All About ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Season 28, Including the Knicks Cameo Mariska Hargitay Teased

Here’s everything to know about ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ season 28, starring Mariska Hargitay, ahead of its premiere on NBC this fall.

Virginia Sherwood/NBC

NEED TO KNOW

Season 28 of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit will mark the show’s 600th episode

Mariska Hargitay and Ice T will return, with Ice T confirming his character will appear in every episode

Hargitay teased a potential a cameo by NBA star Jalen Brunson

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is about to make history with its 28th season.

The next installment of the NBC procedural, which premieres on Oct. 8, will extend its record as the longest-running primetime live-action series in American television. It’ll also include its 600th episode, a milestone showrunner Michele Fazekas is planning something “big” for.

“It’s going to be, potentially, the last centennial episode of this whole show, you know? So, we’ll do it right, and it’s planned out,” she teased to Give Me My Remote in August 2026.

The plan in question involves the return of a character. Fazekas hasn’t confirmed who, but she has mentioned that, like all Law & Order: SVU fans, she’d love to see Christopher Meloni reprise his role as Elliot Stabler.

“We would all love to grab him whenever he can,” the showrunner told Give Me My Remote in May 2026. “But I also don’t want to just do it as a gag. I want to do it as, like, meaningful.” Neither the network nor the show has confirmed his return.

With a milestone episode on the horizon and a potential Stabler return in the mix, here’s everything to know about Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 28.

What will Law & Order: SVU season 28 be about?

Though an official logline for Law & Order: SVU‘s 28th season hasn’t been released, its showrunner has provided some insight into what’s next for the Special Victims Unit.

Season 27 saw Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Sgt. Odafin “Fin” Tutuola (Ice T) toy with the idea of retirement. Thankfully, they both recommitted to the job by the finale, and Fazekas told TV Insider in May 2026 that Benson won’t be “asking that question” in season 28.

“What I want to do is see how far we can push Benson’s boundaries,” the showrunner told Give Me My Remote in August 2026. “She’s not going to quit. So what is she going to do?”

She added that while Stabler, if pushed to his limits, might beat up a suspect, that’s not on par for Benson.

“I’m interested in exploring that out of — not really despair, but out of feeling a little disillusioned with the system,” Fazekas said. “It’s a long time to be in that system. Not everything works out.”

Who will be in the Law & Order: SVU season 28 cast?

NBC hasn’t confirmed casting for Law & Order: SVU‘s 28th season, but Hargitay and Ice T will reprise their roles.

Though his character was sidelined for much of last season, Ice T confirmed in a July 2026 episode of The TMZ Podcast that Fin will be “in every episode” of season 28.

Series regulars Peter Scanavino, Kelli Giddish, Kevin Kane and Aimé Donna Kelly are also expected to return, per Variety.

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In addition to a potential Meloni sighting, Hargitay teased another possible season 28 cameo for fans to get excited about: New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson.

“Don’t tell anyone!” the actress jokingly whispered in a clip from an August 2026 appearance on Today. “But you might see him on SVU ... we’ve got some things in the works.”

What has Mariska Hargitay said about Law & Order: SVU season 28?

Though she hasn’t commented specifically on season 28’s storyline, Hargitay has been vocal about her intention to stick with Law & Order: SVU — which she believes could reach 30 seasons.

“I love my show. I love my cast. I love my showrunner, my writers, my producers,” she told Deadline in April 2026. “I feel like the luckiest, happiest actress.”

Hargitay later echoed that commitment. Though she admitted to Variety in August 2026 that she considered leaving the show around season 25, she ultimately realized she could pursue other creative projects without giving up Benson.

“Do I want to quit now? No,” Hargitay said, noting that creator Dick Wolf has recently set his sights on taking SVU through season 30. “Why? I made a movie while shooting; I did a play for six weeks on hiatus. I’m hosting the Emmys. Next summer, if I don’t make another movie, I’ll probably do another play. And I love it!”

When will Law & Order: SVU season 28 be released?

Law & Order: SVU will return on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 10 p.m. ET.

Where can I watch Law & Order: SVU?

Virginia Sherwood/NBC

New episodes of Law & Order: SVU season 28 will air on NBC and be available to stream the next day on Peacock.

Old seasons of the series are also available to watch on Peacock as well as Hulu.

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