CIA is officially back for Season 2, so brace yourself for more secrets and subterfuge. Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss return as unlikely buddy cops with higher security clearance on Monday, Oct. 5, at 9 PM ET/PT on CBS. The CIA Season 2 premiere will air following the Season 9 premiere of FBI, a big step up for the fledgling FBI spinoff, which only debuted a few months ago in Feb. 2026.
CBS renewed CIA after just five episodes of the action-packed procedural from Dick Wolf aired, citing the show’s premiere reaching 8.4 million multiplatform viewers within a week. The new season will consist of 22 episodes, up from Season 1’s dynamic dozen, and launch with a premiere night featuring a cameo from Agent Scuola (John Boyd) from FBI. Episodes will air weekly on CBS and will be available on Paramount+ on the same or next day, depending on your plan.
Key facts
- Premiere date: Monday, Oct. 5, 2026
- Time: 9 PM ET/PT
- Network: CBS
- Streaming: Paramount+*
- Release cadence: Weekly
- Season length: 22 episodes planned
- Genre: Crime drama/procedural
- Stars: Tom Ellis, Nick Gehlfuss, Necar Zadegan, Natalee Linez
- Created by: Dick Wolf and David Hudgins
*New episodes can be streamed live on Paramount+ as they air on CBS via the Paramount+ Premium plan, or they can be streamed on the day after they air via any Paramount+ plan.
When does Season 2 premiere?
CIA Season 2 premieres on Oct. 5, at 9 PM ET/PT on CBS. Season 1 of the FBI spinoff launched midseason in CBS’s core fall schedule, but now it will have a full run of 22 episodes, running from fall to spring.
The new Monday night lineup is catnip for any amateur sleuths at home:
CBS Fall 2026 Monday night lineup:
- FBI Season 9: 8 PM ET/PT
- CIA Season 2: 9 PM ET/PT
- Harlan Coben’s Final Twist Season 2: 10 PM ET/PT
What is Season 2 about?
The core engine of the show remains the same: FBI Special Agent Bill Goodman (Gehlfuss) works alongside secretive CIA case officer Colin Glass (Ellis). As part of a joint CIA-FBI task force, the duo handles covert operations, international plots, terrorist threats, and geopolitical secrets in and around New York.
If you’re hoping for an expansion of the CIA world, showrunner Mike Weiss is prepared to deliver thanks to the expanded episode order for the series. Get ready to meet more of the experts, analysts, intelligence officers, and other personnel working around Colin and Bill.
How the Season 1 finale sets it up
Warning! Season 1 spoilers ahead: After a season-long mole hunt, Colin discovers that his former partner — in more ways than one — Antoinette “Toni” Napier (Angela Sarafyan) is alive. Untangling her web of lies and his own feelings ultimately brings her back into the fold, but can she regain his trust? At least we know he’ll have Bill to help him through it, with the often stuffy Fed turning down a promotion he previously wanted to continue working with Colin and the fusion cell.
Who is returning for Season 2?
CIA’s main cast are all returning for Season 2:
- Tom Ellis as CIA Agent Colin Glass
- Nick Gehlfuss as FBI Special Agent Bill Goodman
- Necar Zadegan as CIA Deputy Chief of Station Nikki Reynard
- Natalee Linez as CIA Analyst Gina Gosian
Will Toni return?
Showrunner Mike Weiss has indicated that Toni has a potential Season 2 journey involving the CIA testing whether she can regain its trust after her disappearance. As of this writing, Sarafyan is not confirmed to rejoin the cast in the upcoming season.
How does FBI connect to Season 2?
Season 2 opens with an immediate connection to CIA’s parent series, with both shows’ premieres airing on Oct. 5. John Boyd’s quick-witted FBI Special Agent Stuart Scuola will appear in the CIA Season 2 premiere in what fans can only hope is a charm-off between him and Ellis. The CIA premiere, “The Deep,” finds the team pursuing a known cartel fixer who arrives in New York and discovering the body of a DEA agent during the investigation.
Meanwhile, Necar Zadegan’s CIA Deputy Chief of Station Nikki Reynard will bring her cool leadership to the FBI Season 9 premiere.
How many episodes are there?
Season 2 is currently slated to have 22 episodes airing weekly, a significant bump from the first season’s 12 episodes. Showrunner Mike Weiss will use the larger episode order to dive deeper into CIA’s world and characters.
How to watch Season 2
New episodes of CIA will air on Mondays at 9 PM ET/PT on CBS, starting on Oct. 5. The series will also stream on Paramount+. The Paramount+ Premium plan allows for live streaming of CBS, so you won’t have to wait at all. Paramount+ Essential subscribers can stream episodes the next day. Learn more about which plan is right for you.
Watch CIA on Paramount+
All of CIA Season 1 is currently available to stream, so you can catch up on the action plus Colin and Bill’s growing chemistry and trust before the exciting Season 2 premiere. Stream Season 1 now so you never miss a code word.
WATCH NOW: CIA
FAQ
Was CIA renewed for Season 2?
CBS renewed the high-stakes drama on March 23, 2026, only a few episodes into its first season. The premiere drew 8.4 million multiplatform viewers within seven days, according to CBS/Nielsen figures.
When does CIA Season 2 start?
CIA Season 2 premieres on Monday, Oct. 5, at 9 PM ET/PT.
How many episodes are in CIA Season 2?
CIA Season 2 is currently planned to have a 22-episode season, an increase from Season 1’s 12 episodes. Schedules and episode orders are subject to change.
Is CIA connected to FBI?
CIA stems from the robust FBI world, but centers on a joint CIA-FBI task force. The Oct. 5 crossover premiere will bring John Boyd’s FBI character Stuart Scola to CIA while Necar
Zadegan’s Nikki Reynard steps over into FBI’s Season 9 premiere.
Where can I watch CIA Season 1?
You can watch all of CIA Season 1 on Paramount+.
