At the end of 2025, NBC confirmed that Brilliant Minds Season 2 would take the Winter Olympics off, but that it would return shortly after. We were settled until the Winter Olympic break. As soon as the Winter Olympics started, NBC brought the terrible news.
Brilliant Minds Season 2 will no longer return in March 2026. We now have to wait until the spring at the earliest, and it’s possibly going to be the summer. This is despite there only being six episodes left of the season, and a vocal fanbase that wants more.
Brilliant Minds Is Likely Cancelled
This is where I start to fear the worst, though. I had already feared that Brilliant Minds would be cancelled after the second season. It sits at the bottom of the NBC shows, and for a Monday night show, that’s not a good sign.
Now, I know that the mystery element of Wolf being in Hudson Oaks has dragged a little, and that’s what has made some people tune out. The loss of Van and Jacob has also hurt the show, but I didn’t think it would hurt it that much when we first got the inclination that we would lose them as series regulars.
It has, though, and with the show ranking right at the bottom of all scripted NBC shows, it isn’t that surprising that NBC is making a change to the schedule. This just usually means that the show isn’t going to be renewed.
After all, it’s been effectively removed from the schedule. Sure, it’s been pushed to the late spring or summer, but this is a terrible time for broadcast networks. This is usually when a lot of unscripted content airs, as it costs less to create. Airing Brilliant Minds here suggests that NBC is just giving it time to air its last episodes for the fans, and that’s it.
The Upfronts Will Take Place Before Brilliant Minds Returns
Another major concern is when the Upfronts will take place. This is traditionally in May, although we know CBS is pulling its Upfronts to April instead. NBC hasn’t confirmed anything yet, so right now, we can assume the Upfronts will take place in May.
Before that, the big cancellation and renewal decisions are made. Those cancellations usually happen on one day, and it’s heartbreaking for us. Last year hit hard with the loss of Found and The Irrational, and this year is sure to hit hard as well.
By Brilliant Minds airing after the Upfronts, it doesn’t have time to pick up the viewership again. It doesn’t have time to do a big push to get people to tune in, as all it can do is encourage people to watch on Peacock. With cast options traditionally coming up at the end of June, there isn’t much time between the Upfronts and then to save a show.
NBC has effectively made the decision. To make way for new shows, something has to be cancelled, and Brilliant Minds is likely the big one for this year. It’s going to hurt.
Brilliant Minds is available to stream on Peacock.
