Saman ShafiqUSA TODAY
Updated Oct. 6, 2026, 5:21 p.m. ET
The burning questions fans had at the end of Season 11 of “<a href="https://comicvibe.com/chicago-p-d-season-14-to-see-longtime-stars-exit-how-to-watch/” title=”'Chicago P.D.' Season 14 to see longtime star's exit. How to watch”>Chicago Med” will soon be answered with the Season 12 premiere of NBC’s One Chicago franchise series. And the stakes are even higher this time around, S. Epatha Merkerson, who plays Sharon Goodwin, teases.
“There are things I don’t know that I can tell you, but I will say this: the writing in this season — we just started; we’re in the middle of shooting Episode 5 — but the writing this season is really top-notch,” Merkerson told NBC Insider in an article published Sept. 30. “I’m excited for everyone to see what we’re doing this season.”
Merkerson added that executive producer Allen MacDonald “has changed how this show looks.”
“The stakes are higher,” the actor said.
Season 11 of “Chicago Med” ended with several characters at personal and professional crossroads as the Gaffney doctors and nurses underwent unprecedented challenges.
The series is described as “an emotional thrill ride through the day-to-day chaos of the city’s state-of-the-art trauma center and into the lives of the courageous doctors, nurses and staff who hold it all together.” It is “inspired by ripped-from-the-headlines cases,” and intertwines “medicine with the personal drama that comes with working in such a high-intensity environment,” NBC says about the show.
When does ‘Chicago Med’ Season 12 premiere? Date, time
Season 12 of “Chicago Med” premieres Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. ET / PT on NBC. It’s available to stream on Peacock the next day.
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How to watch ‘Chicago Med’ Season 12 premiere
“Chicago Med” airs on NBC at 8 p.m. ET / PT on Wednesdays, starting Wednesday, Oct. 7, and will be available to stream on Peacock the next day.
Watch ‘Chicago Med’ Season 12 trailer
‘Chicago Med’ Season 12 cast
The cast of “Chicago Med” Season 12 includes:
- Oliver Platt as Dr. Daniel Charles
- Sarah Ramos as Dr. Caitlin Lenox
- Luke Mitchell as Dr. Mitch Ripley
- S. Epatha Merkerson as Sharon Goodwin
- Steven Weber as Dr. Dean Archer
- Jessy Schram as Dr. Hannah Asher
- Darren Barnet as Dr. John Frost
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@usatodayco.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
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