Everything We Know About ‘Criminal Minds’ Season 20

It is unfortunately time for your favorite fictional profilers to pack it up. Season 20 of Criminal Minds, which is also kind of/technically Season 5 of Criminal Minds: Evolution, will be the final season of the long-running procedural series. Now, does this mean that we could see some of the characters in a future Criminal Minds spinoff or reboot? Totally. Anything is possible, especially with sprawling franchises like this one.The show is, of course, about FBI agents who try to understand the most dangerous criminals in the country so that they can capture them. What is a “criminal mind” like, you know? That’s the question. The penultimate season starred Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Adam Rodriguez, Paget Brewster, Zach Gilford, and Ryan James Hatanaka. Season 19 broke containment when Heated Rivalry fans caught wind that Connor Storrie had been cast as one of those aforementioned criminals.Nevertheless, Criminal Minds is calling it quits after 15 seasons, a little break after the show was first canceled, and then five more Evolution seasons.Is Criminal Minds really ending with Season 20?Yes, this really is the end, per Deadline and according to the folks at Paramount. Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva speculates that this puzzling decision, since the ratings are good, might have to do with a regime change at the network.What will Criminal Minds season 20 be about? The nineteenth season finale, which aired on July 23, 2026, had kidnappings and prison breaks. That’s a lot of suspense for one season, and it happened in a single episode. I’m sure that the writers will cook up the craziest scenarios and scariest criminals yet for the FBI agents’ minds to unpack and try to bring to justice.One major thing? It seems like it won’t completely wrap the story. Since production wrapped before news of its final season was revealed, it won’t actually include a true ending to the story.“While suddenly navigating the end of this chapter, I’m filled with gratitude for our remarkable cast, writers, directors and crew who have poured their hearts into this show, and for the incredible fans around the world whose unwavering loyalty has kept Criminal Minds going for two decades,” executive producer/showrunner Erica Messer said, according to Deadline. “We’re looking forward to sharing Season 20 with everyone, and celebrating the legacy of this special show we’ve all built together.”When will we get to see Criminal Minds season 20?The series will return, one last time, to Paramount+ in 2027. Given that there are already some first-look images floating around (see below), it will likely be early in the year. So that’s some good news, right? It may be leaving forever, but at least for now it’s coming back soon.