The Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) is officially coming back to work. Paramount+ has confirmed that Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 4 will arrive in late May 2026. The streaming service renewed the show back in March 2025, even before the third season aired. This new season will have ten episodes and marks the 19th year for the franchise.
Release Date and Streaming Details
Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 4 premieres on Thursday, May 28, 2026, exclusively on Paramount+. New episodes will drop every Thursday following the premiere. For the global audience, the release times depend on your location. In the United States, episodes arrive at 3:00 A.M. ET / 12:00 A.M. PT. Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the show later that same day. Fans in India can stream it starting Friday, May 29, 2026, on Paramount+ (via JioHotstar). Australian audiences will also get the episode on Friday, May 29, 2026.
TV Veteran Jeri Ryan Joins the Cast
Showrunner Erica Messer confirmed that Jeri Ryan has joined the cast for Season 4. Ryan is widely known for her roles in Star Trek: Picard and Bosch. While the details about her character are being kept secret, Messer noted that Ryan had worked with the premiere’s director, Doug Aarniokoski, for years on Star Trek.
“Jeri had worked with the director of the premiere, Doug Aarniokoski, for years on Star Trek, so they’ve known one another. … But yeah, Jeri is amazing.” – Erica Messer to TVLine
Full List of Returning Cast Members
The core team is back on set. Filming for Season 4 started in late May 2025, as confirmed by an official Instagram post from the show’s account. Here is the list of every confirmed returning actor for Evolution Season 4:
- Joe Mantegna as David Rossi
- Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss
- A.J. Cook as JJ Jareau
- Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia
- Aisha Tyler as Dr. Tara Lewis
- Adam Rodriguez as Luke Alvez
- Ryan-James Hatanaka as Tyler Green
- Zach Gilford as Elias Voit
Zach Gilford’s return is significant. After a major storyline in Season 3 where the team said goodbye to his character, showrunner Erica Messer confirmed he will appear in every episode of Season 4. He is currently a prisoner but will act as a resource for the BAU.
Episode Titles Released So Far
The Criminal Minds wiki has published the titles for the first ten episodes of the season. The premiere is titled “Now and Then,” followed by “Cluster,” “Body Count,” “The Witching Hour,” “Friendly Fire,” “Proxy,” “The Furies,” “Requiem for a Dream,” “Badder Blood,” and the finale currently titled “Special Agent Garrity.”
Status of Matthew Gray Gubler
Fans asking about Matthew Gray Gubler (Dr. Spencer Reid) should know he is not listed as a main cast member for Season 19. Previous reports confirmed he returned for only one episode in Season 3. As of the latest cast announcements for Season 4, he is not confirmed to be returning. The main ensemble is moving forward without his character for now.
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Understanding the Season Numbering
There is confusion because the original Criminal Minds run ended after 15 seasons. When the show returned as Criminal Minds: Evolution, it reset the season count. Therefore, Evolution Season 4 is actually the 19th season of the Criminal Minds franchise. However, the official marketing and the Paramount+ platform refer to it strictly as Season 4 of Evolution.
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