It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 18 is confirmed and actively filming. FX locked in the renewal all the way back in December 2020, securing the show through Season 18. After the Season 17 finale wrapped on August 20, 2025, the writers’ room opened in October 2025, and cameras started rolling in February 2026. No premiere date is set, but based on the two-year rhythm the show has settled into, a late summer or fall 2026 window looks like the most realistic target.
Paddy’s Pub has been open since August 4, 2005, and what started as a pilot shot on a consumer camcorder is now the longest-running live-action comedy series in American television history. That record was technically broken with Season 15, surpassing the 14-season run of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Season 18 carries real weight, and the cast clearly feels it. Here is everything confirmed so far.
Is It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 18 Officially Confirmed?
Yes, Season 18 has been greenlit since December 2020, when FX handed the show a four-season renewal covering Seasons 15 through 18. That deal was made while the show was still in its 14th season, which tells you how much confidence the network had. No announcement has been made about a Season 19, and the current renewal ends here, making this season significant beyond just another run at Paddy’s.
When Does It’s Always Sunny Season 18 Premiere?
No official premiere date has been announced. Filming kicked off in February 2026, and if the show follows the production-to-air timeline from recent cycles, a summer or fall 2026 release is the most likely window. Season 16 aired in summer 2023 and Season 17 ran July through August 2025, so that two-year gap points toward a similar slot. FX has stayed quiet on the calendar.
Who Is Returning for Season 18?
The full core gang is back. Rob McElhenney as Mac, Charlie Day as Charlie, Glenn Howerton as Dennis, Kaitlin Olson as Dee, and Danny DeVito as Frank Reynolds are all confirmed through set photos and social media. On February 11, 2026, McElhenney posted a photo of himself, Day, and Howerton in tuxedos side by side with a Season 1 still. His caption: “Great news, the tux still fits. Season 1 to Season 18.”
How Many Episodes Will Season 18 Have?
More than eight, which is the first increase since Season 14 in 2019. Seasons 15, 16, and 17 all ran exactly eight episodes each. On February 13, 2026, a fan asked McElhenney directly in his Instagram comments whether Season 18 would go longer. He replied with a simple “yep” and a smiley face. The exact count has not been confirmed, but ending a five-season streak of shortened orders is a notable shift heading into what may be the final chapter.
What Do We Know About the Season 18 Plot?
No official logline has been released. What the set photos do hint at is interesting: McElhenney posted a behind-the-scenes image of himself and DeVito in maintenance uniforms with a Die Hard scene visible in the background, which feels very on-brand for whatever scheme the gang is running this time. The Season 17 finale left Frank choosing to return to Sam (Carol Kane), the woman he met on a Golden Bachelor parody, setting up a potential storyline around Frank’s rare attempt at a real relationship.
Is Season 18 the Last Season of It’s Always Sunny?
Possibly. The FX renewal deal expires after Season 18, and no extension has been announced. Danny DeVito told interviewers the producers may already have an ending mapped out, saying “if it’s right and the audience is happy with it, then I think it’s a good thing to do.” Kaitlin Olson echoed that feeling on the Dear Chelsea podcast, acknowledging the show has been extraordinary while also noting “you don’t want to overstay your welcome.”
Where Is Season 18 Filming?
Production is based at the Fox lot in Los Angeles, where the show has filmed for years despite being set in South Philadelphia. In September 2025, Kaitlin Olson listed a fan set-visit experience on Charitybuzz benefitting Emily’s Entourage, with the window specified as February 12 to February 28, 2026 on the Fox lot. The clapperboard McElhenney posted on February 11 listed Todd Biermann as director, the same director who has helmed multiple episodes in recent seasons.
Will Carol Kane Return as Sam in Season 18?
Unknown, but the story is clearly unresolved. The Season 17 finale ended with Frank going back to Sam after initially pushing her away, choosing her over both “Chewy” (Audrey Corsa, a satirical take on the Hawk Tuah phenomenon) and Bonnie Kelly (Lynne Marie Stewart), Charlie’s mom. Whether Kane reprises the role in Season 18 has not been confirmed. Given the extended episode count, there is more room to develop Frank’s arc if the writers lean into it.
Where Can You Watch It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 18?
Season 18 will air on FXX and stream on Hulu, which is where all current seasons live in the US. The deal between FX and Hulu means episodes typically land on the platform the same day or shortly after broadcast. Previous seasons are fully available on Hulu right now, making it the easiest place to catch up before Season 18 arrives. Outside the US, availability varies by region through Disney+ and local FX deals.
What Is the Longest-Running Record It’s Always Sunny Holds?
It is the longest-running live-action comedy in American television history. That record was confirmed with Season 15, which debuted in December 2021, surpassing the 14-season record previously held by The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet on ABC. The show started in August 2005 as a three-minute pilot McElhenney shot with friends for around $200 on a consumer camera. FX picked it up, Danny DeVito joined in Season 2, and it has been running ever since.
The Longer View on What Season 18 Actually Means
Twenty-one years is a long time for any show to hold its voice, and It’s Always Sunny has done it by never flinching from the fact that its characters are genuinely awful people. The tuxedo photo McElhenney posted is not just a cute callback; it is a group of people who built something from nothing acknowledging what they are about to close out. Whether Season 18 is the finale or just another stop, the fact that the whole gang is back, the episode count is up, and production is already underway is the best possible position to be in. When FX eventually drops a date, the line at Paddy’s is going to be very long.
