Is NOVA on tonight?

Yes. NOVA is on tonight, Wednesday, November 11, 2026 at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT on PBS: episode 17, "Evolution: On the Run".

Quick answer · Season 53

NOVA season 53 premiered on January 21, 2026 on PBS at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT.

Episode 17, "Evolution: On the Run", is tonight at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT.

U.S. premiere: January 21, 2026
Where: PBS
Time: 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT
Episodes: TBA

Where to watch NOVA season 53 in the U.S.

Where to watch NOVA season 53 in the U.S.
Where	How	When	Notes
PBS	Broadcast (free)Antenna / cable	January 21, 2026 Wednesdays, 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT	[1]

Season 53 episode schedule

NOVA season 53 U.S. episode schedule
Ep.	Title	U.S. date	Time	Status
1	Asteroids: Spark of Life?	Wed, Jan 21, 2026 ^[1]	9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT national slot	Listed
2	Angkor: Hidden Jungle Empire	Wed, Jan 28, 2026 ^[1]	9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT national slot	Listed
3	Can Dogs Talk?	Wed, Feb 4, 2026 ^[1]	9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT national slot	Listed
4	Mammal Origins	Wed, Feb 11, 2026 ^[1]	9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT national slot	Listed
5	Stone Age Temple Mystery	Wed, Feb 25, 2026 ^[1]	9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT national slot	Listed
6	Return to the Moon	Wed, Apr 15, 2026 ^[1]	9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT national slot	Listed
7	Rain Bombs	Wed, Apr 22, 2026 ^[1]	9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT national slot	Listed
8	Athens: Birth of Democracy	Wed, Apr 29, 2026 ^[1]	9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT national slot	Listed
9	The Battle to Breathe	Wed, Sep 16, 2026 ^[1]	9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT national slot	Listed
10	Knowledge Keepers	Wed, Sep 23, 2026 ^[1]	9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT national slot	Listed
11	Stone Age Masterpiece	Wed, Sep 30, 2026 ^[1]	9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT national slot	Listed
12	Space Wars	Wed, Oct 7, 2026 ^[1]	9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT national slot	Listed
13	Evolution: Brain Power	Wed, Oct 14, 2026 ^[1]	9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT national slot	Listed
14	Evolution: Need to Feed	Wed, Oct 21, 2026 ^[1]	9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT national slot	Listed
15	Evolution: Body Builders	Wed, Oct 28, 2026 ^[1]	9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT national slot	Listed
16	Evolution: The Mating Game	Wed, Nov 4, 2026 ^[1]	9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT national slot	Listed
17	Evolution: On the Run	Wed, Nov 11, 2026 ^[1]	9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT national slot	Next
18	Universe in Motion	Wed, Dec 16, 2026 ^[1]	9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT national slot	Listed

Dates are U.S. dates. Broadcast times are the network's national slot; your local station may differ.

About NOVA

NOVA is a nature and history series on PBS that first aired in 1974. Season 53 began on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, airing Wednesdays 9 p.m. ET/PT (8 p.m. CT).

Season 53: Season 53 of NOVA on PBS.

Network / service: PBS (first aired March 3, 1974)
Official site: pbs.org

All seasons

Season 53

Airing now

Season 53 of NOVA on PBS.

PBS

Season 52

Streaming

Season 52 aired from 2025-01-22 to 2025-11-12.

PBS

Common questions

When does NOVA season 53 come out?

The season premiere is listed for Wednesday, January 21, 2026 on PBS. Schedules can change; the table above is updated daily.

What time is NOVA on?

PBS lists it Wednesdays at 9 p.m. Eastern and Pacific (8 p.m. Central). Local stations and sports overruns can shift the time.

Where can I watch NOVA?

NOVA airs on PBS. Free with an antenna or a cable/satellite package that carries your local PBS station. New MASTERPIECE episodes also stream on PBS.org and the PBS app after broadcast.

When is the next episode of NOVA?

Episode 17, "Evolution: On the Run", of season 53 is tonight (Wednesdays, 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT).

When was the first episode of NOVA season 53?

Season 53 episode 1 premiered on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 on PBS.