When Does Matlock Come Back? Season 3 Return Date on CBS
Quick answer: Matlock has no Season 3 return date yet. CBS moved the show off its fall 2026 schedule and into midseason, and Paramount+'s page lists the premiere as "TBD, Midseason 2026-27." The last new episode aired Thursday, April 23, 2026. We checked the listings at 12:20 a.m. ET on Oct. 30.
When does Matlock come back?
CBS hasn't announced a date. The Season 3 renewal came in January 2026, and the show is not on CBS's fall lineup, so no new episode is listed for any night this fall. Paramount+'s "everything you need to know" page, published Aug. 31, says the series is planned for CBS's midseason schedule, which it reads as early 2027. TV Insider's midseason 2027 premiere list, last dated Oct. 26, names Matlock among CBS's returns in the new year but gives no date, and its only dated entries so far are Jan. 6 premieres on other networks.
The Futon Critic has no future Matlock listing, and TVmaze shows no Season 3 episode with an air date. Both would show a date soon after CBS sets one.
Where do things stand?
| Detail | What has been announced | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Network | CBS, streaming on Paramount+ | Paramount+ |
| Season 3 status | Renewed in January 2026; held for midseason 2026-27 | Paramount+, TV Insider |
| Last new episode | Thursday, April 23, 2026, the Season 2 finale "Matty Matlock" (S2, E16) | Futon Critic, TVmaze |
| Season 3 premiere date | Not announced | Paramount+, TV Insider |
| Time slot | Not announced | - |
| Episode count | Not announced by Paramount+ (Season 1 had 19 episodes, Season 2 had 16); some press reports say 13, which we haven't seen CBS confirm | Paramount+, TVmaze |
What has been said about Season 3?
Paramount+ lists only Kathy Bates as confirmed to return, as Madeline "Matty" Matlock, and describes a new mystery for the attorneys. It says Matty has to decide whether to stay Matty Matlock or go back to being the retired Madeline Kingston, and that the future of the law firm Jacobson Moore is unresolved after its leadership was removed. Jennie Snyder Urman created the series. We haven't seen an official CBS cast list for the new season, so we don't list one.
Is Matlock cancelled?
No. Paramount+ says Season 3 was renewed in January 2026, and TV Insider's midseason list still counts Matlock among CBS's returning shows.
Where can you watch Matlock until then?
Paramount+ carries the earlier seasons. In the meantime, CBS's Thursday comedies and dramas are on: see Cupertino and Elsbeth, the Sunday shows on the Tracker page, or when Ghosts returns. Every CBS show we track is on the CBS page, and the full week is in the drama schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Will there be a new Matlock episode this fall?
No new episode is listed on CBS's fall 2026 schedule or on The Futon Critic.
How many episodes will Matlock Season 3 have?
Paramount+ lists the episode count as not yet announced. Season 2 had 16 episodes, per TVmaze.