If you’ve lived in the Chicago area for more than a minute, you know that Channel 5—WMAQ-TV—is basically the heartbeat of the city's morning routine. But let’s be real, tracking the nbc 5 chicago schedule isn't as straightforward as it used to be. Between the streaming-only blocks, the "One Chicago" franchise shifts, and the recent massive shake-up for the 2026 sports season, things are constantly moving.
Honestly, most of us just want to know when Allison Rosati is on or if Chicago Fire is a repeat this week. Here is the actual, current breakdown of what’s happening on your screen.
The Morning Grind: Coffee and Local News
The morning starts earlier than most people realize. If you're an early riser or just getting off a graveyard shift, NBC 5 News kicks off with a heavy local focus.
- 4:00 AM – 4:30 AM: Early Today (Network news for the national pulse).
- 4:30 AM – 7:00 AM: NBC 5 News Today. This is the big one. Stefan Holt and the team are usually handling the heavy lifting here. It’s snappy, traffic-heavy, and essential if you're commuting on the Kennedy or the Eisenhower.
- 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM: The Today Show. Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb take over, though you still get those local news cut-ins every half hour.
- 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Today 3rd Hour.
- 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Today with Jenna & Sheinelle.
One thing that sort of surprises people is the 11:00 AM hour. Usually, this is where you'll find a mid-morning local news block or a mix of lifestyle programming like Chicago Today with Cortney Hall. It’s a lighter vibe, focusing more on food and city culture than hard-hitting crime reports.
Afternoon and the "Big" Evening Block
The afternoon on NBC 5 is a mix of syndicated staples and the ramp-up to the evening news.
NBC News Daily typically airs at 1:00 PM, providing a bridge between local morning news and the afternoon syndicated shows. You'll often see The Kelly Clarkson Show or Access Daily filling those gaps before the late-afternoon news cycle begins.
The evening "news hour" actually starts at 4:00 PM. NBC 5 has been pretty consistent with this:
- 4:00 PM: NBC 5 News at 4.
- 5:00 PM: NBC 5 News at 5.
- 6:00 PM: NBC 5 News at 6.
- 6:30 PM: NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas (taking over for the legendary Lester Holt).
Then, of course, the big one—NBC 5 News at 10. This is the station's flagship. Even with the rise of streaming, the 10:00 PM broadcast remains the gold standard for most Chicago households.
Primetime: One Chicago and The 2026 Shift
If it’s Wednesday, you know exactly what’s on. The "One Chicago" trilogy is the undisputed king of the nbc 5 chicago schedule.
- Wednesday 7:00 PM: Chicago Med.
- Wednesday 8:00 PM: Chicago Fire.
- Wednesday 9:00 PM: Chicago P.D.
But 2026 has brought some weird, exciting changes. NBC snagged a massive package of NBA and MLB rights. This means your Tuesdays and Sundays might look a lot different. For instance, NBA on NBC often takes over Tuesday nights at 7:00 PM, which can bump regular programming to different slots or even to Peacock.
And we can’t forget the new heavy hitter: The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, starring Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe. That show has been a Monday night staple since its February 2026 premiere, usually airing at 8:00 PM before The Voice.
Weekends and Sports Chaos
Weekends are where the schedule gets kinda messy. Saturday mornings are dedicated to the "The More You Know" E/I block for kids, which is required, but after that, it's a toss-up.
If there’s an English Premier League match, expect to see soccer as early as 6:30 AM. Sundays are now dominated by Sunday Night Basketball or Sunday Night Baseball, depending on the season. In early 2026, the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and Super Bowl LX completely took over the schedule for most of February, which threw a lot of the regular shows into a hiatus.
How to Stay Updated
The best way to keep track of the nbc 5 chicago schedule isn't just checking the TV guide on your remote. The NBC 5 app is actually surprisingly good for 24/7 streaming. If you miss the 10:00 PM news because you fell asleep on the couch (it happens), they loop the broadcast immediately after.
Actionable Steps for Viewers:
- Check the Sports Calendar: If the Bulls or Cubs are playing a national game on NBC, your 6:00 PM or 10:00 PM news might be delayed. Always check the "Live" section of the NBC Chicago website on game days.
- Use the "Scan" Feature: If you’re using an antenna and the signal seems off, rescan. WMAQ-TV sometimes adjusts its digital subchannels, which can affect where local programming lands.
- Peacock Integration: Almost everything that airs on the NBC 5 schedule is available on Peacock the next day. If a storm cuts out your signal or a special report pre-empts Law & Order, don't panic—it'll be streaming by 5:00 AM the next morning.
The schedule is a living thing. While the news times are mostly set in stone, the arrival of big-ticket sports in 2026 means you've got to be a little more flexible than in years past.
