Every year, American television effectively pauses in early February. Once the confetti falls at Super Bowl LX, the industry flips a switch. February 2026 follows that exact playbook, with the real midseason TV rollout beginning Monday, February 23.

This post-Super Bowl window is when networks stop playing defense and start making their biggest moves. New series finally debut. Flagship franchises return. Time slots stabilize. For viewers, it’s when appointment TV comes roaring back.

Here’s what to expect from U.S. broadcast networks after February 23, 2026, and why this week matters more than any other in the month.

Why Networks Wait Until After the Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is not just the most-watched television event of the year. It also distorts everything around it.

In the two weeks leading up to the game, networks avoid launching scripted shows because:

  • Viewers are distracted by sports and event programming

  • Promotional noise is at its loudest

  • Ratings are unpredictable and often misleading

Add the Winter Olympics into the mix, and early February becomes an inhospitable environment for premieres. That’s why February 23 is widely treated as the true start of the midseason, even though it falls late in the month.

Read more:

- February 2026 TV Schedule: Every New and Returning Show to Watch in the U.S.

- February 2026 TV & Streaming Schedule: What’s New on Netflix, HBO, Apple TV+, Amazon, Hulu, and More

- February 2026 Premium Streaming Calendar: What to Watch on Criterion, MUBI, BritBox, and Acorn TV

Monday, February 23: The Midseason Begins

NBC: Rebuilding Monday Nights

The Voice Season 29 features some exciting format changes
The Voice Season 29 features some exciting format changes

NBC comes out swinging on February 23 with a lineup designed to stabilize its early-week schedule.

  • The Voice – Season 29: The long-running competition series returns as NBC’s anchor, bringing predictable ratings and a strong lead-in audience.

  • The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins (new comedy): Positioned behind The Voice, this debut gets the network’s best possible launch pad. It’s a classic post-Super Bowl strategy: introduce something new where viewers already are.

NBC’s goal here is clear. Lock down Monday nights quickly and rebuild momentum after weeks of Olympic disruption.

CBS: A High-Confidence Launch Strategy

CBS uses February 23 to introduce one of its most anticipated new dramas of the year.

  • CIA (new series)
    Launching at 10 p.m., this show signals CBS’s confidence in procedural-style drama with franchise potential.

CBS pairs this debut with familiar programming earlier in the night, minimizing risk while still making a statement. It’s a reminder that CBS still treats midseason like a second fall premiere window.

Hulu: Streaming Joins the Midseason Moment

Hulu’s ‘Paradise’ For Season 2
Hulu’s ‘Paradise’ For Season 2

While broadcast networks dominate the conversation, Hulu makes a strategic move the same night.

  • Paradise – Season 2
    Dropping alongside broadcast premieres, the series benefits from renewed TV chatter and viewers looking for alternatives to live viewing.

This kind of timing shows how streaming platforms increasingly mirror broadcast rhythms rather than ignoring them.

Wednesday, February 25: Franchises Take Over

If Monday is about launching new shows, Wednesday is about reminding viewers what they already love.

CBS: A Milestone Event

  • Survivor – Season 50
    This is more than a season premiere. It’s a television milestone. CBS uses the post-Super Bowl window to maximize attention, press coverage, and live viewing.

ABC: Nostalgia and Experimentation

  • Scrubs – Season 10 (revival)
    Launching with a two-episode premiere, ABC leans into nostalgia while testing whether legacy sitcoms can still cut through.

  • The Greatest Average American (new game show)
    Game shows thrive in transitional seasons, and February is prime testing ground.

Wednesday becomes a showcase for brand power, where networks rely on recognition rather than risk.

Thursday, February 26: Stability Returns

By Thursday, February 26, schedules finally begin to feel “normal” again.

CBS: Thursday Night Lockdown

CBS restores its full Thursday lineup, including:

  • Ghosts

  • Matlock

  • Elsbeth

  • Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage

This move matters more than it looks. Thursday nights are advertising gold, and returning to a consistent lineup signals confidence that February turbulence is over.

Netflix Enters the Conversation

Bridgerton Season 4 Arrives in 2026
Bridgerton Season 4 Arrives in 2026

  • Bridgerton – Season 4, Part 2

Even though Netflix operates outside the traditional schedule, dropping Bridgerton during this week ensures it remains part of the broader TV conversation rather than competing with the Super Bowl or Olympics.

Friday, February 27: Genre Fans Get Rewarded

Friday rounds out the post-Super Bowl week with genre-friendly programming.

  • Monarch: Legacy of Monsters – Season 2 (Apple TV+)

  • Celebrity Jeopardy! (ABC)

While Fridays aren’t built for massive live ratings, they work well for dedicated fanbases and next-day streaming.

What This Means for Viewers

If you felt like February crawled at the start, that’s by design. Networks intentionally stack the deck late.

Here’s how to approach the post-Super Bowl TV surge:

  • Sample new shows early: Most series live or die by their first two episodes

  • Expect fewer interruptions: Olympic and event preemptions largely end after this week

  • Plan for weekly viewing: This is when schedules finally stabilize

Why February 23 Is the Real Start of the TV Year (Again)

Fall may still be television’s official “season premiere,” but in practice, February 23 functions like a second opening night. Networks use it to correct mistakes, test new ideas, and relaunch franchises with fresh energy.

For viewers, that means something simple:

If you only tune in once February gets busy, this is the week that matters.