After eight seasons, the critically acclaimed series The Chi will draw to a close. The show’s creator, Lena Waithe, confirmed that the upcoming eighth season will be its last. “After much reflection, we have made the decision to end The Chi with season 8,” she said in a public statement.
Waithe said she came to the decision to preserve the integrity of the story and its characters. “I know, for the sake of our story and our characters, it’s the right thing,” she said. She added that she remains “committed to delivering a final season that our Chi Family deserves.”
Waithe also touched on her greater mission. “When I created The Chi, it wasn’t just about making a TV show – it was about owning our narratives and telling our stories with truth, care, nuance and complexity,” she said. “It was about showing the soul of the South Side – the beauty, the pain, the grit, and the magic that lives in every block, and in every family.”
She noted that the series became “the longest-running Black drama on television,” and called that “a huge honor.” Waithe also expressed deep gratitude to every collaborator. “I’m deeply grateful to every single person who helped build this world – our writers, actors and crew who give so much of themselves to make this show what it is.”
The Chi Legacy, Ratings and What Comes Next
The Chi premiered in January 2018 and steadily built a reputation for authentic storytelling centered on the Black experience in Chicago’s South Side. In 2025, its season 7 premiere broke viewership records, drawing more than two million viewers across platforms.
Showtime formally renewed the series for season 8 in May 2025, but did not initially announce it would be the last. Production for season 8 is expected to begin in 2026.
With the forthcoming season, The Chi will join a small group of long-running series on the network, including Dexter and Homeland, while trailing Shameless.
Although the series is ending, Waithe says her storytelling journey will continue. “As for what the future holds, I still plan on telling stories, continuing to build community, and making space for us all to be seen,” she said.
Fans and followers can now look forward to a deliberate, meaningful final chapter. The Chi ends not by cancellation, but by choice — a creative decision to let its narrative rest on its own terms.