Is ‘Abbott Elementary’ On Tonight? Here’s When ‘Abbott Elementary’ Returns With New Episodes

New year, new Abbott Elementary episodes. But when?!

After several long weeks of anticipation, we’ve finally made it to 2025, aka the year that Abbott Elementary returns from its Season 4 hiatus.

That’s right, folks. We’re one week closer to the show’s highly-anticipated It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia crossover event, and we’ve got Season 4, Episode 9 premiere date info, teases, photos, and more to ensure you’re fully prepared for Janine (Quinta Brunson), Gregory (Tyler James Williams), Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter), Jacob (Chris Perfetti), Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph), Ava (Janelle James) and Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) to cross paths with Frank (Danny DeVito), Charlie (Charlie Day), Dee (Kaitlin Olson), Mac (Rob McElhenney), and Dennis (Glenn Howerton).

So when does Abbott Elementary return with new episodes on ABC? How many episodes are in Abbott Elementary Season 4? And when does the Abbott and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia crossover episode premiere?

Here’s everything to know about Abbott Elementary‘s 2025 return date, upcoming Season 4 episodes, and more.

Is Abbott Elementary On Tonight (1/1/25)?

Sadly, we’re not kicking off the new year with a new episode of Abbott Elementary, but fans won’t have to wait long for the Emmy-winning comedy to return.

ABC Schedule Tonight (1/1/25):

If you tune into ABC on Wednesday, January 1, 2025 eager to watch something in place of new Abbott, you can catch the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at 8:00 p.m. ET.

When Does Abbott Elementary Return With New Episodes?

So when will Abbott Elementary be back? The series returns with new episodes on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

When Does Abbott Elementary‘s Crossover Episode With It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Air On ABC?

Like we said, when Abbott returns on January 8, it returns with a bang in the form of its highly-anticipated It’s Always Sunny crossover episode. Curious what to expect from the big event? ABC recently shared an exclusive promo image and teaser trailer with Decider that offer some compelling insight into what’s in store for the It’s Always Sunny gang and Abbott’s staff.

What Will Abbott Elementary And It’s Always Sunny‘s Crossover Episode Be About?

Glad you asked! Per ABC, the crossover episode is titled “Volunteers” and the synopsis is as follows: “Ava announces the school district is sending a group of volunteers to help out at Abbott; however, when they arrive, things don’t go as planned.”

Decider’s exclusive promo image reveals a chalkboard at Abbott Elementary that reads “PADDY’S wuz hear!” It’s signed by Frank, “Charlee,” Dee, Mac, and Dennis, so the gang is indeed headed to school, despite It’s Always Sunny fans having no idea how they’re legally allowed in one! Let the record show that in addition to “was” and “here,” Charlie’s name is also spelled incorrectly on the chalkboard, so while he’s at Abbott, maybe he can learn some literacy skills from Janine and company. After all, Day’s character reportedly has a “pretty significant storyline,” per Abbott executive producers Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker.

ABC also shared three dozen (!!!) stills from the episode on their press site, which show the gang in school and some intriguing scenarios. Charlie is talking to Barbara! Dee is chatting with Eddie! Mac is in Ava’s office! And So! Much! More!

As for what else the crossover episode has planned, ABC shared an exclusive teaser trailer with Decider that doubles as a hilarious nod to Charlie’s famous “WHO IS PEPE SILVIA?” conspiracy theory board from It’s Always Sunny Season 4, Episode 10. Whether you’re a fan of the long-running sitcom or not, you’ve likely seen screenshots and memes of the scene online, which show a spiraling Charlie — cigarette in hand — as he makes his elaborate case.

The teaser, located at the top of this article, debuts a new conspiracy board and is narrated by Abbott’s beloved janitor, Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis). “I know what’s going on. In fact, I’ve been praying that it wouldn’t breach our walls. No one’s getting past me. Behold,” Mr. Johnson says. “This is worse than I thought. We’re going to war. This is just the tip of the trash can. Let me tell you something, this is gonna end in chaos. Trust me.”

As Mr. Johnson teases trouble ahead for Abbott, keep an eye out for Easter eggs on the board. In addition to top secret folders, surveillance photos, what appears to be red Fruit by the Foot “string,” and Post-It notes that say “SUS,” the clip gives fans a glimpse at a “WORST Bar in Philly” newspaper clipping, photos of the gang, lots of lizard imagery, Pennsylvania maps, and more.

Abbott‘s Chris Perfetti, who plays Jacob, recently teased that the two crews will be “pit against each other.” We know Charlie Day’s character reportedly has a “pretty significant storyline,” per Abbott executive producers Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker. And after the gang visits Abbott, Janine and company will also head over to Paddy’s to appear on an episode of It’s Always Sunny to keep the crossover fun going.

How Many Episodes Are In Abbott Elementary Season 4?

As a result of delays and shifted schedules from the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, Abbott Elementary Season 3 was an abbreviated 14-episode season, but fans will be happy to know that Season 4 is returning to the 22-episode model.

How To Watch Abbott Elementary Live On ABC:

Want to watch Abbott Elementary Season 4 episodes live? Of course you do! If you have a cable subscription that includes ABC, you can watch Abbott Elementary live by setting your TV to the proper channel a few minutes before new episodes air. You can also use your cable username and password to watch live ABC episodes live on ABC.com or with the ABC app. And if your cable package includes a DVR, you can always record live episodes for later viewing.

Don’t have cable? Don’t worry! There are other live viewing options, like live TV skinny bundles, which give you access to networks without cable. YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and fuboTV, all come with ABC. But if you don’t have cable or a live TV skinny bundle, you can stream episodes the following day on Hulu. Here’s how to watch Abbott Elementary online.

How To Watch Abbott Elementary On Hulu:

You’ll need to be a Hulu subscriber in order to watch Abbott Elementary Season 1 through Season 4 online now — or watch new episodes of Abbott Elementary the day after they air on ABC. The good news is you’ll have access to the episode with any version of the streaming service. The streamer’s least expensive ad-supported plan costs $7.99 a month (or $79.99 a year), while its ad-free option is $17.99 a month. If you choose to add Live TV to your plan you can select an ad-supported Hulu + Live TV now with Disney+ and ESPN+ bundle for $76.99 a month or go ad-free for $89.99 a month.