Criminal Minds Season 19 Premieres in 2026: What to Know

If you’ve been wondering whether the BAU team still has cases to crack, you’re not alone: after 15 seasons on CBS and a successful revival on Paramount+, Criminal Minds is far from finished—Season 19 of Criminal Minds: Evolution premiered on May 28, 2026, and a Season 20 is already on the books for 2027. Here’s what fans need to know about the future of the series, from streaming details to cast updates and the real-life stories behind the characters.

Original series seasons: 15 (2005–2020) ·
Revival seasons: 2 (Criminal Minds: Evolution, 2022–2024) ·
Total episodes: 344 ·
Network (original): CBS ·
Network (revival): Paramount+

5 key facts about Criminal Minds, one pattern: the franchise has successfully evolved from a broadcast staple to a streaming powerhouse while retaining its core cast.

Will there be a season 19 of Criminal Minds?

Yes—Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 premiered on Paramount+ on May 28, 2026, with two episodes available launch day (Paramount+ official schedule). Titled “Now and Then” and “Cluster,” the season runs 10 episodes, releasing weekly on Thursdays through July 23, 2026 (People magazine). Paramount+ has already confirmed a Season 20 for 2027 (Paramount+ announcement).

Is Spencer Reid in season 19?

As of the premiere, Matthew Gray Gubler has not been confirmed to return as Dr. Spencer Reid. The Paramount+ cast list for Season 19 includes Joe Mantegna (David Rossi), A.J. Cook (JJ), Kirsten Vangsness (Penelope Garcia), Aisha Tyler (Dr. Tara Lewis), Zach Gilford (Elias Voit), and RJ Hatanaka (Tyler Green) (Paramount+ cast details). Reid’s absence from the revival remains a notable gap for longtime fans.

What is the saddest death in Criminal Minds?

Fan polls and forums consistently point to the death of Maeve Donovan (season 8) and Jason Gideon (season 10) as the most emotionally devastating moments in the series. Gideon, played by Mandy Patinkin, was killed off-screen between seasons—a move that sparked widespread discussion among viewers.

The implication: Season 19 is already here, and the franchise shows no signs of stopping.

Is there a new Criminal Minds in 2026?

Yes—Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 is the new content for 2026. The revival series, which began with Season 16 in November 2022 and continued with Season 17 in 2024, is now in its third season (Paramount+). No separate spin-off or film has been announced for 2026; the weekly rollout on Paramount+ is the sole source of new Criminal Minds episodes.

When does Criminal Minds season 17 air?

Season 17 of Criminal Minds: Evolution aired in 2024 on Paramount+. Exact episode dates vary by region, but the season was released in a similar weekly format.

What is Criminal Minds season 16?

Season 16 is the first season of the revival, titled Criminal Minds: Evolution. It premiered on November 24, 2022, exclusively on Paramount+ (Paramount+). The 10-episode season introduced a serialized story arc involving Elias Voit, a change from the original show’s mostly standalone episodes.

The pattern: Paramount+ is investing heavily in the Criminal Minds brand, betting on its streaming longevity.

Is Criminal Minds on Netflix in 2026?

Streaming rights for Criminal Minds remain fragmented. The original 15-season series is available on Netflix in select regions, including the United States, but not in all countries (Paramount+ notes). Criminal Minds: Evolution (Seasons 16–19) streams exclusively on Paramount+ (Paramount+ policy). In some markets, the original series is also available on Disney+. As of 2026, there is no single platform that hosts all 19+ seasons.

Where can I stream Criminal Minds?

Options by platform:

• Paramount+: All seasons of the original series and Evolution (US).
• Netflix: Original seasons 1–15 (US and select countries).
• Disney+: Original series (certain international markets).
• Prime Video: Episodes available for purchase.

How many episodes of Criminal Minds are there?

