Key facts
- Network: CBS
- Streaming: Paramount+
- Premiere date: Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026
- Release cadence: Weekly on Tuesdays
- Season length: 10 episodes (currently expected)
- Setting: Early 1990s
NCIS: Origins fans can breathe easy; Season 3 is happening. The hit prequel to NCIS returns Tuesday, Oct. 6 as part of the CBS Fall 2026 schedule. The show will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+. The biggest news: actor Mark Harmon will appear in every episode as Leroy Jethro Gibbs as part of a season-long present-day mystery, in addition to continuing his role as narrator of the series.
To help you prepare for Season 3, we’ve got all the info you need to prepare for Gibbs’ next action-packed adventures right here, including how and where to watch and stream the show, the official cast list, and lots more.
When and where to watch
You can watch NCIS: Origins Season 3 on CBS and Paramount+. Come the Fall 2026 TV season, new episodes will launch at 10 PM ET on Tuesdays.
Here’s all the watch info you need at a glance:
NCIS: Origins Season 3
- Premiere date: Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026
- Release schedule: Weekly on Tuesdays
- Time: 10 PM ET/PT
- Channel: CBS
- Streaming: Paramount+*
*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.
Can’t wait for the new season? Binge-watch Season 1 and Season 2 on Paramount+. All episodes are streaming now with a subscription.
What we know so far
NCIS: Origins Season 3 premieres Tuesday, Oct. 6. The big news is that actor Mark Harmon is returning to his role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs – on screen – for all 10 episodes.
This season will expand Harmon’s role beyond the show’s narrator, as it introduces a season-long mystery connecting present-day Gibbs with events from Camp Pendleton in the early ‘90s. This mystery will continue building the bridge between NCIS: Origins and NCIS, the franchise’s flagship series.
Where do things stand after Season 2?
Warning: Slight spoilers ahead for those you’ve yet to finish Season 2!
Following the events of NCIS: Origins Season 2, the young Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell) continues his early career with NIS at Camp Pendleton. Season 3 will continue exploring Mike Franks’ (Kyle Schmid) mentorship of Gibbs, and follow Gibbs and his team on their early investigations. The season will also explore their relationships inside the office, such as the slowly brewing romance between Gibbs and Lala Dominguez (Mariel Molino).
Expect Season 3 to chart the evolution of Gibbs into the living legend NCIS fans know. The season also introduces a parallel present-day mystery featuring Mark Harmon as the present-day Gibbs.
Who’s returning?
Season 3 of NCIS: Origins brings back the core NCIS team while also expanding Mark Harmon’s narrator role in the series as the present-day Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Austin Stowell returns as the young Gibbs.
Austin Stowell returns as young Leroy Jethro Gibbs
CBS
In NCIS: Origins Season 3, Austin Stowell reprises his role as the young Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The series continues exploring the formative experiences that shape the legendary NCIS agent fans know from the original series. As Season 3 begins, Gibbs and his colleagues are facing the threatened closure of their Camp Pendleton office, while his romance with Lala Dominguez (Mariel Molino) continues to simmer.
Mark Harmon returns as present-day Gibbs
Mark Harmon returns in NCIS: Origins Season 3 as both narrator and executive producer. Additionally, Season 3 significantly expands Harmon’s on-screen role, as the present-day Leroy Jethro Gibbs appears throughout the season as part of a new mystery. This storyline helps connect NCIS: Origins to the larger NCIS universe.
Returning supporting cast
The returning ensemble for NCIS: Origins Season 3 includes:
- Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks
- Mariel Molino as Lala Dominguez
- Tyla Abercrumbie as Mary Jo Hayes
- Diany Rodriguez as Vera Strickland
- Caleb Foote as Randy Randolf
How Season 3 fits into the NCIS universe
NCIS: Origins follows young agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (played by Austin Stowell) and the NCIS Camp Pendleton team as they tackle cases in the early ‘90s, before Gibbs becomes leader of his own team (those adventures are the focus of the first 19 seasons of NCIS).
Longtime fans enjoy seeing familiar characters before the flagship series takes place. Season 3 also features a present-day storyline starring Mark Harmon (who played Gibbs in NCIS and narrates NCIS: Origins), creating another connection between the prequel and the larger NCIS franchise.
LEARN MORE: All The NCIS Shows You Can Stream On Paramount+
Stream NCIS: Origins on Paramount+
Now is the perfect time to catch up on NCIS: Origins, ahead of the show’s Season 3 premiere. Binge Season 1 and Season 2. Season 3 episodes will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+. Subscribers to the Paramount+ Premium plan can watch new episodes as they air live on CBS. Subscribers to any plan can watch new episodes on demand starting the day after they air on CBS.
Paramount+ is also the place to stream all episodes of NCIS, NCIS: Sydney, and NCIS: New Orleans, as well as the Paramount+ original drama, NCIS: Tony & Ziva. For more info, check out our guide to all the NCIS shows you can stream on Paramount+. This fall, you’ll also be able to watch the new series NCIS: New York once it premieres on Tuesday Oct. 6 on CBS.
WATCH NOW: NCIS: Origins
FAQ
When does NCIS Origins Season 3 premiere?
NCIS: Origins Season 3 premieres Tuesday, Oct. 6. It’ll air on Tuesday nights, along with NCIS Season 24 and the debuting NCIS: New York.
Is Mark Harmon in Season 3?
Yes, Mark Harmon is in NCIS: Origins Season 3. In addition to narrating the show as his Gibbs alter-ego, Harmon will reprise the iconic character on screen as part of the new season’s present-day mystery.
How many episodes are in Season 3?
The upcoming season of NCIS: Origins is expected to consist of 10 episodes.
Do I need to watch NCIS before NCIS Origins?
You do not need to watch NCIS before watching NCIS: Origins. The prequel works for new viewers, while longtime NCIS fans will appreciate the additional context it provides to the NCIS universe, as well as the numerous references to their favorite show.
NCIS: Origins
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