Is ‘9-1-1’ On Tonight? Here’s When ‘9-1-1’ Returns To ABC With New Episodes In 2025

The moment 9-1-1 fans have been anxiously awaiting since the series went on hiatus in November 2024 has almost arrived.

It’s been three months since Season 8, Episode 8, “Wannabees” premiered on ABC and showrunner/co-creator Tim Minear teased trouble ahead, saying that after bringing the 118 back together in the first half of the season, he planned to “blow it all the hell apart” in the second half. But the hit ABC procedural is set to return shortly with an action-packed two-night return.

Based previews, we know that 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 9 will have Athena (Angela Bassett) on the hunt for a serial killer who almost certainly kidnaps a pregnant Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt). Teased as one of 9-1-1‘s “most intense episodes yet,” the show’s 2025 return will feature a high-stakes investigation and a whole lot of drama. So you don’t want to miss a moment.

So is 9-1-1 on tonight, February 20? When does 9-1-1 return with new episodes? And what else does Minear have to tease about the second half of Season 8? Here’s what to know.

Is 9-1-1 On Tonight (2/20/25)?

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news (again!), but there’s no new episode of 9-1-1 airing tonight, February 20, on ABC. Instead, a new episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is premiering on the network at 8:00 p.m. ET.

When Does 9-1-1 Return With New Episodes? 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 9 Premiere Date:

As noted, 9-1-1‘s midseason finale aired back on November 21, kicking off a months-long hiatus. Rest assured, the wait for new episodes is almost over, as the series is set to return with new episodes on Thursday, March 6, 2025.

What Time Is 9-1-1 On ABC?

Mark your calendars! Set your phone alarms! Plan your watch parties, people! When the series returns, 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 9 will premiere on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC.

What Will 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 9 (And Beyond) Be About? Showrunner Tim Minear And Stars Jennifer Love Hewitt And Ryan Guzman Weigh In:

If you haven’t read Tim Minear’s full midseason finale interview with Decider, now’s the perfect time! In terms of teases for the remainder of the season, here’s what the showrunner had to say about the second half of Season 8.

When we left Eddie (Ryan Guzman) in Episode 808, he was considering a move to Texas to be closer to his son Christopher (Gavin McHugh). Minear confirmed Eddie’s life will still be “in flux” when the show returns. While fans may have a hard time imagining one of 9-1-1‘s core character relocating long-term, Minear assured Decider that “Eddie is dead serious about doing whatever he has to do to repair that relationship, so if that means moving to Texas, maybe that’s what he has to do.” (A BTS TikTok essentially confirmed that the move is happening, so get your tissues ready when 9-1-1 returns.)

In an interview with Forbes, Guzman said, “There are going to be some big changes in Eddie’s life. Big, big changes in Eddie’s life. Much like myself, Eddie is always thinking about his children and what he will do for his child. There’s nothing he won’t do, but that will incur some massive changes. In the next couple episodes when we come back, you’re going to understand what that means.”

Minear also told Decider that Eddie’s bestie Buck (Oliver Stark) “is going to be spinning like a top by the time we come back. [He’s] not wanting to be a bad friend, and not wanting to be selfish. There’s just no way he’s not going to spiral about this.” That said, the showrunner explained Buck will eventually find some sort of distraction. “He’s going to have to find something to latch onto to keep from completely spinning out of control. And he will find that. He will find that when we come back,” Minear said. “And we’ll see about that and how long that lasts — these relationships don’t tend to last all that long.”

As for other personal storylines, Minear said, “The Bobby and Athena building a new house story, we’ll hit that pretty hard in Episode 11… We’ll also get to see Buck dealing with his abandonment issues. And then Episode 10 is just going to be thrilling. It’s going to be a thriller. And by the end of Episode 10, everybody’s life is changed.”

The teaser for two-part return event opens with Josh (Bryan Safi) at the dispatch center reporting “a possible hostage situation” and Maddie saying, “I got his location.” When Athena (Angela Bassett) arrives on the scene, however, she reports, “There’s nobody here.” But that’s only the beginning…

“Something’s not right,” Athena tells Bobby (Peter Krause) in another clip. “Almost nothing’s right about it,” he replies. After zip ties, rope, and blood are found at a crime scene, we hear Athena say, “He’s a damn serial killer. And it looks like he took Maddie with him.” *GASP!*

The teaser also shows Hen (Aisha Hinds) and Buck (Oliver Stark) looking distressed, Bobby comforting a concerned Chimney (Kenneth Choi), and Maddie passing out after a mysterious figure holds a rag over her face. 

During a recent interview on I’ve Never Said This Before With Tommy DiDario, Hewitt described Maddie’s upcoming Season 8 arc as, “The craziest thing I’ve ever done on 9-1-1. The audience is not ready. I was not ready.” Hewitt even said she lost her voice after filming and had no idea the “wild” and “fun” storyline was coming. So buckle up!

How To Watch 9-1-1 On Hulu: 9-1-1 Streaming Info

If you want to catch up on 9-1-1 ahead of its 2025 return, you’ll need to be a Hulu subscriber to watch existing episodes and new episodes of 9-1-1 Season 8 the day after they air on ABC. The good news is you’ll have access to the episode with any version of the streaming service. The streamer’s least expensive ad-supported plan costs $7.99 a month (or $79.99 a year), while its ad-free option is $17.99 a month. If you choose to add Live TV to your plan you can select an ad-supported Hulu + Live TV now with Disney+ and ESPN+ bundle for $76.99 a month or go ad-free for $89.99 a month.

How To Watch 9-1-1 Live On ABC:

Want to watch 9-1-1 live when it returns? If you have a cable subscription that includes ABC, you can watch 9-1-1 live by setting your TV to the proper channel at 8:00 p.m. ET. You can also use your cable username and password to watch live ABC episodes live on ABC.com or with the ABC app. And if your cable package includes a DVR, you can always record live episodes for later viewing.

No cable? No worries! There are several other live viewing options, such as live TV skinny bundles, which give you access to networks without cable. YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and fuboTV, all come with ABC. And if you don’t have cable or a live TV skinny bundle, you can always stream episodes of 9-1-1 the following day on Hulu.