One Chicago on Hiatus: Why ‘Med,’ ‘Fire,’ and ‘P.D.’ Are Off the Air for Three Weeks

Fans of NBC’s “One Chicago” lineup will need to exercise a bit of patience this month. Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago P.D. have officially entered a three-week hiatus, leaving Wednesday nights without new episodes for the remainder of February. While the sudden break might come as a shock to “Chihards” who tune in weekly for their fix of Windy City drama, the reason behind the schedule change is a monumental one: the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games.

The Olympic Pause NBC, the longtime home of the Olympics, has shifted its entire prime-time schedule to accommodate comprehensive coverage of the Winter Games in northern Italy. From high-speed skiing to elite figure skating, the world’s most talented winter athletes are taking center stage, displacing the firefighters of House 51 and the officers of Intelligence. This multi-week break is a standard occurrence for NBC dramas during Olympic years, allowing the network to maximize its sports viewership while ensuring that new episodes of its flagship dramas don’t get lost in the shuffle of gold-medal ceremonies.

Where We Left Off The hiatus comes at a particularly tense time for all three shows. On Chicago Med, fans are eagerly awaiting more from Dr. Hannah Asher and Dr. Dean Archer as they navigate a surprise pregnancy. Meanwhile, Chicago Fire has left Kelly Severide and Stella Kidd in the middle of a rocky patch, with departmental shifts threatening the harmony of Firehouse 51. Chicago P.D. has been equally intense, focusing on high-stakes blackmail and the integration of new officers into Sgt. Hank Voight’s unit.

The Grand Return: A Crossover Event The good news for fans is that the wait will conclude with a massive payoff. One Chicago is set to return on Wednesday, March 4, and it isn’t coming back with just regular episodes. Instead, NBC is launching a highly anticipated three-part crossover event.

In a departure from the usual order, the night will kick off with Chicago Fire at 8/7c. The storyline begins at an airfield where a passenger jet goes silent mid-air, sparking a terrifying emergency. The investigation into the plane’s mysterious silence will lead into Chicago Med at 9/8c and conclude with a gripping finale on Chicago P.D. at 10/9c.

Adding to the excitement, the crossover will feature the return of two beloved fan favorites: Jesse Lee Soffer as Jay Halstead and Tracy Spiridakos as Hailey Upton. This marks the first time the former power couple will reunite on screen since their dramatic separation, a moment many viewers have been waiting years to see.

A Unified Universe The upcoming event highlights the unique synergy between the three shows. Producers have noted that the writers’ rooms work closely to ensure character arcs feel seamless across the medical, fire, and police departments.

Until March 4, fans can catch up on previous episodes via Peacock, but for those craving new action, the countdown to the airfield emergency and the Halstead-Upton reunion has officially begun. One Chicago will be back, and if the early teasers are any indication, it will be well worth the three-week wait.