ABC has set its midseason premiere dates, and the biggest change is a new night for The Bachelor. Season 30 of the dating show premieres Sunday, March 21 at 8:01 p.m., the first new entry in the franchise since Bachelor in Paradise in the summer of 2025.
The rest of the schedule starts in early January, when several of ABC’s biggest dramas return in the same week.
High Potential And The Rookie Open January
Things kick off Tuesday, January 5 with the Season 5 premiere of Will Trent at 8 p.m., followed by the Season 3 premiere of High Potential at 9 p.m. The new series Surviving a Scandal debuts at 10 p.m. Produced by Glass Entertainment for ABC News Studios, it looks back at people whose private lives became tabloid fodder, from Milli Vanilli to Octomom and Joey Buttafuoco, and what happens when a name becomes tied to a scandal for good.
On Wednesday, January 6, Shifting Gears returns with a two-episode Season 3 premiere at 8 p.m. The Rookie follows with its Season 9 premiere at 9 p.m., and the Jay Ellis-led spinoff The Rookie: North makes its series debut at 10 p.m.
Thursday, January 7 brings back the shows that premiered in the fall: 9-1-1 at 8 p.m., 9-1-1: Nashville at 9 p.m. and Grey’s Anatomy at 10 p.m. Abbott Elementary returns the following Wednesday, January 13, at 8:31 p.m.
American Idol, Super Bowl And The Oscars
Celebrity Jeopardy! starts its fifth season Friday, January 29 at 8 p.m. American Idol gets an anniversary special, American Idol at 25, on Monday, February 1, ahead of its Season 25 premiere on Monday, February 8 at 8 p.m. Shark Tank moves to 10 p.m. that night.
ABC also has the big live events. The Grammy Awards air Sunday, February 7, and Super Bowl LXI follows on Sunday, February 14, with a special High Potential episode right after the game. The Oscars air Sunday, March 14.
The Bachelor Moves To Sundays
A week after the Oscars, Sunday nights go unscripted. America’s Funniest Home Videos airs at 7 p.m. on March 21, The Bachelor premieres at 8:01 p.m., and Season 18 of What Would You Do? follows at 10:01 p.m.
The Bachelor has had a rough stretch. Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of The Bachelorette fell apart amid domestic violence allegations involving her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. Bachelor shows usually run nearly year round on ABC, which makes the long gap before Season 30 stand out.
For all the Disney news without the clickbait make sure to follow our accounts! Facebook | Twitter | Threads | Instagram | TikTok
