Criminal Minds Season 19: Release Date, Cast, and Everything We Know

Few TV shows have kept fans guessing about the next season quite like Criminal Minds, which ended its original run in 2020 and returned as Criminal Minds: Evolution in 2022. Now season 19 is streaming, and this guide covers what’s confirmed and what’s still unclear for the BAU team.

Original run: 2005–2020 · Seasons (original + revival): 15 original + 3 Evolution (S16–S18) · Total episodes (original + Evolution S16–S17): 324 original + 20 Evolution · Network: CBS (original), Paramount+ (revival) · Creator: Jeff Davis

Eight key facts, one takeaway: the Criminal Minds universe is alive and growing — but some of the most-asked questions remain unanswered.

Will there be a season 19 of Criminal Minds?

What is the current status of Criminal Minds season 19?

• Season 19 is currently streaming — it premiered May 28, 2026 on Paramount+ (Paramount+ (official streaming platform)).
• The season is branded as the fourth season of Criminal Minds: Evolution, not a separate new series (Radio Times (UK media outlet)).
• Paramount+ has released episode 1 titled “Now and Then” — the BAU hunts kidnappers targeting couples while Elias Voit faces a familiar darkness in prison (Paramount+ episode page).

Has season 19 been canceled or renewed?

• As of mid-2026, no renewal for season 20 has been announced. Paramount+ has not canceled the series, but the future depends on viewership (Radio Times (UK media outlet)).
• The cast has called season 19 their “best yet” according to on-set coverage from Entertainment Tonight (Entertainment Tonight (celebrity news outlet)).

When could season 19 premiere?

• It premiered May 28, 2026 — that date is confirmed by Paramount+ and mirrored by third-party listings (Paramount+ (official streaming platform); Rotten Tomatoes via YouTube (review aggregator)).
• UK viewers are still waiting for a local release date, with Disney+ expected to carry it (Radio Times (UK media outlet)).

The implication: season 19 is real and out now, but the show’s long-term survival depends on how many new and returning subscribers Paramount+ draws.

Why did they write JJ off the show?

Fans have long wondered why Jennifer “JJ” Jareau was written off in season 6. According to historical reports from industry watchers, the character’s departure was driven by budget cuts — A.J. Cook’s contract was not renewed. A vocal fan backlash followed, and she returned in season 7, staying through the original series finale. She is very much part of the Evolution cast, including season 19 (Radio Times (UK media outlet)).

The catch: While JJ’s writing-off was a forced move at the time, her comeback proved the character’s importance — and she remains a fan favorite today.

Are Spencer and JJ married in real life?

No. Despite the close on-screen bond between Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) and JJ (A.J. Cook), the actors are not married in real life. Both keep their personal lives private, but publicly they share a friendly professional relationship. No romantic relationship has ever been reported by credible outlets (Radio Times (UK media outlet)).

Why this matters: The “will-they-won’t-they” dynamic has fueled fan speculation for years, but the actors themselves have never confirmed anything beyond friendship.

Is Criminal Minds on Netflix in 2026?

Yes, the original 15 seasons are still available on Netflix in the United States. However, Criminal Minds: Evolution (seasons 16–19) streams exclusively on Paramount+. UK viewers access the original seasons on Disney+ alongside the new episodes (Radio Times (UK media outlet); Paramount+ (official streaming platform)).

The trade-off: you need two subscriptions to watch the full catalog — Netflix for the original arc and Paramount+ for the revival.

What is the saddest death in Criminal Minds?

Death is a recurring theme in a show about violent crime, but fans often point to the loss of Gideon (Mandy Patinkin) in season 2 and the death of Maeve in season 8 as the most gut-wrenching. Gideon’s death came off-screen and was deeply personal for Reid, while Maeve was murdered just as she and Reid confessed their love. Hailey Hotchner’s murder in season 5 also ranks high. There’s no official “saddest” — it’s subjective — but these three names come up most often in fan discussions (Paramount+ (official streaming platform); Radio Times (UK media outlet)).

The pattern: The most heartbreaking deaths involve beloved main characters, not victims of the week — showing how invested viewers became in the team’s personal lives.

Timeline

• 2005–2020 – Original Criminal Minds airs on CBS (Radio Times (UK media outlet))
• 2022 – Paramount+ orders revival as Criminal Minds: Evolution (Paramount+ (official streaming platform))
• November 24, 2022 – Season 16 (Evolution) premieres (Paramount+ (official streaming platform))
• June 6, 2024 – Season 17 premieres (Radio Times (UK media outlet))
• 2025 – Season 18 announced for summer 2025 (Radio Times (UK media outlet))
• May 28, 2026 – Season 19 premieres on Paramount+ (Paramount+ episode page)

Clarity section

Quotes from the show and set

“We think this is our best season yet.”

– Cast members during Entertainment Tonight on-set coverage of season 19 (Entertainment Tonight (celebrity news outlet))

“The BAU hunts kidnappers targeting couples, while Elias Voit faces a familiar darkness in prison.”

– Paramount+ official season 19 episode description (Paramount+ episode page)

“Criminal Minds: Evolution returns May 28 only on Paramount+.”

– Paramount+ promotional copy (Paramount+ (official streaming platform))

For Paramount+ subscribers in the US, the choice is simple: stream season 19 now. For UK viewers still waiting on a local date, the show’s popularity on Disney+ will likely dictate how fast it arrives. Paramount+ has not announced season 20, and the BAU’s fate depends on subscriber engagement.

Frequently asked questions