Season 5 of the hit sitcom is returning to ABC with new episodes … just not this year.

Abbott Elementary is officially on school break, and we’re already missing our favorite teachers!

Season 5 of the hit sitcom aired new episodes every Wednesday, and we all tuned in to ABC to see what would unfold for both students and faculty. Whether it was seeing Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson) ring in her 30th birthday, Principal Ava Coleman (Janelle James) find love, or just following Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph) and Melissa Schemmenti’s (Lisa Ann Walter)antics, it’s been a hilarious season.

Given that we’re all waiting for Abbott Elementary season 5 to return, we need to know whether we’ll get new episodes this year. Well, we did our homework … and fans may not like what we found out.

ABC

Is Abbott Elementary coming back in 2025?

We hate to disappoint everyone, but Abbott Elementary will not return in 2025. The show already alluded to the hiatus on Instagram on December 1.

“The weather outside is frightful, but new episodes of #AbbottElementary are delightful ❄️,” the caption read at the time. “Happy December!”

As soon as fans learned Abbott Elementary would be taking a break, they were understandably devastated.

“WHY ARE WE RUNNING ON A ACTUAL SCHOOL SCHEDULE,” one person lamented in the comments. “What’s with this short season??!!” another questioned. “i’m tired of these breaks!” a different follower added.

Despite the unexpected hiatus, viewers have no need to fear! The show already teased a major update about the future of season 5 … and you have to see it.

When will Abbott Elementary return for season 5?

Thanks to a new post on Abbott Elementary‘s Instagram, fans learned that Abbott Elementary will return on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

“Attention, Abbott Elementarians: An announcement from Principal Ava,” the caption read on December 12 alongside a fictitious email announcement. “See you January 7! ❄️.”

Well, isn’t this some exciting news? But as fans know, things may look a little different when Abbott Elementary returns to the air this January.

Given that Abbott Elementary is in disrepair after the pipes burst because the school’s furnace wasn’t fixed, viewers got a tease of Ava’s potential solution for the new year. While the school undergoes construction to get back on track, fans saw her reveal that she chose a building the school district gave her as a temporary learning space.

But as for what she chose, well … it looks like we’ll need to tune in and see what happens!