‘Criminal Minds’ Is Officially Ending With Season 20—Here’s What We Know

A final season confirmed

Season 20 will be the final season of Criminal Minds, according to Deadline and Paramount. It is also described as Season 5 of Criminal Minds: Evolution. The show is ending after 15 original seasons, a break following its first cancellation and five seasons under Evolution. A spinoff or reboot could still happen, though no such project is confirmed.

Why the decision came

Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva speculated that a change in network leadership might explain the decision. The report notes that ratings are good, making the cancellation puzzling. The article does not give a confirmed reason from Paramount for ending the series.

What to expect next

The 19th-season finale aired on July 23, 2026, and featured kidnappings and prison breaks. The final season is expected to bring new cases for the FBI agents to investigate.

Criminal Minds will return to Paramount+ in 2027 for its final season. First-look images have appeared, but the article says only that an early-year release seems likely.

Messer thanks cast and fans

Executive producer and showrunner Erica Messer said she felt grateful to the cast, writers, directors, crew and fans as the series approached the end of this chapter. Messer said the team looked forward to sharing Season 20 and celebrating the show’s legacy. She also credited fans’ loyalty with keeping the series going for two decades.