Is There A New Episode Of Law & Order: SVU Tonight? (December 16, 2021)

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" is currently in the middle of its record-breaking 23rd season. Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and the rest of the squad at the SVU continue to handle New York's most sensitive crimes, and somehow, even after over 500 episodes, the stories they present remain fresh.

The last time we saw the SVU team was on December 9, when they joined forces with "Law & Order: Organized Crime." The two shows combined in a special episode called "People vs. Richard Wheatley," a cool crossover event teased in a much-discussed promo. Before this episode, "SVU" was on hiatus for a while, but since it's now returned, fans of the series are no doubt wondering if there will be a new one on tonight. After all, primetime network slots are always tricky during the holidays, as some channels air new episodes while other shows opt to take a few weeks. 

So, will we get a new episode of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" tonight?

Sorry to burst your bubble, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" fans, but it looks like there won't be new episodes any time soon. Though the show returned last week after a couple of weeks' worth of Thanksgiving-induced lull, it was only for that one brief team-up with the characters on the Christopher Meloni-led "Law & Order: Organized Crime." 

But fear not! This isn't a permanent goodbye to the Dick Wolf-produced series. Instead, the SVU team is taking a well-deserved break for the end-of-year holidays. "Law & Order: SVU" will return from its hiatus on January 6, 2022, so be sure to mark the date on your calendar. After all, the show is pretty much always appointment viewing, but its triumphant return in 2022 sure seems to be a special occasion among special occasions.

The next episode of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" will air on NBC on January 6, 2022, at 9/8c ET.