How Many Seasons of NCIS Are There, And How Can You Stream Them All?

NCIS is nothing short of a global phenomenon. The flagship CBS Original drama series has earned Emmy® Award nominations, led the way as television’s top-rated broadcast drama, and spawned the NCISverse, a group of hit shows, including NCIS: Hawai'i, that has produced so many episodes it would take you roughly an entire month to watch them all back to back without breaks.

Read on to learn where to watch and stream all episodes of NCIS, including new, in-season episodes, plus how to stream the NCISverse shows NCIS: Hawai’i, NCIS: Sydney, and NCIS: New Orleans. As an added bonus, we'll answer some of your burning NCIS questions, such as "How many seasons of NCIS are there?" and "What does NCIS stand for?"
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Where to Watch NCIS?

You can watch all seasons of NCIS on Paramount+. As of publication, there are 20 seasons available to begin streaming immediately. Additionally, you can stream new, in-season NCIS episodes as they air live on CBS on Mondays, from 9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT, on Paramount+ with the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan, and/or on demand, the day after the episode airs, on Paramount+ with either the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan or the Paramount+ Essential plan.

Here's a quick reference guide for watching and streaming NCIS:  

NCIS
New, in-season episodes live air date, as of NCIS Season 21: Mondays
New, in-season episodes live air time, as of NCIS Season 21: 9:00 PM, ET/PT
Channel: CBS
Streaming: Paramount+, for all episodes, all seasons. Paramount+ subscribers with the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME® plan can stream new, in-season episodes live as they air on CBS, and/or on demand. Paramount+ subscribers with the Paramount+ Essential plan can stream new, in-season episodes on demand the day after they air on CBS.

What channel is NCIS on?

NCIS is on CBS. As of publication, new, in-season episodes air Mondays at 9 PM, ET/PT, and are available to stream live as they air on CBS on Paramount+ via the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME® plan. New, in-season episodes may be streamed on demand, the day after the episodes air, on Paramount+ with either the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME® plan, or the Paramount+ Essential plan. You may select which Paramount+ plan you want at sign-up.

How many seasons of NCIS are there?

As of publication, there are 21 seasons of NCIS. The 21st season began on February 12, 2024.

Will there be a 22nd season of NCIS?

Yes, there will be a 22nd season of NCIS. On April 9, 2024, CBS announced it had renewed NCIS for Season 22.

What does NCIS stand for?

In real life, as in the drama series, NCIS stands for Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Within the U.S. Department of the Navy, NCIS is the law-enforcement agency responsible for investigating crime, stopping terrorism, and protecting secrets for the Navy and Marine Corps.

What is NCIS about?

NCIS is an action drama about the complex, but often amusing dynamics within a team of special agents forced to work together through high-stress situations. The agents investigate all manner of crime with Navy or Marine Corp connections – from murder and espionage, to terrorism and stolen submarines.

Where can I watch all seasons of NCIS?

You can watch all seasons of NCIS on Paramount+.

When do new seasons of NCIS begin?

Traditionally, new seasons of NCIS premiere in the fall. As of publication, CBS has not announced a premiere date for NCIS' 22nd season.

What is the current cast of NCIS?

The current cast of NCIS, as of Season 21, is as follows:

Sean Murray (Special Agent Timothy McGee)
Wilmer Valderrama (Special Agent Nicholas “Nick” Torres)
Brian Dietzen (Dr. Jimmy Palmer)
Diona Reasonover (Forensic Scientist Kasie Hines)
Katrina Law (Special Agent Jessica Knight)
Rocky Carroll (NCIS Director Leon Vance)
Gary Cole (NCIS Special Agent Alden Parker)

When did NCIS debut?

NCIS debuted on September 23, 2003.

Is NCIS a spinoff?

NCIS is a spinoff of JAG. JAG is a drama series produced from 1995 to 2007. It centers on a legal wing of officers that prosecutes and defends those accused of military-related crimes. Characters who would become NCIS favorites, including Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), and Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard (David McCallum), were introduced during a pair of Season 8 JAG episodes.

Select episodes of JAG, spanning the series' 10 seasons, are available to stream now on Paramount+.

Did Donald “Ducky” Mallard pass away?

David McCallum, who played Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard on NCIS from Season 1 to Season 20, passed away on September 25, 2023, at the age of 90.

NCIS viewers learn Ducky has passed away in the Season 21 NCIS episode, “The Stories We Leave Behind.” The episode shows the NCIS team coming to terms with the passing of their beloved colleague. It was co-written by Brian Dietzen, who plays Medical Examiner Dr. Jimmy Palmer in the series.

How many episodes of NCIS are there?

As of publication, there are more than 460 NCIS episodes – and counting. All episodes are available to stream on Paramount+.  

The Season 21 NCIS episode, "A Thousand Yards," marked the 1,000th original episode of the global NCIS franchise, a tally of all the aired episodes of NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawai’i, and NCIS: Sydney.

How can I watch NCIS on my mobile device?

You can stream NCIS on Paramount+ from your phone, tablet, or Android device with the Paramount+ app.

The Paramount+ app is available on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
iPhone or iPad: Paramount+ on App Store
Android Phone or Tablet: Paramount+ on Google Play

Shows and movies on Paramount+ can be streamed on a number of devices. Choose your streaming device from the list below, and read the instructions on how to get started with Paramount+:

Computer or mobile web
iPhone or iPad
Android phone or tablet
Apple TV (4th generation or later)
Android TV
Fire TV
Portal TV
Roku
LG TV
Samsung TV
Vizio TV
Xbox
PlayStation 4 and 5
Xfinity device
Cox Contour box

What else can I watch on Paramount+?

In addition to NCIS, you can stream the following shows from the NCISverse on Paramount+: NCIS: Hawai’i; NCIS: Sydney; and NCIS: New Orleans. Paramount+ subscribers with the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME® can stream new, in-season episodes of NCIS: Hawai'i and NCIS: Sydney as their air live on CBS, and/or on demand. Paramount+ subscribers with the Paramount+ Essential plan can stream new, in-season episodes of NCIS: Hawai'i and NCIS: Sydney on demand, on the day after the episodes air live on CBS.

In addition to the NCISverse, Paramount+ boasts tons more great shows and movies, plus live sports, including the NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League.

The Paramount+ Essential plan allows you to watch TV shows and movies with limited commercial interruptions. The Paramount+ with SHOWTIME® plan gives you an ad-free experience for watching TV shows and movies, as well as access to your live, local CBS station, plus SHOWTIME® programming such as Billions, The Chi, and Yellowjackets.
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