Tracker Season 3 Will Undergo Major Change When It Returns In 2026

Tracker season 3 will have an important scheduling change when it returns in 2026. The top show on CBS, with Justin Hartley in the lead as Colter Shaw, is continuing its impressive run. The drama, based on the Never Game novel by Jeffrey Deaver, is on track to be the most-watched network scripted show of the current television season.

The premiere of Tracker season 3 aimed to build on the strong foundation that it has built by bringing back Jensen Ackles as Russell Shaw, the older brother of Colter, in a two-part premiere. That will carry forward when the adaptation returns from its midseason break in the new year, but there will be one notable change as far as the show’s timeslot.

CBS via MovieStillsDB

When it returns from hiatus, CBS has confirmed that Tracker season 3 will move to a new timeslot. It will be back on Sunday, March 1, 2026, and shift to airing from 9 PM ET to 10 PM ET. That’s a change from its usual 8 PM ET timeslot, which now belongs to the Yellowstone spinoff Y: Marshals. It isn’t the only notable shakeup. Watson season 2 will also move to a new timeslot of 10 PM ET on Sundays.

Recent reports revealed that the drama’s current season has averaged just below 14 million across multiple platforms over the course of seven days. These numbers put it ahead of its closest rival, with Tracker getting 1.5 million more viewers than ABC’s High Potential, which is in its second season. Both procedurals came in first and second when taking into account the longer range 35-day viewership.

It comes at a time when there have been changes to the Tracker cast. Abby McEnany and Eric Graise both departed their roles as Velma and Bobby before season 3’s debut. Their exits came after the departure of Robin Weigert, who played Teddi, and left after the end of Tracker season 1. It was explained that Velma’s absence is tied to her attempt to repair her relationship with Teddi. Bobby, for his part, received a great job opportunity.

But following the shocking ending of Tracker season 2, the audience is going forward with strength. Executive producer and showrunner Elwood Reid is still holding onto what viewers enjoy about Colter’s story. That will likely hold, even as the established series goes on the move to make room for a high-profile spinoff from the Yellowstone world.