Acorn TV Sets 'Murdoch Mysteries' Season 19 Debut For March

Murdoch Mysteries has been on the air for so long that it predates streaming; despite moves by the bigger mainstream services toward worldwide releases, the CBC series’ global rollout on streaming still follows the old-school “120-day” window of exclusivity in its home country. The newest set of episodes, Season 19, debuted in Canada and on the zombified cable network Ovation (which was the original home of the series, under the title The Artful Detective) just as we went on hiatus in October, so it almost feels right and proper that the streaming debut on Acorn is set to arrive just as we relaunch.

Canada’s longest-running historical detective series, Murdoch Mysteries, was initially set in 1895 Toronto. However, after nearly two decades on the air, it has settled into a vaguely late-Edwardian-era show. The story follows the titular Detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) of the Toronto Constabulary, who uses innovative (for the time) forensic techniques, such as fingerprinting, to solve the city’s most difficult murders.

The show also regularly weaves real history into its cases of the week, and it is full of familiar British and American guest stars, playing roles ranging from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to Mark Twain. It’s an idealized blend of North American culture, making it the most popular Canadian TV import this side of Heated Rivalry.

Here’s the official Season 19 synopsis:

The new season dazzles with a host of confounding mysteries, surprising guest stars, and the wit that makes the show so beloved. Cases this season include the murder of a fashion mogul that everyone had reason to kill; a politically charged kidnapping of a Japanese scholar; Murdoch participating in a game show that turns lethal; wild animal attacks in High Park; and a dangerous stand-off when customers are taken hostage at a roadside inn. Murdoch and Brackenreid even solve a murder with the help of famous sharpshooter Annie Oakley, and while working another case, fight spies atop of a speeding train headed towards the nation’s capital.

Bisson continues to anchor the series as the titular William Murdoch, along with the show’s long-time stalwarts Thomas Craig as Chief Constable Thomas Brackenreid and Jonny Harris as Constables George Crabtree, all of whom have been with the series since its inception. Season 19 will also bring back new leading cast member Paul Hyung-Sun Lee as Inspector Albert Choi, as Hélène Joy, who played Murdoch’s love interest, Dr. Julia Ogden, has exited the ensemble after moving to guest-star in Season 18.

Supporting cast returnees include Shanice Banton as Chief Coroner Violet Hart, Daniel Maslany as Llewellyn Detective Watts, Lachlan Murdoch as Constable Henry Higgins, Arwen Humphreys as Margaret Brackenreid, Kataem O’Connor as Teddy Roberts, and Clare McConnell as Crown Attorney Effie Newsome-Crabtree. Returning guest stars for Season 19 will include Peter Keleghan (Workin’ Moms) as Agent Terrence Myers, Bea Santos (American Gods) as Louise Cherry, Mark Caven (The Romanoffs) as Mayor Chadwick Vaughan, and Countess Luann de Lesseps (Real Housewives) as Noelle Victoria.

New faces guest-starring this year will include Sally Lindsay (The Madame Blanc Mysteries), Amber Marshall (Heartland), Dave Foley and Scott Thompson (The Kids in the Hall), musician Steven Page (of The Barenaked Ladies), and Jason Mewes (Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back).

Based on Maureen Jennings’ popular Detective Murdoch series of novels, Jennings will once again pen one of this season’s episodes, alongside showrunner Peter Mitchell and returning writers Saleema Nawaz, Keri Ferencz, Simon McNabb, Jenny Lee, Christina Ray, Noelle Girard, and Nick West. Returning directors for Season 19 include Eleanore Lindo, Elsbeth McCallm, Mina Shum, Katie Boland, Sherren Lee, Laurie Lynd, Duane Crichton, Craig Wallace, and Bisson, who once again takes a turn behind the camera. Season 19 also brings a new director: former cast member Giacomo Gianniotti, best known to Americans as DeLuca from Grey’s Anatomy.

Murdoch Mysteries is executive produced by Bisson, McNabb, and Mitchell, alongside Christina Jennings and Scott Garvie, and is produced by Jeremy Hood and Julie Lacey.

Murdoch Mysteries Season 19 will debut on Acorn TV on Monday, March 2, 2026, with new episodes arriving weekly on Mondays.