- Grey’s Anatomy season 22 premiered on October 9, with an action-packed episode.
- The series is the longest-running medical drama in the U.S.
- Shonda Rhimes and showrunner Meg Marinis tease plans for the show’s future.
Ever since the series debuted back in 2005, Grey’s Anatomy has captivated and emotionally traumatized viewers with its endearing characters and heartbreaking storylines. In many ways, Death has served as a character unto itself. Come to think of it, it might be the most vital character of the entire series, coming for both patients and our beloved doctors in equal measure. Much like in real life, no one’s safety is ever guaranteed, which has made for some truly unforgettable television. But what about the fate of the show itself?
With season 22 now underway, Grey’s Anatomy continues to hold the record as the longest-running medical drama in U.S. history. But how many more seasons can this show churn out? Will there be a season 23 or is this ABC series nearing its very own expiration date?
Here’s everything you need to know, thus far, about Grey’s Anatomy season 23:
Is Grey’s Anatomy returning for season 23?
As it stands, ABC has yet to renew the show for another season, however, there’s still plenty of time for that to happen. Grey’s didn’t get picked up for season 22 until April of this year, which indicates the network may prefer to wait until the end of the current season to make any official decisions about the future. But given how frequently the show has returned (22 times and counting) there’s a good chance that pattern will continue, especially considering how game showrunner Meg Marinis is to keep the series going.
“I hope to be here as long as they’ll have me,” Marinis admitted during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in May 2025. "I love this show. I love working for Shonda [Rhimes]. It’s home. I’m in it to win it so let’s see how long they can keep us going. I’m here.”
Meanwhile, Rhimes herself has confessed that she has “zero endings” in mind when it comes to bringing the show to a close. “I mean, literally zero,” she told Entertainment Weekly in March 2025. “Until season 8, I still had endings. And by the way, I felt like I ended the series several times. I was like, ‘This could be the finale, this could be it,’ but it wasn't. So after a while I just started writing those things that I thought would happen at the end into the show, because it wasn't ending.”
So if the showrunner and creator of the series are fine with pressing on, that certainly seems to bode well for the show’s ongoing existence.
What will season 23 be about?
Obviously, since the show has yet to get picked up for another season, there’s no way of knowing what said season would be about. It would most likely follow the same central doctors it always does (those who survive the current season, anyway), and introduce various medical dilemmas from various patients that’ll pull at our collective heartstrings.
When will season 23 premiere?
Without confirmation that another season will happen, there’s also no confirmation of any potential premiere date. However, Grey’s tends to return in the fall, so an October 2026 debut would be the most likely scenario.
Who will return for season 23?
One would hope that all of the current characters would make their way back to our favorite Seattle hospital for any future seasons, but as the season 21 finale reminded us, not even the stars of this show are guaranteed safety. So we’ll need to finish season 22 before making any assumptions of who will come back (or survive) for another season. Good luck, docs!