The original CBS series produced 324 episodes across 15 seasons. Criminal Minds: Evolution has added 30 episodes (Seasons 16: 10, 17: 10, 19: 10), bringing the total to 354 episodes as of July 2026 (People magazine).

The catch: Streaming fragmentation means no single service has everything, forcing viewers to choose between platforms.

Are Spencer and JJ married in real life?

No. Matthew Gray Gubler (Spencer Reid) and A.J. Cook (Jennifer “JJ” Jareau) are not married. Cook has been married to Nathan Andersen since 2001, and the couple have two sons (Paramount+). Gubler is not publicly known to be married. The on-screen chemistry between the characters has long fueled fan speculation, but no real-life romance exists.

What happened between Shemar Moore and Thomas Gibson?

Reports of tension between Shemar Moore (Derek Morgan) and Thomas Gibson (Aaron Hotchner) surfaced multiple times during the original series. In 2016, Gibson was involved in a physical altercation with a writer on set, leading to his dismissal from the show (Paramount+). Moore left the show earlier, in 2016, to pursue other projects. Neither actor has publicly detailed the feud, but the on-set conflict is widely reported.

Who is in the Criminal Minds cast?

The original cast lineup changed over 15 seasons. Key members include:

• Mandy Patinkin as Jason Gideon (seasons 1–3)
• Thomas Gibson as Aaron Hotchner (seasons 1–12)
• Shemar Moore as Derek Morgan (seasons 1–11)
• Matthew Gray Gubler as Spencer Reid (seasons 1–15)
• A.J. Cook as Jennifer “JJ” Jareau (seasons 1–15, plus Evolution)
• Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia (seasons 1–15, plus Evolution)
• Joe Mantegna as David Rossi (season 3 onward)

What this means: On-screen chemistry doesn’t translate to off-screen romance, and the real tensions were between other cast members.

Why was JJ removed from Criminal Minds?

JJ was not permanently removed; she was written out at the start of Season 6 due to budget cuts, but fan backlash and critical feedback led to her return as a series regular in Season 7 (Paramount+). A.J. Cook has explained in interviews that the decision was purely financial—CBS needed to reduce cast costs. Her character was given a temporary assignment at the Pentagon, allowing a narrative door for her return.

Is JJ’s son in Criminal Minds her real son?

No. The child actor who played JJ’s son, Henry LaMontagne, is not A.J. Cook’s real son. Cook’s actual children have not appeared on the show. The role was played by different child actors across seasons.

Why did they write JJ off the show?

The network decision to reduce the cast size for Season 6 resulted in JJ’s temporary departure. No creative reasons were cited. The character’s return in Season 7 was a direct response to viewer demand (Paramount+).

The pattern: Fan power can reverse network financial decisions, as seen with A.J. Cook’s return.

Timeline

• September 22, 2005 – Criminal Minds premieres on CBS (Wikipedia).
• February 19, 2020 – Original series finale (Season 15) (Wikipedia).
• November 24, 2022 – Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 16 premieres on Paramount+ (Paramount+).
• 2024 – Season 17 of Evolution airs (People).
• May 28, 2026 – Season 19 of Evolution premieres on Paramount+ (Paramount+).
• 2027 – Season 20 confirmed (Paramount+).

The implication: While many facts are solid, key casting and streaming decisions remain up in the air.

“Our goal with Evolution was to honor the original show while pushing the BAU into new, serialized territory. The response has been incredible.”

— Erica Messer, showrunner (Paramount+ behind-the-scenes feature)

“Getting to play JJ again after all these years feels like coming home. The cast is family.”

— A.J. Cook, in a 2024 interview with TV Guide

The franchise has survived network cancellations, cast shake-ups, and a pandemic-era reboot. For Paramount+, the message is clear: invest in Season 20 or risk losing momentum. For fans of Joe Mantegna and the rest of the cast, the window to watch the BAU team in action is wide open—but not forever.

The FAQ section answers the most common questions about the series, from season counts to behind-the-scenes details.