Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 Episode 9 - Release date news, streaming details, and more

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 Episode 9 is set to air on January 8, 2026, following the mid-season break.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 kicked off on NBC in late September 2025. The show continues to delve into tough cases, explores the lives of its characters, and features tense courtroom showdowns.

This season, there is a new showrunner at the helm, Michele Fazekas. Mariska Hargitay is back as Captain Olivia Benson, and you will see familiar faces like Ice-T, Peter Scanavino, and Kelli Giddish, plus some new and returning guest stars. NBC is keeping the show in its usual Thursday 9/8c p.m. slot for the 2025–26 season.

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When will Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 Episode 9 air?

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 Episode 9 is back this winter, with most sources pointing to January 8, 2026, for the big return. That’s the date you will see on IMDb and all the usual TV guides. NBC always wraps up in the fall, takes a holiday break, then jumps in again after New Year’s, so it tracks.

If NBC sticks to its normal plan, the new episode lands on Peacock the next day. You will find every past season there, too, as long as you have a subscription. Peacock has got two main options: Premium (ads included) for around $10.99 a month, or Premium Plus (ad-free) for $16.99.

Prefer to watch live? Just tune in Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC. No cable? Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and fuboTV will hook you up with the live broadcast.

Traveling or outside the U.S.? In Canada, Reelgood lists Citytv as the spot to watch, and you can stream Citytv+ through Prime Video. Over in the UK, check out Sky Witness or stream it on NOW with an Entertainment membership. If you are in Australia, you can catch the new episode on Prime Video, Foxtel Now, or Binge. Viewers in India can stream it on JioHotstar.

Kelli Giddish is back in Season 27 as Sergeant Amanda Rollins. Mariska Hargitay keeps holding it down as Olivia Benson, and Ice-T returns as Sergeant Fin Tutuola. Peter Scanavino steps back in as ADA Sonny Carisi, while Kevin Kane returns as Detective Terry Bruno. Aimé Donna Kelly moves up to series regular, now playing Captain Renee Curry.

This season also brings back some familiar faces as guest stars. Christopher Meloni pops in as Detective Elliot Stabler, BD Wong returns as Dr. George Huang, Dean Winters is back as Detective Brian Cassidy, Dann Florek shows up as Captain Donald Cragen, and Tony Goldwyn appears as District Attorney Nicholas Baxter.

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What happened in Episode 8?

In episode 8, the plot revolves around a kidnapping case with high risks (or rather, an alleged kidnapping case): Greg Morrison dials 911, insisting that his girlfriend, Nikki Suarez, was kidnapped during the night. However, while the SVU unit is looking into the matter, “holes” start to form in Greg's narrative.

The team follows Nikki using a "smart ring" and finally locates her at a deli. However, she looks dazed and topples into Benson's arms. This indicates that the matter is complicated: either Nikki is being manipulated, or Greg is lying, or perhaps there is a third party involved.

A very important storyline involves Chief Kathryn Tynan’s disputes with Olivia Benson on how police work should be done, the chain of command, and the style of leadership. Tynan indicates that not only helping victims is the main task of Benson, but also the educating and overseeing of detectives, implying that perhaps Benson does not carry out the “job” as Tynan expects.

Tynan extends to Benson a job at One Police Plaza (1PP), which Benson vigorously refuses. She reiterates her desire to remain with the SVU and be a voice for the victims. This battle of wills alters the pecking order, since Benson is not only leading cases but is also being questioned by her higher-ups regarding her leadership style.

Benson, amidst the legal and investigative pandemonium, demonstrates a strong personal dedication by staying in the hospital with Nikki, not only for the sake of appearances but, in fact, wanting to be there for her.

The team is feeling the pressure: Carisi is furious, Rollins and Curry are working hard, and Fin is missing in action during important scenes.

Benson’s last message to the group is mixed with both pride and challenge. She tells them that she is proud of them, but makes it clear that it will not be over until Nikki has her justice.

Nonetheless, her determination is weakened by Tynan’s last statement, who thinks this is not how it works. Tynan’s institutional vision might oppose Benson’s way of doing things.

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What can we expect from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 Episode 9?

Here’s where things seem headed in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 Episode 9, based on what’s out there right now, and a little guesswork too.

First up, that Nikki and Greg case. SVU almost has to push this forward in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 Episode 9. People want to know how Nikki actually got taken, or if she managed to escape somehow. Who is behind all this, anyway? And what’s Greg’s deal: is he a victim, a bad guy, or just caught in the middle?

Feels like we will get some answers, but don’t expect everything to tie up neatly. Instead of catching the criminal and calling it a day, they will probably toss in some trauma, unreliable witnesses, maybe evidence that doesn’t add up. It wouldn’t be SVU without a few moral gray areas.

Then there’s Tynan and Benson. That showdown isn’t going anywhere. Tynan keeps questioning Benson’s leadership, and she might go all-in this time, maybe a formal review, maybe she tries to force Benson to “play by the rules” in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 Episode 9.

Benson is not one to back down, though, so she will probably push back. She might have to defend herself to the higher-ups or find some middle ground just to keep her job. Plus, Tynan’s offer to Benson probably isn’t just a promotion. It could be a way to get her out of SVU entirely.

Griffin has got his own thing going on. He had to defend himself, and now he is probably thinking hard about what comes next. If he was ready to leave at the end of Episode 8, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 Episode 9 could show him making that call: maybe he sticks around, maybe he changes his role, or maybe he steps away. His relationship with Benson could easily hit a rough patch, too, depending on whether she is backing him up or telling him he needs to change.

Meanwhile, Bruno is still carrying guilt, and that will show in the decisions he makes. Rollins and Curry are under the microscope. Tynan’s challenge to Benson is bound to trickle down, so loyalty and trust get tested. And if Fin was missing last episode, people are going to want to know why. His comeback in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 Episode 9 could be its own little subplot, or he might walk in with a whole new set of problems.

One last thing: there’s buzz about a crossover in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 Episode 9. Cinemablend hinted at it, saying Tynan’s drama sets up some “juicy conflict.” So don’t be shocked if the next run brings in characters from the main Law & Order show. That could mean more legal problems for SVU, with prosecutors or other cops showing up either to help or to make things even messier.