts working again this spring.
When Does Elsbeth Season 3 Return for Midseason?
CBS Midseason Lineup and Premiere Date
CBS has officially said that Season 3 of Elsbeth will start on February 26, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, continuing the adventures of Elsbeth Tascioni, a smart but strange lawyer. This time makes her a firm part of the Thursday lineup, along with Matlock and Ghosts, which is CBS’s most reliable night for character-driven procedurals.
Midseason release date: February 26, 2026.
Time Slot: Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Programming Block: Follows Ghosts at 8:30 p.m. and Matlock at 9 p.m.
Streaming: Paramount+ Premium streams live
Showrunners: Michelle King and Robert King lead production, with head writer Laurel guiding tone and pacing.
Season Focus: Expands Elsbeth’s world across New York, from a billionaire’s panic room to a York toy store spirals subplot, and the York Ballet’s latest scandal.
Schedule Shifts and Holiday Hiatus
Before the midseason break, Season 3 of Elsbeth tried out different times, including a short move to November 9/8c. The episode “And Then There Were Nuns,” with Dianne Wiest as Mother Constance, aired on November 20, 2025, during Matlock’s break before Thanksgiving coverage on CBS.
Temporary Swap: The show moved to 9/8c for Episode 7 to replace Matlock.
Holiday Pause: Preempted on November 27 for NCAA College Basketball coverage.
Bridge Episode: “Basket Case” on December 4, 2025, reconnects Elsbeth’s audience before the winter break.
Midseason Return: February 26, 2026, restores the series to its regular 10 p.m. schedule.
Viewer Highlights: Episodes featured plots like a pop star’s purchase of a failing convent and a campus murder rocks storyline blending satire and suspense.
Where Can I Watch Season 3 of Elsbeth?
Streaming Options and Free Trials
Every murder investigation can be seen live on CBS or streamed through Paramount+, DIRECTV Stream, or Fubo. All of these services offer free trials for new users. Because it’s flexible, fans will never miss when Elsbeth shows up at another complicated murder scene.
Primary Platform: CBS broadcasts Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Streaming: Paramount+ Premium streams live; Essential tier provides next-day access.
Alternatives: Fubo and DIRECTV Stream include CBS in trial packages for cord-cutters.
Extra Access: Episodes also feature behind-the-scenes clips and interviews with Carrie Preston, the actress leading Elsbeth’s quirky investigations.
Audience Perk: Paramount+ includes other CBS hits, allowing viewers to corner brilliant criminals alongside Elsbeth and Captain Wagner.
Episode Count and Continuation Plans
As of early November 2025, seven episodes of Elsbeth Season 3 have aired. The season should last until December, after which it will take a short break for the winter. Based on how CBS schedules shows in the middle of the season, Elsbeth Season 3 will probably have 20 episodes and run until spring 2026.
Current Release: Seven episodes aired as of November 2025, continuing weekly.
Midseason Plan: The show pauses briefly after December 2025, then resumes February 26.
Projected Total: Likely 20 episodes overall for the full season.
Story Focus: Includes ongoing threads such as Teddy digs into Alec Bloom’s past and Elsbeth’s surprise reunion with her friend Marissa Gold.
Narrative Continuity: Builds serialized arcs like the campus murder and the divine real estate mystery involving a failing convent.
What Happens in Elsbeth Season 3’s Latest Episode?
Inside Episode 7 — “And Then There Were Nuns”
Episode 7 follows a murder investigation inside a failing convent after a pop star’s purchase leads to a deadly fall. Mother Constance, played by Dianne Wiest, is a religious but desperate nun whose misguided plan to keep her convent from being sold ends in a fatal plunge from the bell tower. Elsbeth arrives at the murder scene, uncovering how misplaced faith and guilt collided in a darkly comic tragedy.
Setting: A failing convent turned into divine real estate.
Victim: Pop star Alaia Jade meets her end after a manipulated accident.
Suspect: Mother Constance hides her motives behind faith and desperation.
Supporting Roles: Officer Hackett takes lead on scene while Elsbeth investigates details like a missing danger sign and suspicious timing.
Creative Tone: Mixes faith, fame, and guilt with a darkly comic twist that feels both tragic and absurd.
Critical Response and Ongoing Arcs
Critics praised the episode’s writing and the layered performance by Dianne Wiest, noting how Elsbeth finds humanity in even the most eccentric suspects.
Character Growth: Elsbeth questions her instincts when a confession arrives too easily, showing her evolution as an investigator.
Subplot: Teddy digs deeper into Alec Bloom’s past, discovering inconsistencies that threaten his public image.
Continuing Threads: Captain Wagner clashes with city officials over media leaks during the case.
New Faces: A new police officer, Officer Hackett, joins the squad room, adding tension to ongoing dynamics.
Series Tone: Balances comedic pacing with serious stakes, especially after the earlier Halloween episode involving a dangerous undercover operation.
Who Stars in Elsbeth Season 3?
