The renewal builds on NBCUniversal’s commitment to its Chicago presence, including the debut of an expanded newsroom studio for NBC 5 and Telemundo Chicago.
April 10, 2026
NBC has renewed its One Chicago franchise for the 2026-27 broadcast season, extending one of television’s longest-running scripted brands and continuing more than a decade of production in Illinois. The renewal includes Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med, which will return for seasons 15, 14, and 12, respectively. Since its launch in 2011, the franchise has remained a consistent presence in Chicago and a fixture of NBC’s scripted lineup.
The series are produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Wolf Entertainment, and have aired on NBC since their debut.
Ongoing production activity in Illinois
The One Chicago franchise has filmed primarily in Chicago since its inception, utilizing local locations and production stages. Over time, the series have become a regular part of Illinois’ production calendar, supporting a wide range of roles across the film and television workforce.
To date, the franchise has contributed nearly $2 billion in economic impact statewide, supporting work for crew members, vendors, craftspeople, and production partners. During active production, the shows collectively support approximately 1,500 jobs per season, spanning technical, creative, and operational roles.
The continued production of the One Chicago series coincides with a broader moment for the state’s film and television industry. Illinois recently reported more than $700 million in production expenditures statewide, marking the highest level on record.
Workforce development and training efforts
Alongside production activity, workforce training initiatives have played a role in supporting behind-the-scenes careers in Illinois. In 2017, CineCares was launched by NBCUniversal, Wolf Entertainment, IATSE Local 476, and Cinespace to provide paid, hands-on training opportunities for young adults from communities near Chicago production stages.
Participants gain on‑the‑job experience across multiple departments, with many continuing to work in union roles on One Chicago and other productions filming in the region. The renewal ensures continued opportunities for emerging talent entering the industry through these programs.
NBCUniversal’s footprint in the state
Beyond the One Chicago franchise, NBCUniversal continues to invest in local news production in Chicago. NBC 5 Chicago (WMAQ-TV) and Telemundo Chicago (WSNS-TV) have unveiled a fully remodeled, state-of-the-art newsroom and studio space at NBC Tower following a multi-year redesign. The expanded, fully integrated newsroom brings together editorial, production, technical, and administrative teams in a modern, collaborative environment designed to support bilingual, multiplatform journalism across broadcast, digital, and streaming. The investment marks one of the most significant local media investments in Chicago in decades.
A continued presence in Illinois
Together, these efforts reflect a sustained and multifaceted commitment to both the State of Illinois and City of Chicago, spanning entertainment, news production, and workforce development. The One Chicago franchise will continue its longstanding support to local crews, businesses, and communities.
More than a decade after its debut, One Chicago has evolved beyond a television franchise into a consistent economic and creative force within Illinois. With its upcoming seasons, the series will continue to contribute to the state’s production landscape while reinforcing NBCUniversal’s long-term investment in the region.
