Tracker Sets A New Record In Season 4 That Will Make Fans Happy

Published Sep 27, 2026, 12:30 PM EDT

Antonella Gugliersi (she/them) has been a feature writer for Screen Rant since 2021. While studying for her bachelor’s in Economics & Management, they started writing about movies and TV shows for Turin-based The Unconventional Mag. After a brief internship at TPI, she decided she wanted to pursue journalism and graduated with a degree in International Journalism from Brunel University.

CBS juggernaut Tracker is going to set a new record with the upcoming season 4. Since its debut in February 2024, Tracker has only brought incredible success to CBS, with the crime drama quickly becoming the most-watched scripted TV series, a record it still holds among currently airing TV shows. Its procedural nature and small ensemble cast make it exceptionally straightforward to follow Tracker’s story, even if an episode is missed, making its popularity understandable. A popularity that is undeniable for the Justin Hartley-led TV show, whose first three seasons averaged 8 million live viewers per episode.

Part of CBS’s Fall 2026 lineup, Tracker was renewed for season 4 at the start of the year. It’s unknown how many episodes it will include, but it should be at least 20. After all, Tracker extended its short season 1 run to 20 episodes for season 2, reaching as many as 22 for Tracker season 3. This upward trend makes a reduced episode count unlikely.

Among the biggest changes coming with Tracker season 4 is the filming location. After filming in Vancouver since its inception, Tracker season 4 moved to Los Angeles, getting a historic $48 million in tax credits for the relocation thanks to the expansion of California’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program. However, its relocation and subsequent tax credit aren’t the only new record for Tracker, as season 4 will return much earlier to our screens than the crime drama ever did before with season 1, 2, and 3.

Tracker Season 4 Marks Its Earliest Premiere Ever

Returning to its usual Sunday evening slot, Tracker season 4 will premiere on October 4, 2026. It will mark the first time that the crime drama begins this early in the TV cycle, and it will be among the first CBS shows to return, sharing the date with Marshals.

Except for season 1, whose debut during the midseason greatly contributed to Tracker’s ratings success as its series premiere after Super Bowl LVIII meant 18.4 million people watched it, Tracker always returned in mid-October. The entire CBS 2026-2027 TV cycle beginning earlier than previous years inevitably moved up Tracker season 4’s premiere, and returning before the vast majority of TV shows on CBS gave the crime drama the chance to set a new record even in this instance.

What To Expect From Tracker Season 4

Tracker season 3’s ending included two reveals that season 4 will have to explore. The most far-reaching is undoubtedly the mystery of what Ashton Shaw supposedly did to Colter that Russell discovered in season 3’s finale. While his going away at the end of season 3 indicated he wouldn’t be seen for a while, it’s already known that Russell will return in Tracker season 4. It’s unclear whether that also means that Colter will learn what McIntyre revealed to Russell about their father, but the secret Russell chose to keep from Colter can easily drive a wedge between the brothers.

Less consequentially, but in a massive shift from Tracker seasons 1 and 2, season 3’s ending revealed the existence of Colter’s home. Colter never mentioned he had a home base, as Tracker always showed him on the road. Tracker season 3 ending with Colter welcoming Keaton to his super-secret dwelling simultaneously provided an insight into Colter as a character for the audience and hinted at their bond undoubtedly becoming stronger, as Colter rarely opened up to others, making the revelation of his place even more significant.

Tracker season 4 promoting Mel and Randy to series regulars will also impact the story, as their involvement is bound to increase. It’s unclear whether Mel will also be brought into Colter’s operation more structurally, but we will undoubtedly see more of her in Tracker season 4. Similarly, Randy’s promotion means he can be even more involved with Reenie’s law firm and Colter’s work. Hopefully, their bigger roles can finally bring Colter’s team to spend some time together in Tracker season 4, something Colter painstakingly avoided throughout the crime drama.

Enjoy ScreenRant's primetime coverage? Click below to sign up for my weekly Network TV newsletter (make sure to check "Network TV" in your preferences) and get the inside scoop from actors and showrunners on your favorite series.