Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 9 is titled 'Mall' and will air on ABC on January 7. Since the procedural is going on its annual winter hiatus, new episodes in the latest season will return in the new year. However, worry not, as the sitcom will not take a long break and return in the first week of 2026 itself.The popular and Emmy-winning workplace procedural is making a major change in its location and the Abbott staff and children will work in a new mall location. The recently released mid-season finale featured a dramatic twist, where the school building was destroyed by a broken furnace.Abbott Elementary Season 5 marks the return of the sitcom's main ensemble cast, including Quinta Brunson as Janine, Janelle James as Ava, Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa, Chris Perfetti as Jacob, Tyler James Williams as Gregory, Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara and William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson.More on this in our story.Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 9 release date and streaming details View this post on Instagram Instagram PostThe ninth episode in Abbott Elementary Season 5 titled 'Mall' will air on ABC on January 7, 2026, at 8:30 p.m. The broadcast for the sitcom usually lasts for half an hour and the show releases weekly episodes every Wednesday on ABC.Cord-cutters are also in luck as all new episodes of Abbott Elementary are available to stream on Hulu, ABC's official streaming partner, a day later. Hulu offers two kinds of subscription plans: the ad-supported plan costs $11.99 per month and you can avail the ad-free plan at $18.99 per month.Since all ABC procedurals go on their annual Winter hiatus every year, it's time for Abbott Elementary Season 5 to take its annual leave from fans. The school will return for the session in the new year with a brand new location and fresh twists and turns. In the meantime, fans can binge-watch old episodes on Hulu and get up to date with the story before the sitcom returns on January 7.What happened in the mid-season finale of Abbott Elementary Season 5? View this post on Instagram Instagram PostThe mid-season finale of Abbott Elementary Season 5 saw the teachers prepare for their annual winter recital for the students and parents. However, Mr. Johnson was concerned about the broken furnace and warned Principal Ava and the staff about the harrowing consequences. As usual, Ava paid no heed to Mr. Johnson's warning and asked the teachers to shift their students to the lower classrooms, which had stronger heat.In a chaotic moment. Mr. Johnson's concerns are proven right when the furnace pipes burst mid recital, flooding the whole building and forcing the students, parents and teachers to flee the school. In the final moments of the mid-season finale, Ava finds a temporary fix, a mall, which will become the new Abbott Elementary building when the sitcom returns in the new year.What can you expect from Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 9? View this post on Instagram Instagram PostABC has yet to reveal the official plot details for the upcoming winter premiere of the sitcom but the dramatic cliffhanger from Episode 8 sets the stage for a chaotic school location. The final moments of the mid-season finale saw the grand announcement:''So, instead of sipping Mai Tais on the beach all break, our hero, Ava Colman, has been looking for a new school building. Zillow, Craigslist, Tinder, the works. Turns out I have to use the options the school district gave me. Welcome to the brand new Abbott Elementary! It’s an old mall, OK? We’re gonna make it work.''Since Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 9 is titled 'Mall', it will be focused on children and staff adjusting to the highly unusual and likely humorous mall location. How can a mall even stand in as a school building? While the new location will come with its set of challenges, the usual banter between teachers and the chaos of the students will make the situation even more fun to watch.Tune in to Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 9 on ABC on January 7.For the latest scoops on your favorite TV shows and movies, follow SoapCentral.