Main Cast
Elsbeth Season 3 continues to show a colorful cast that supports Elsbeth Tascioni’s strange but brilliant personality. Returning and new faces add both charm and complexity to the stories that unfold in the heart of New York.
Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni: The astute but unconventional attorney whose quirky logic and empathy crack even the most impossible cases across New York.
Wendell Pierce as Captain Wagner: The pragmatic precinct leader who often clashes with Elsbeth’s unorthodox style but ultimately relies on her sharp intuition.
Ben Levi Ross as Teddy Tascioni: Elsbeth’s son and an aspiring stand-up comic who digs into Alec Bloom’s past while navigating his own late-night comedy gigs.
Sarah Steele as Marissa Gold: Elsbeth’s old friend and PR strategist from The Good Wife, now managing political campaigns and orchestrating a staged dinner that sparks public intrigue.
Ivan Hernandez as Alec Bloom: A political hopeful whose connection to Elsbeth deepens as her investigation exposes secrets tied to his past and career ambitions.
Guest Stars and Notable Appearances
This season has a lot of different guest stars whose characters change the mystery in each episode. Their appearances add new dynamics that can be dramatic or scary.
Dianne Wiest: Mother Constance in “And Then There Were Nuns,” whose divine intentions hide darker truths.
William Jackson Harper: Plays a poetic killer in “Poetic Justice,” where a donor’s death shakes the city’s art scene.
Tony Hale: Appears in a Halloween night storyline that blurs comedy and fear.
Henny Russell: Portrays the late Judge Crawford’s widow, whose arrival triggers a frightening discovery about her husband’s legacy.
Dominic Fumusa: Returns as Jack Wilson, the talk show host and lead of Father Crime, offering lighthearted cameos within Elsbeth’s cases.
Lana Condor: Guest-stars in “Basket Case,” the episode where a campus murder rocks the college basketball world.
Did Kaya Leave Elsbeth?
Carra Patterson’s Exit Explained
After Season 2 of Elsbeth, Carra Patterson quit her regular role as Officer Kaya Blanke. After a hostage crisis, Kaya earns a promotion to Detective and joins an undercover task force in Washington, D.C. and her story arc ends. It was a short but memorable one.
Departure Reason: Creative realignment to highlight Elsbeth’s leadership within the precinct.
Exit Timing: Occurs within the first three episodes of the season.
In-Universe Explanation: Kaya transfers to a federal task force after a standoff turns deadly.
Impact: Opens space for Teddy’s investigative subplot and introduces Officer Hackett to the team.
Production Note: Carra Patterson’s character remains open for possible guest appearances in future episodes.
Other Character Departures
Aside from Kaya’s change, Season 3 keeps most of Elsbeth’s main cast together. Instead, the show is mostly about introducing new regular NYPD officers and guest detectives who help Elsbeth with her investigations.
New Partners: Elsbeth is paired with different uniformed officers and detectives, including Ethan Slater as Officer Reese Chandler and Micaela Diamond as Detective Edwards.
Judge Crawford: Appears through flashbacks exploring a multi-episode arc about corruption in the judiciary.
Crisis Manager: A new mystery unfolds when a crisis manager vanishes inside a billionaire’s panic room.
Suburban Homemaker: A suburban homemaker butts heads with Elsbeth during an investigation tied to a York Ballet rehearsal that turns deadly.
Hapless Ex-Con: A hapless ex-con inside a locker room becomes key in an athletic director winds up dead storyline.
Returning Dynamics: Elsbeth and Captain Wagner continue to clash and collaborate, while new police officers fill in the procedural gaps left by Kaya’s transfer.
Final Thoughts
Elsbeth Season 3 keeps leading Elsbeth into stranger corners of New York, where wit meets chaos. From a scary case at the New York Ballet to a divine real estate scandal that destroys faith and fame, Elsbeth meets both strange friends and dangerous enemies.
The line between justice and curiosity becomes less clear when Elsbeth sees hidden motives and acts on them. Victim’s friend Gary, a clue, or a confession, it all keeps fans guessing what she’ll uncover next.
FAQs
Who Is The Scottish Singer In Elsbeth?
The Scottish singer in Elsbeth is Angus, played by Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd, who witnesses a murder through a video art installation in Season 2
Is There A Season 3 Of Elsbeth On Paramount Plus?
Yes, Season 3 of Elsbeth streams on Paramount Plus, featuring Elsbeth notices clues that push her into new cases and Elsbeth leaps ahead of every criminal.
How Many Episodes Are In Elsbeth Season 3?
Elsbeth Season 3 will likely consist of 20 episodes in total.
Which Police Officer Helped Elsbeth During The Mother Constance Case?
The police officer Officer Hackett assisted Elsbeth during the Mother Constance investigation, helping unravel the truth behind the convent murder.
What Makes Elsbeth’s Method Different From Other Detectives?
Elsbeth’s quirky insight allows her to read people instantly, turning small observations into breakthroughs, whether at the New York Ballet or a crime scene where Elsbeth leaps before anyone else does.
