The cast and crew of the long-running CBS procedural NCIS are officially in celebration mode. The series is set to reach its historic 500th episode on March 24, 2026, during its 23rd season. This milestone puts the show in an elite club of television dramas, proving its massive staying power decades after its 2003 debut.

Production recently commemorated the filming of this landmark hour on set. While CBS is keeping specific plot details under wraps, the milestone episode is teased by the production team to be "highly emotional and impactful" for long-time fans. The show has spent years as a television staple, previously holding the title of most-watched scripted series in primetime for 2023.

Despite its longevity, the ratings landscape is shifting slightly. The series Tracker, starring Justin Hartley, surpassed NCIS in overall viewership for the 2023-2024 season. However, the naval investigators remain titans in the digital space. According to Nielsen data, NCIS remains the most popular show of the last five years based on streaming minutes in the United States.