Two icons of the Law & Order universe reunited to mark one heck of a milestone.

On January 6, 2026, during a private event celebrating the landmark 25th season of the original Law & Order series, Sam Waterston, who memorably portrayed Manhattan District Attorney Jack McCoy from Season 5 through Season 23, was photographed catching up with a fellow legend in her own right: Mariska Hargitay of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

The two stars seem to be in mid-conversation in a photo captured at the event, which took place at Casa Cipriani New York in Lower Manhattan, with Hargitay’s hands on Waterston’s shoulders.

While it’s unknown what the two were discussing, it wouldn’t be surprising to discover they were both paying mutual respect toward each other. With their respective shows combining for a jaw-dropping 52 seasons, it can be argued that the franchise’s longevity would not have been possible without the efforts of Hargitay and Waterston, both in front of and behind the camera.

Waterston is a pillar of Law & Order with 405 episodes under his belt, and Hargitay is still delivering the goods as Captain Olivia Benson on SVU for 27 seasons and counting.

So, for many fans, seeing the pair together is one of those real-life crossover moments that are hard to come by.

Their characters crossed paths multiple times over the years, and fans still remember the explosive courtroom battle that pitted them on opposite sides in Law & Order: SVU‘s Season 19 episode, “The Undiscovered Country.”

Speaking of crossovers, the worlds of Law & Order and SVU are set to collide again soon!

Here’s what to know about the 2026 Law & Order crossover event

Both iconic series return from winter hiatus with a two-hour crossover event that’s about as can’t-miss as it gets.

The two-hour Law & Order and SVU crossover event airs on Thursday, January 8, at 8/7c on NBC. If you miss the TV broadcast, the episodes will be available to stream — as always — the following day on Peacock.

So, what should fans expect? Let’s turn to the episode loglines for clues.

The logline for Law & Order Season 25, Episode 10 (“Snowflakes”) reads: “Brady teams up with Benson’s SVU to figure out why a murder was committed,” while the logline for SVU Season 27, Episode 10 (“Purity”) promises: “A murder suspect’s pursuit reveals a crime with disturbing legal implications. During a raid, Bruno protects his team while Carisi and Price join forces in court.”

Who knows what will happen during the explosive two-hour event — but fans don’t have to wait much longer to find out!