Line of Duty has been thrilling audiences globally since its first season premiered back in 2012, showcasing the effects of police corruption through exceptional dramatization and investigation using the AC-12 investigative unit. It has gained heaps of anticipation for Season 7 with all the new plot twists, high-stakes police investigations and depth of emotion. The filming of Season 7 will take place primarily in Belfast beginning in March 2026 and is slated to air in late 2026 or early 2027.

On November 2025, BBC made public that they are going to produce Line of Duty season seven, a surprise return of their anti-corruption drama after almost five years following the air date of season six in 2021. The initial position of season six was to finish the long-running “H” storyline so this announcement was both unexpected and impactful.

Production will occur in Belfast starting in spring 2026; most reports indicate that filming will begin in either March or April with some occasional reports referencing a potential licensed start date of January 2026. At this time, the BBC has not provided an official premiere date for Line of Duty season seven. Based upon typical schedules for filming, post-production, it looks like a late 2026 release date is optimistic, while early 2027 seems more realistic. Historically, BBC has released large return series between New Year’s and therefore it seems likely that January 2027 will be an option if production moves along faster than anticipated.

The general format of the line of Duty season seven will be the six episodes; written by creator Jed Mercurio, and produced once again by World Productions.

Line of Duty Season 7 Expected Cast

The main three characters in the series (the core AC-12 trio) will all return, reuniting the core group of actors in the show. Martin Compston will again play DS Steve Arnott, and Vicky McClure will reprise her role as DI Kate Fleming, while Adrian Dunbar will again play Superintendent Ted Hastings. According to fans of the show, these three actors have been a large part of the heart of the series, and all of them are excited about coming back to play their roles after the long hiatus.

There have also been no announcements regarding new cast members. As we’ll see again this season, new characters will be added to support the new storyline and announcements about casting will probably be made closer to filming.

Line of Duty Season 7 Potential Plot

The opener of Season 7 signifies an important institutional transition, as AC-12 has been disbanded and transitioned to the Inspectorate of Police Standards, resulting in a less favourable environment for anti-corruption investigations. Arnott, Fleming and Hastings are now confronted with what has been touted as their most sensitive case to date, under increased scrutiny and diminished jurisdiction.

Detailed plotlines have yet to be communicated; however, the BBC has described the new season as a strong standalone narrative rather than a continuation to the “H” arc us. Nevertheless, cast members have commented that the new case may still include unresolved storylines from past seasons. Martin Compston indicated that the new case will reflect real world issues and remain consistent with the show being reflective of modern day policing and institutional pressures. The audience can continue to expect multiple types of interrogation scenes, procedural tension, and layered plot twists — albeit under a newly defined power structure.

Line Of Duty Season 7 is scheduled to air on BBC One while also available to stream on BBC iPlayer within the UK, and will likely be made available internationally via services such as BritBox. Seasons 1 – 6 are currently available for streaming, and there will be additional updates for cast, filming and trailers as production starts in 2026.