CBS Moves Matlock Season 3 to Midseason, Delaying Debut to 2027
No new Matlock episode will air on October 8, 2026, after CBS shifted season 3 from the fall lineup to a midseason premiere expected in early 2027.
CBS has moved Matlock season 3 out of its fall lineup and into a midseason premiere, according to Screen Rant. The shift means no new episode of the series will air on October 8, 2026, as the fall schedule once indicated.
Showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman said she requested the change, citing the need to plan the show's direction following the season 2 finale. Season 3 is currently expected to debut between January and March 2027.
The scheduling decision follows a run that began with the series premiere on September 22, 2024. Season 1 ran 19 episodes and concluded on April 17, 2025. Season 2 then premiered on October 12, 2025, airing 16 episodes before ending on April 23, 2026.
Matlock stars Kathy Bates, whose work on the series has drawn two Golden Globe nominations and one Emmy nomination. The first two seasons hold a combined 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The show is a reimagining of Andy Griffith's 1986 NBC series of the same name.
Quick answers
When does Matlock season 3 premiere?
Matlock season 3 is currently expected to debut between January and March 2027, after CBS moved it to a midseason premiere.
Why was Matlock season 3 delayed?
Showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman said she requested the switch to plan the show's direction after the season 2 finale.
Is a new Matlock episode airing on October 8, 2026?
No. CBS moved season 3 out of the fall lineup, so no new episode airs on October 8, 2026.