Following its initial announcement, it was revealed that NCIS: Sydney will not air a new episode as scheduled. According to TVLine, the network will instead air a rerun in that time slot. Details below reflect the original programming plan.

NCIS and NCIS: Sydney are both heading into a hiatus after Tuesday night’s broadcasts on December 16.

The flagship NCIS will air a brand-new episode titled “Heaven and Nature” at 8 p.m. ET. That was originally set to be followed by a new episode of NCIS: Sydney, “South of Nowhere,” at 9 p.m. ET, though that installment has now been delayed.

After tonight, fans won’t see new episodes of either series for several weeks. All three NCIS shows – NCIS, NCIS: Sydney, and NCIS: Origins – are scheduled to return from their fall-finale hiatus on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

While the extended break may be disappointing for viewers, it’s a common practice for network television. Many shows pause production and air reruns during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s holiday period.

In tonight’s episode of NCIS, McGee and Torres race to recover a stolen truck filled with toys intended for the Navy’s annual Christmas drive. Meanwhile, the truth about Parker’s mother is finally revealed, and Knight embarks on her first NCIS: Elite mission, tracking down a former team member.

The delayed NCIS: Sydney episode centers on the team traveling to an Antarctic research base to investigate why a climate scientist k1lled a colleague on Polar Night Eve – all while racing against time to escape before their plane engine freezes, potentially trapping them in darkness for six months.