Viewers are curious to know why there’s no new episode of Abbott Elementary Season 5 on ABC tonight. Created by Quinta Brunson, the sitcom centers on a group of dedicated teachers and an uninvested principal placed in a poorly funded Philadelphia public school. While they face multiple challenges and are underfunded, they love their jobs and remain determined in their mission to make their students soar in life. Although an episode dropped last week, many want to know if the series has ended or if an additional installment is in store.

Why ABC isn’t airing a new Abbott Elementary episode tonight on April 29

Abbott Elementary Season 5 concluded on April 22. However, fans need not have to worry as ABC has announced a Season 6 that is expected to drop sometime this fall.

The latest season consisted of a total of 22 episodes and was divided into two parts, with the first one coming out on October 1, 2025, and the second on January 7, 2026. The finale, titled “Miami,” featured the Abbott crew visiting the city for PECSA weekend. However, they are faced with rumors.

During a conversation at Deadline’s Contenders TV panel, Brunson reflected on the new things explored in Season 5 and what inspired her to move away from the show’s usual setting in some episodes. She said, “I’m inspired a lot by what is happening with actual schools. I learned about many schools going into malls. It happened here [in L.A.], actually, with the fires. A school where a friend of mine worked, they wound up in an old Sears because their school burned down in the fires.”

She revealed that this season, they incorporated Philadelphia culture through sport, too. She revealed that they couldn’t bring players as they play when the show is filmed. Moreover, they didn’t want to disrupt their game, so all of them attended it instead. She further revealed how difficult it was to shoot during a live event.

At the time of writing, plot details and release date for the upcoming outing remain undisclosed.