: While earlier seasons often featured single-word titles, later seasons adopted longer titles with letter counts sometimes corresponding to the season number. Core Cast (Seasons 1–24)
: In 2019, with the premiere of Season 21, SVU became the longest-running primetime live-action drama, surpassing both the original Law & Order and Gunsmoke . : While earlier seasons often featured single-word titles,
The television series (often referred to as SVU ) is the longest-running primetime live-action series in U.S. history. Spanning from its premiere in 1999 through its 24th season (2022–2023) and beyond, the show follows an elite squad of NYPD detectives investigating "especially heinous" sexually-based offenses. Series Overview & Impact history
As of April 2026, the series continues to air new episodes on NBC, currently in its 26th season. : The unit's captain for the first 15 seasons
: The unit's captain for the first 15 seasons.
Following Meloni's exit, the show introduced new regulars like Rollins and Amaro and focused more on Benson's leadership and personal life.