Fear not, Grey’s Anatomy fans! Season 22 is back with big character moments, high-stakes drama, and a tragic explosion. The season began on October 9, 2025, and airs on ABC every Thursday.

The midseason episodes will come back in January 8, 2026 according to an article by Cinemablend. You can stream episodes on Hulu. Derek is not coming back, despite what people say, and there is no news yet about Season 23. Here’s everything you need to know, like when it will come out, where to watch it, and any new information about the cast.

When Does Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 Return Midseason?

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Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 began with a lot of action and emotional turmoil. After a catastrophic hospital explosion at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, the season keeps giving us impossible surgical decisions and life-or-death decisions.

ABC announced that the show will take a break after the November finale of the fall season. The new episodes will come back in the middle of the season in 2026, but no date has been set yet.

The Release Schedule and Fall Break

The first episode of Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 aired on October 9, 2025. New episodes stream every Thursday at 10 p.m. on ABC, with episodes available to watch on Hulu the next day. It aired in the middle of November. After that, Grey Sloan’s staff scrambles to get back on track during the break. The second half of the season will start up again in early 2026.

• Premiere Date: October 9, 2025.
• Fall Finale: Mid-November 2025.
• Return Date: January 8, 2026 according to an article by Cinemablend..
• Platform: ABC (live), Hulu (next-day streaming).

How Many Episodes and What to Expect

There will be 18 episodes in Grey’s Anatomy Season 22. Before the break, only seven episodes had already aired. The season focuses on trauma, treatment hangs in the balance, and Grey Sloan navigates both physical and emotional damage. While Grey Sloan’s staff tries to preserve life amid devastation, Meredith spends time with Amelia.

• Total Episodes: 18.
• Episodes Aired: 7 (as of fall finale).
• Key Themes: Renovations at the hospital, emotional trauma, and a strong will to live.
• Highlight: Episode 2 marked the 450th overall episode.

Is There a Season 23 of Grey’s Anatomy?

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ABC has not yet confirmed that Grey’s Anatomy will be back for a 23rd season. There is still no official news for fans of the long-running medical drama.

Ellen Pompeo, James Pickens Jr., and Chandra Wilson are currently in the cast, but they haven’t said for sure what will happen after Season 22. Grey Sloan’s future is still unknown, but it will always be remembered as a great medical drama.

What ABC and the Cast Have Said

What ABC has to say about the next season is unknown. Renewals are usually announced by the network in the spring. Ellen Pompeo’s smaller role makes people wonder. The cast, on the other hand, keeps telling powerful stories. Miranda Bailey, Owen Hunt, and Richard Webber, who work for Grey Sloan, still belong to important casts.

• ABC Status: Still no renewal.
• Cast Notes: Ellen Pompeo shows up less often.
• Legacy Cast: James Pickens Jr, Kevin McKidd, and Kim Raver.
• Streaming Factor: High ratings might change the decision.

Why Season 23 Still Seems Likely

Many times, Grey’s Anatomy has not lived up to expectations. A 23rd season is still possible if the ratings stay high and the fans stay loyal. The stories stay interesting with the help of new cast members like Anthony Hill, Harry Shum Jr., and Alexis Floyd. Also, adding new characters like Lucas Adams and Jules Millin gives the story a new direction.

• Strong Viewership: Loyal fans for a long time.
• Fresh Talent: Trevor Jackson, Simone Griffith, and Jaicy Elliot.
• Ongoing Stories: No romantic problems, just friendship arguments.
• Fan Demand: Still one of the best dramas on ABC.

Where Can I Watch Season 22 of Grey’s Anatomy?

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Don’t worry if you missed the chaotic first day of surgical rotations or the intense scenes where Bailey juggles patients’ lives. You can watch all of Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 episodes that have already aired on Hulu. They’re also on ABC every Thursday. People who need to catch up can still watch seasons from the past on Netflix.

Streaming Options for Current Episodes

On Hulu, episodes are available the day after they air on TV. New episodes air on ABC every Thursday night. Netflix only has Seasons 1 through 21, which is a shame. Fans of Grey Sloan need Hulu to keep up.

• Watch on ABC: Thursdays at 10 p.m.
• Watch on Hulu: Available the next day.
• Netflix: Only older seasons (1–21).

Devices and Viewing Tips

Most popular devices, like phones, tablets, and smart TVs, can connect to Hulu. There are more details when you watch in HD, especially when you’re in a hospital. Remember to watch Grey’s Anatomy every Thursday night so you don’t miss Grey’s surgical team making another impossible choice.

• Devices: Smart TVs, phones, tablets.
• Reminder Tip: Set reminders for Thursday shows.
• Best Experience: Watch in HD to see more about the surgery.

Is Derek Coming Back in Season 22?

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In Grey’s Anatomy, rumors spread quickly, but not all of them are true. Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 was supposed to bring back Derek Shepherd, and many fans were very excited about that. However, Patrick Dempsey is not in the new season.

Even though some online posts went viral, ABC confirmed that the character will not be back. Right now, the attention is still on Grey Sloan’s staff and their intense stories.

What the Rumors Got Wrong

Fans thought Derek would come back for seven episodes in Grey’s Anatomy Season 22. A rumor said that his appearance was connected to a plot with Meredith Grey. Reports say that neither ABC nor the production team ever said this, though. Instead, Meredith hangs out with Amelia Shepherd and other people, playing her small part.

• False Reports: Derek has been in seven episodes.
• Confirmed Truth: Derek won’t be coming back this season.
• Focus Shift: Storylines follow Jo Wilson, Teddy Altman, and Ben Warren.

Who the New Season Highlights Instead

The staff at Grey Sloan has to deal with trauma patients, hospital renovations, and emotional damage. Characters like Trevor Jackson, Anthony Hill, Harry Shum Jr., Alexis Floyd, and others make a big difference in the new season.

• Featured Cast: Kevin McKidd, Kim Raver, Winston Ndugu
• Supporting Arcs: Taryn Helm, Blue, Catherine Fox
• Themes: Only the strong survive, seek comfort, neither medicine nor faith can fix everything.

Final Thoughts

Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 keeps putting Grey Sloan’s staff through chaos, showing that only the strong survive. From the season premiere to the fall finale, Anatomy has a lot of emotional moments and cases that change people’s lives. Although she’s in fewer scenes, Meredith Grey is still very important.

The schedule calls for seven episodes to come out before the break. Kevin McKidd, Scott Speedman, and Nora Young are all in Season 22 of Grey’s Anatomy. Fans of Grey’s Anatomy can look forward to seeing more of Grey Sloan as the show goes on. Even National Geographic couldn’t figure out how a person who had been hurt could live with two lungs damaged.

FAQs

Why did Taylor Swift give Ellen Pompeo money?

Taylor Swift once gifted Ellen Pompeo a financial thank-you for her appearance in the “Bad Blood” video, but it is not related to Grey’s Anatomy Season 22.

Why was Lexie written off Grey’s Anatomy?

Lexie was written off Grey’s Anatomy during a tragic plane crash to advance Grey Sloan’s story arc and shift Grey Sloan’s staff dynamics.

Is Izzie coming back to Grey’s Anatomy?

Izzie has not returned in Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 and is not confirmed for any of the seven episodes airing before the fall finale.

Do Ellen Pompeo and Sandra Oh still friends?

Ellen Pompeo and Sandra Oh remain supportive of each other off-screen despite Sandra Oh leaving Grey’s Anatomy in an earlier seasons.

Did Cristina go to Derek’s funeral?

Cristina did not appear at Derek’s funeral on-screen, but it was confirmed that she attended off-screen to honor Grey Sloan’s legacy.