The sixteenth season of the American police procedural drama NCIS originally aired from September 25, 2018, through May 21, 2019,[1] at the same time slot as in the previous seasons, Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. and contained 24 episodes.

[2][3] NCIS revolves around a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which conducts criminal investigations involving the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

Season 16 revolves around two major storylines after the premiere concludes the plot from the previous season's finale: a season-long arc involving a vigilante justice ring, and the reveal that Ziva David is actually alive halfway through the season.

The latter fact is confirmed by her physical appearance in the final moments of the finale, "Daughters".

This season takes on a darker undertone for Gibbs as he reveals to his team that he killed the man responsible for his wife Shannon and daughter Kelly's deaths.