When the end credits roll on Criminal Minds: Evolution‘s Season 19 finale, fans will feel a sense of closure and a burning desire to jump into a new case. But is this the end of the BAU’s story? Or will the team return to find more unsubs in a milestone Season 20?
After four seasons spent untangling the massive Sicarius/Elias Voit (Zach Gilford) web, Rossi (Joe Mantegna), Prentiss (Paget Brewster), Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness), JJ (A.J. Cook), and the team literally and figuratively closed the book on one of the world’s most prolific serial killers. But Season 19 still ends on a major cliffhanger that will have fans wondering if the Paramount+ series will return for more.
Will there be a Season 20 of Criminal Minds: Evolution? Has Paramount+ renewed or canceled Criminal Minds: Evolution yet? If the series returns, when will Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 20 premiere? And what can we expect from the new season? Decider’s got answers.
Here’s what we know about the future of Criminal Minds: Evolution on Paramount+.
How Many Episodes Are In Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19?
Like the first three Paramount+ seasons, Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 consisted of 10 episodes, which means Season 19, Episode 10, “Bad Blood,” which premiered on July 23, 2026, served as the finale.
Will There Be A Season 20 Of Criminal Minds: Evolution On Paramount+? Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 20 Renewal Status:
Good news, Criminal Minds fans! The BAU will be back with new episodes! Paramount+ granted Criminal Minds: Evolution an early Season 20 renewal in March 2026 ahead of its Season 19 premiere. And production is already underway!
When Will Criminal Minds: Evolution Return With New Episodes? Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 20 Premiere Date:
There’s no official Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 20 premiere date yet, but new episodes have been released annually since 2022, and Paramount+ confirmed that Season 20 will premiere in 2027. As the release schedule below shows, the last two seasons have run from May to July, so perhaps that will be the case again. Stay tuned for more Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 20 premiere updates!
- Season 16: November 2022 to February 2023
- Season 17: June 2024 to August 2024
- Season 18: May 2025 to July 2025
- Season 19: May 2026 to July 2025
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 19 Ending Explained: What Will Season 20 Look Like?
Looking for a detailed Criminal Minds: Evolution‘s Season 19 finale recap? Decider’s got you covered. But the main takeaways heading into Season 20 are that The Fan was killed, Voit was transferred to an undisclosed high-security federal penitentiary to serve out his remaining 64 consecutive life sentences, and the BAU has a new case to crack. Here’s what Director Madison said about the new crimes that need investigating: “Unidentified body parts anonymously delivered to FBI field offices in NY, DC, LA and Miami.” In the words of the BAU, “Break’s over!” And in addition to professional developments, Criminal Minds: Evolution will continue to give glimpses into BAU members’ personal lives, too. So stay tuned!
Is it Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 5 or Season 20?
Great question! Since Criminal Minds: Evolution premiered on Paramount+, it’s caused some confusion about the season number. Season 20, for instance, can also be referred to as Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 5. If you’re assigning seasons based on Paramount+’s new revival series alone, Evolution was renewed for a fifth season. But because Criminal Minds ran for 15 seasons on CBS and Evolution is a continuation of the series, many fans (including Paramount+!) count these new streaming seasons in the overall tally, which means Criminal Minds: Evolution is returning for Season 20. Phew!
How To Watch Criminal Minds: Evolution: Paramount+ Streaming Info
Criminal Minds: Evolution and the OG Criminal Minds seasons are streaming on Paramount+, which means you’ll need to be a subscriber to watch new episodes.
Paramount+ offers two subscription plans, Essential and Premium. Right now, you can get started with a seven-day free trial on the Premium plan.
The ad-supported Essential plan typically costs $8.99/month, while the ad-free Premium plan (which comes with Showtime titles and live CBS) costs $13.99/month.
Stay tuned for more Criminal Minds: Evolution coverage from Decider.