May is here, and it is time for season finales of so many shows, and they are coming fast. Over the next few weeks, pretty much every major broadcast network, be it ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC will be wrapping up their current seasons one by one, with some shows ending forever and others just stepping away with the current season finale until the fall.
It is that bittersweet stretch of the TV calendar where you are both relieved a show made it through for another year and quietly devastated that you now have to wait months for more.
The bulk of this month’s season finale for shows are spread across four big weeks, with the very last season finale landing right at the tail end of May on the 27. Different networks are moving at different speeds this month, and the reason for that has a lot to do with the Winter Olympics earlier in the year.
CBS kept its shows off air during that period, which means many of its series are still going strong well into the back half of May while other networks have already cleared their schedules. Let’s go through all of it, week by week, so you know exactly when to say your temporary or permanent goodbyes with your favourite show’s season finale.
ABC and NBC lead the way with season finale of many shows in the first half of May
ABC is moving the quickest. The Rookie wraps up Season 8 on Monday May 4, followed by Will Trent’s Season 4 finale on Tuesday May 5. Then Thursday May 7 is a genuinely packed night on ABC as 911 ends its ninth season at with its season finale airing at 8pm, 911: Nashville closes out its first season at 9pm, and Grey’s Anatomy wraps Season 22 at 10pm. That is three shows’s season finale on the same night from the same network, which is a lot to process.
CBS also has something happening on Sunday, May 3 that is worth flagging separately as Watson is airing its series finale, meaning the show is ending for good, not just for the season. That is a meaningful distinction. NCIS: Origins wraps Season 2 on Tuesday May 5, and NBC’s The Hunting Party ends Season 2 on Thursday May 7 at 10pm.
The following Monday, May 11, brings two more series finales, and again, these are not season finales but show-ending finales. The Neighborhood is signing off for good at 8pm on CBS, and DMV, the newer CBS comedy, is also ending its run at 8:30pm the same night. American Idol’s Season 21 finale airs on ABC that same night at 8pm.
Tuesday May 12 brings the NCIS double bill, with Season 23 of the original series ending at 8pm on CBS and NCIS: Sydney wrapping Season 3 at 9pm. Wednesday May 13 is the One Chicago night on NBC, with Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago PD all airing their season finales back to back. CBS is also sneaking in the Season 1 finale of America’s Culinary Cup at 9:30pm that same night. Thursday May 14 wraps up Law & Order Season 27 at 8pm and SVU Season 25 at 9pm on NBC.
CBS takes over completely in the second half of May
After Celebrity Jeopardy wraps on ABC on May 15 and Family Guy and Bob’s Burgers end their seasons on FOX on May 17, the rest of the month belongs almost entirely to CBS.
Monday May 18 kicks off with FBI ending Season 8 at 8pm and CIA closing out its first season at 9pm. Wednesday May 20 brings what is arguably the most watched finale of any reality show this month as Survivor Season 50 wraps up on CBS. Thursday May 21 is another stacked evening with Next Level Chef Season 3 ending on FOX, and CBS airing finales for Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2, Ghosts Season 5, and Elsbeth Season 3 all in one night.
Friday May 22 sees three CBS finales in a row with Sheriff Country Season 1 at 8pm, Fire Country Season 4 at 9pm, and Boston Blue Season 1 at 10pm. Then the final weekend of the main finale run arrives with Marshals Season 1 wrapping up on Sunday May 24 at 8pm, followed by Tracker Season 3 at 9pm. And then, to close out the month properly, Hollywood Squares Season 2 airs its finale on Wednesday May 27.
So, here is a quick look at the dates of your favourite show’s finales.
That is the full picture for May 2026 TV finales across all four major broadcast networks.
Edited by Mudeet Arora