Season 17 has been airing on Nickelodeon since June 12, 2026, and two additional seasons have already been ordered: Season 18 is announced for the last quarter of 2026, and Season 19 for 2027. In other words, the series is set to continue at least until its thirtieth anniversary.
With Season 16 just concluded, Season 17 currently airing, a fourth movie released in theaters in late 2025, and a spin-off continuing on its own, it’s becoming difficult to keep track. This article provides an update on the actual state of the franchise as of Fall 2026: what’s airing, what’s ordered, the status of the French version, and what has been officially debunked.
Where is the series at in Fall 2026?
Two seasons have aired back-to-back in recent months, which has confused many viewers.
Season 16 concluded in June
Launched on June 27, 2025, the sixteenth season concluded on June 5, 2026, with an episode focusing on Karen, Plankton’s computer, who organizes a computer meeting that her husband promptly sabotages. A season completed in just under a year, a pace that has become the norm for the series.
Season 17 started a week later
On June 12, 2026, seven days after the previous season ended, Season 17 launched with a double episode. The first segment follows Bob accidentally breaking a witch's curse, who immediately demands to be cursed again. The second features Larry the Lobster prominently, as he starts imitating Patrick after discovering his secret strength.
The season consists of thirteen half-hour episodes. Marc Ceccarelli and Vincent Waller remain at the helm, as they have for several cycles. If you're interested in Larry, our portrait of Bikini Bottom's lobster reviews his journey in the series.
💡 Why the numbering is confusing — Production seasons and broadcast seasons do not coincide. The second half of a production cycle can be re-qualified as the next season on air. This is why the counts vary from site to site, and why the French version does not follow the same numbering.
Seasons 18 and 19 are already ordered
This is the most impactful announcement of the year, made a few days before the launch of Season 17.
What the order covers
Nickelodeon has greenlit a new cycle comprising Seasons 18 and 19, for a total of 26 half-hour episodes. Both seasons are already in production, eliminating any risk of short-term broadcast interruption.
The announced schedule
Season 18 is expected on Nickelodeon in the last quarter of 2026, so potentially before the end of the year. Season 19 is scheduled for 2027. Including the usual dubbing and international broadcast delays, these seasons will only arrive in French starting in 2027 or 2028.
To contextualize all of this within the series' long history, our season-by-season guide details the evolution of tone and style from one period to another.
🛋️ The Marathon Kit
Thirteen episodes to catch up on, might as well be comfortable
What about France?
This is the most frequently asked question, and the answer is simple: France is several seasons behind, as is customary for a dubbed series.
The fourteenth season began its French broadcast in February 2026, just as the original version was concluding its sixteenth season. The gap is therefore around two to three seasons.
| Season | Original Broadcast | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Season 15 | July 2024 – June 2025 | Completed |
| Season 16 | June 2025 – June 2026 | Completed |
| Season 17 | Since June 12, 2026 | Currently airing |
| Season 18 | Announced for late 2026 | In production |
| Season 19 | Announced for 2027 | In production |
To find out which platforms you can catch up on already dubbed seasons, our French streaming guide sorts through the different services.
Patrick is not leaving the series
A rumor circulated in 2026 that the character would leave the main series to focus on his spin-off. The channel explicitly denied this when announcing the new seasons.
The misunderstanding stems from the coexistence of the two programs: the Patrick-centric spin-off has also been renewed, with its fifth season launched in July 2026 and two additional seasons ordered. Both series run in parallel, with the same original voice actor for the character.
This double exposure partly explains why Patrick remains, by far, the most requested secondary character for merchandise.
The fourth film in cinemas
Released in France on December 19, 2025, the fourth full-length animated film sends Bob on the trail of a phantom pirate to prove his courage to Mr. Krabs. Runtime: 1 hour 28 minutes, directed by Derek Drymon, one of the series' original writers.
The original voice cast returns, with the addition of Mark Hamill as the pirate. Critical reception is milder than that of the first two films, but the important thing for a fan is elsewhere: the film catalog now boasts four films, not three.
⚠️ Beware of outdated guides — Many online articles still refer to "the three SpongeBob movies," which was accurate until late 2025. In addition to these are the spin-off feature films released directly to streaming, focusing respectively on Sandy and Plankton, which are not theatrical releases but count towards the filmography.
Why the series isn't ending
This is the angle missing from most news articles, which simply announce renewals without explaining the economic logic behind them.
The series is broadcast in over 180 markets and translated into more than thirty languages. It is one of its studio's most widely distributed properties, with a quarterly audience in the tens of millions of cumulative viewers. On this scale, the show no longer needs to be a one-off ratings success: it is an infrastructure.
Added to this is a factor that few series possess: the eleven-minute format in independent segments, without mandatory narrative continuity. A new season needs neither to resolve a previous arc nor to be watched in order. This allows for perpetual re-broadcasting, and also fuels the continuous renewal of the audience—a phenomenon detailed in our analysis of adults' attachment to the series.
🧍 The characters at the heart of the season
Larry, Karen, Squidward: supporting roles taking center stage
What to remember
Four points are enough to summarize the situation. The series is currently airing, not on hiatus. It is guaranteed until at least 2027, with two seasons already in production. The film catalog includes four films, not counting the spin-offs released on streaming. And the spin-off dedicated to Patrick continues, without the character being removed from the main series.
For a French viewer, the practical consequence is that there are several seasons left to discover before catching up with the original version — enough to keep busy for the coming months.
Delivery and budget
Regarding the store, figures start at €37.90 individually, multi-character packs around €45.90, and textiles between €29.90 and €32.90. Cushion covers and sofa accessories are priced between €27.90 and €37.90.
Delivery is €5.90 in France and the European Union, free for purchases over €60, and €7 outside the European Union. The announced delivery time is 7 to 14 business days. Two items at €32.90 each would cross the free shipping threshold, whereas one would not.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is SpongeBob SquarePants over?
No. Season 17 has been airing since June 2026, and two additional seasons are already in production, announced for late 2026 and 2027.
How many seasons are there in total?
Seventeen seasons aired or currently airing, and two more ordered. Please note: the numbering of production seasons differs from broadcast seasons, which explains the discrepancies between sources.
How many movies are there?
Four feature films released in cinemas, the latest in December 2025. In addition, there are spin-off films released directly to streaming, focusing on secondary characters.
Is Patrick leaving the show?
No, the channel has explicitly denied it. The character continues to appear in the main series while also having his own spin-off show, which has also been renewed.
When will season 17 arrive in French?
No date has been announced. The French version is currently two to three seasons behind the original, which places the arrival of season 17 no earlier than 2028.
How long does delivery take?
Delivery time is 7 to 14 business days. Delivery costs €5.90 in France and the European Union, it is free for purchases over €60, and €7 outside the European Union.
Do you have to watch the seasons in order?
No. The format of independent eleven-minute segments does not include a mandatory narrative arc. You can jump into the series at any season without missing anything essential.
A series entering its seventeenth season with two more already in the bag is not a series nearing its end. The real question is no longer whether it will continue, but which secondary characters will emerge — and on that point, season 17 already puts Larry and Karen much more in the spotlight than previous seasons.