Two SVU detectives bow out after season 26—get the scoop on the cast shake-up and behind-the-scenes vibes.
Table of Contents
who’s ditching SVU now?
Two fan-favorite actors are bowing out, shaking up the squad big time.
Octavio Pisano, who’s nailed the role of Detective Joe Velasco since season 23, is heading off after this one wraps.
And Juliana Martinez, fresh as Detective Kate Silva in the current season, is joining him in the exit—confirmed by PEOPLE just this Tuesday.
What made their characters so compelling?
Pisano’s Detective Velasco brought that raw edge from his undercover days in Mexico’s cartel world, adding real grit to the team.
Martinez stepped in as Kate Silva, a tough homicide detective from Brooklyn who quickly meshed with Captain Benson’s crew.
It’s wild how they both injected fresh energy into the show’s endless chase for justice.
Why the sudden news—any scoop on that?
Deadline broke it first, with PEOPLE jumping in to verify the deets.
At 38, Pisano’s been a staple for a few years, while 34-year-old Martinez only joined recently but made waves right away.
The show’s not locked in for season 27 yet, but buzz says it’s coming—especially with Michele Fazekas stepping up as the first female showrunner, as Variety reported back in April.
How does this fit into the bigger SVU picture?
The series keeps diving into those gritty, heart-wrenching sex crimes cases with NYPD’s elite unit at the helm.
Led by the iconic Captain Olivia Benson, played by Mariska Hargitay, the cast includes Ice-T, Peter Scanavino, and Kevin Kane holding down the fort.
Before Martinez even hit the screen in October 2024, she spilled to PEOPLE about bonding with her co-stars—calling Ice-T her on-set Yoda and raving about Pisano’s support as a fellow Latino.
What’s the vibe from Martinez on set?
She joked about jotting down Ice-T’s wisdom in a journal, saying he’s dropping life gems left and right.
Then there’s Pisano, who she praised for being welcoming and making her feel at home.
Oh, and she shouted out Kevin Kane and Peter Scanavino for their laughs and movie quotes—turns out, it’s all one big, fun family behind the scenes.
When’s the final curtain for season 26?
Mark your calendars—it’s dropping on Thursday, May 15, at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. This finale could be a game-changer with these exits looming.
In a nutshell, SVU’s losing two key players in Pisano and Martinez post-season 26, but the show’s legacy with Benson and the crew keeps it thrilling.
Expect more twists as it gears up for potential renewal, blending heart, humor, and high-stakes drama like always.