The Pitt emerged as one of 2025’s surprise hits, sending heart rates soaring with its frenzied, real-time portrait of a particularly gruesome day in a Pittsburgh trauma medical center.

After debuting on HBO Max in January 2025, the series not only got fans talking, but made them nostalgic for white-knuckle medical dramas like ER. That’s not by accident — The Pitt stars ER vet Noah Wyle, also an executive producer, and was created by former ER writer R. Scott Gemmill.

In her A- review, Entertainment Weekly‘s Kristen Baldwin called it “the most engrossing and addictive medical drama to come along since Grey’s Anatomy and, well, ER.”

The Pitt was averaging 10 million views per episode by season’s end, and sent Severance fans into a tizzy when it took home five Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series.

It’s been nearly a year since Wyle’s Dr. Robby first stole our hearts (and worried our souls), so you may be wondering when The Pitt is returning for a second season. Below is everything we know about the next shift, including the new faces getting their scalpels dirty.

What is The Pitt season 2 about?

The Pitt‘s first season unfolds across a single, eventful day in the ER. Each episode plays across an hour in real-time, allowing for an intimacy and sense of urgency that you don’t see in other medical dramas. Season 2 will be no different, with the action taking place 10 months later on the Fourth of July.

And as Wyle told EW, you can expect plenty of fireworks-related injuries. “Fireworks, alcohol-related accidents, bad judgments, celebrations gone awry,” said the actor. “And like on any Fourth of July, they start being one type of case, and over the course of the day, you get a higher acuity of cases coming in as people get more inebriated or take bigger chances or start dealing with more pyrotechnics.”

But the date is notable for another reason: It’s Dr. Frank Langdon’s (Patrick Ball) first day back on the job after he got busted stealing meds (and was ordered into rehab) last season. Will be awkward? Oh, absolutely, especially after he and Dr. Robby’s final confrontation.

“He’s been forced to grow up in a lot of ways over these last 10 months,” Ball told EW. “He’s stepping back into this workplace of much trauma and much baggage. He’s having to look his mentor Robby in the eye after having said some pretty nasty things to him — out of desperation, I think — at the end of season 1.”

You can expect other storylines to unfold in between cases. Dr. Melissa King (Taylor Dearden), for example, is facing a malpractice lawsuit. And the puppy-ish Dr. Dennis Whitaker (Gerran Howell) is forced to step into a leadership position after his trial by fire in season 1.

“There’s a lot of stuff where I’m now sort of imparting my wisdom that was given to me by Dr. Robby to these new medical students, which is great,” Howell told EW. “And I think he does it with a lot of empathy because of where he was in season 1. He can really see how overwhelming this environment can be.”

Is there a Pitt season 2 trailer?

The Pitt season 2 trailer highlights the returns of Dana (Katherine LaNasa) and Langdon, the latter of whom shares a tense moment with Dr. Robby.

But the trailer’s most anxiety-inducing moment sees a technological failure force the ER to go analog.

HBO Max has also shared the opening scene of season 2, which finds Dr. Robby arriving for his 7 a.m. shift on a motorcycle as the Clarks’ “Better Off Without You” plays.

No, he’s not wearing a helmet, but what do you expect from our sweet, damaged Dr. Robby? He thinks about everybody’s safety but his own.

Who’s in the Pitt season 2 cast?

Much of The Pitt’s success comes courtesy of its ensemble, which includes a motley crew of seasoned residents, insecure medical students, brassy nurses, and unlikable administrators. While most of the core cast is returning, one doctor will not be on duty in season 2.

EW confirmed in July that Tracy Ifeachor, who played Dr. Heather Collins in season 1, will not appear in season 2. In season 1, Dr. Collins treated a number of patients while trying to keep her pregnancy a secret. We also learned that she and Dr. Robby were once an item.

“What a blessing to be a part of this first and foundational season of #ThePitt on @hbomax,” she said in an Instagram post at the time. “It was an absolute privilege to play Dr. Heather Collins in such a groundbreaking season and piece.”

You can, however, expect to see some new faces, including Sepideh Moafi as Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi, who will cover Dr. Robby’s attending position when he goes on sabbatical. She’s bound to be a controversial character, though, as her desire to boost efficiency includes the implementation of new technology, including some A.I. tools.

“She’s gonna be someone who’s very progressive in her approach to medicine and believes in the modernization of the medical field,” Gemmill explained to EW. “And Robby’s a little bit more old school and there’ll be a little bit of, let’s just say, tension as they try and figure out how to work together.”

Laëtitia Hollard will also join the cast as Emma, a fresh-faced nurse who crosses paths with Dana, the charge nurse who was attacked by a patient in season 1. The effects of that punch,” LaNasa told EW, “will carry us through a major part of the season.” It will also factor into how she engages with Emma.

Is there a Pitt season 2 release date?

The Pitt season 2 premieres on Jan. 8, 2026, with new episodes arriving weekly.

Where can I watch The Pitt?

The Pitt is available to stream on HBO Max.