Everything to Know About Grey's Anatomy Season 21

It's almost time to head back to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital on Grey's Anatomy, but the staff might look a lot different. The Season 20 finale left multiple jobs in jeopardy after Catherine (Debbie Allen) found out Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) continued the Alzheimer's research that Catherine had forbidden. Everyone involved with Meredith continuing her work, even tangentially, is potentially looking for new employment, including Amelia (Caterina Scorsone), Teddy (Kim Raver), and Owen (Kevin McKidd). 

The veterans weren't the only ones getting shaken up. The entire intern class is at risk after volunteering to quit if Catherine forces Lucas (Niko Terho) to repeat his intern year. Even Bailey (Chandra Wilson) threw her hat in the ring to protect the young Shepherd. On the happy front, Jo (Camilla Luddington) is pregnant! But will there be a hospital standing for her to deliver in? 

We do know that Grey's Anatomy will be dealing with fewer fire emergencies now that Station 19 has wrapped up, but familiar faces are coming back to the hospital. Here's everything we know about Grey's Anatomy Season 21 so far.

Grey's Anatomy Season 21 latest news

We're officially going to be seeing more of Natalie Morales, who guest starred in Season 20 as the new peds surgeon Dr. Monica Beltran. On Aug. 30, Variety reported that Morales will join the recurring cast of Season 21.

Grey's Anatomy Season 21 release date

Grey's Anatomy will return to Thursdays on ABC this fall, but in a new time slot. The medical drama premieres Thursday, Sept. 26 at 10/9c on ABC, after 9-1-1 and the new series Doctor Odyssey. Episodes will be available to stream on Hulu the next day.

What will Grey's Anatomy Season 21 be about? 

The immediate concern of Grey's Anatomy Season 21 will be who still works at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Teddy and Amelia were both fired in the Season 20 finale after Catherine discovered their involvement in Meredith's Alzheimer's research. While Meredith and Amelia may be out of jobs, Meredith published their research before Catherine could seize all of it and give it to Koracick (Greg Germann). Season 21 will reveal how the medical community feels about Meredith and Amelia's controversial take on Alzheimer's precursors and whether they can get new funding to continue the research. 

Season 21 will also have to answer what will happen to the intern program after the entire class, and Bailey, threatened to quit in hopes of leveraging Catherine into not making Lucas repeat his intern year. Bailey and Catherine facing off in the conference room was the final scene before the credits rolled, but did Lucas even need saving? He has a very cushy job offer from Maggie (Kelly McCreary) to join her cardio team in Chicago, and he could leave the drama of Grey Sloan behind him. 

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Who will be in Grey's Anatomy Season 21? 

Deadline has already reported that Jake Borelli and Midori Francis will be exiting the series in Season 21, though both will be in multiple episodes to conclude their characters' arcs. As they exit, we also gain familiar faces. Ellen Pompeo is set to return for at least seven episodes, per Deadline, but that number can grow. Jason George will also return as a series regular, playing Bailey's husband, Ben Warren, who is ready to put his firefighting days behind him following the cancellation of Station 19. 

Natalie Morales will reprise her role from last season as Dr. Monica Beltran, joining the recurring cast of Season 21. Morales' first appearance will be in the second episode of the season, and she is set to appear in at least six episodes, with the option for more.

Scott Speedman (who plays Meredith's boyfriend, Nick) will be back as well. Deadline reports that Speedman is expected to appear in at least five episodes this season. 

Plus, Kali Rocha is set to reprise her role as Dr. Sydney Heron, last seen on Grey's Anatomy way back in Season 4.

Grey's Anatomy cast: 

• Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey
• James Pickens Jr. as Richard Webber
• Kevin McKidd as Owen Hunt
• Kim Raver as Teddy Altman 
• Camilla Luddington as Jo Wilson
• Caterina Scorsone as Amelia Shepherd
• Chris Carmack as Atticus "Link" Lincoln 
• Niko Terho as Lucas Adams
• Alexis Floyd as Simone Griffith
• Harry Shum Jr. as Benson "Blue" Kwan
• Adelaide Kane as Jules Millin 
• Jason George as Ben Warren

How many episodes will be in Grey's Anatomy Season 21?

Season 21 will reportedly have 18 episodes, an increase from Season 20, which was curtailed by the 2023 Hollywood strikes and ran for 10 episodes. 

Where to watch Grey's Anatomy? 

Grey's Anatomy Seasons 1-20 are now available on Hulu and Netflix.