Law & Order: SVU's Pisano, Martinez Exit After Season 26

Law & Order: SVU will lose two main cast members, Octavio Pisano (Detective Joe Velasco) and Juliana Martinez (Detective Kate Silva), after season 26, with the reasons for their exit remaining unclear. While some reports speculate that budget cuts and network-wide financial pressures may have contributed to the departures, neither NBC nor the show's producers have provided an official explanation. The show's upcoming season finale may address or set up the characters' exits, but details on how their storylines will conclude are still unknown. These cast changes come as SVU is expected to be renewed for a 27th season and will see Michele Fazekas step in as the first female showrunner in the series' history. Longtime stars Mariska Hargitay and Ice-T are expected to remain, as the show continues to adapt with new and recurring cast members. The departures reflect broader trends of cast shakeups and cost-cutting measures affecting procedural dramas across major networks.