Seattle is calling Cristina Yang for Grey’s Anatomy season 23.

ABC’s legacy series created by Shonda Rhimes remains ever popular, even though it has been on the air for over two decades. Throughout the years, it has transformed and evolved multiple times, with the 2025-2026 TV cycle bringing a couple of big changes. That includes the exit of long-time characters, Owen and Teddi, as well as Meredith getting engaged to Nick. Coming to Grey’s Anatomy season 23, there are many things to look forward to.

Despite being the fourth-longest-running scripted show on primetime TV, Grey’s Anatomy‘s success is often overlooked. The undisputed quintessential medical procedural of the 21st century, it has released over 450 episodes and is gearing up to add more when it premieres as part of ABC’s fall 2026 lineup. As it begins a brand new era of storytelling that will set it for the next decade, Grey’s Anatomy season 23 may be quietly setting up the return of one of its most beloved characters.

As production for the new cycle begins, the official Grey’s Anatomy Instagram surprised many when it shared a post of Cristina Yang with the Space Needle edited in the background (and vice versa). Bar the poor editing, it has prompted theories that the ABC medical procedural is dropping hints that Sandra Oh might finally be coming back to Seattle for the new season. Check out the post below:

Despite the countless comments in the post, neither ABC nor Oh’s camp has shared additional context for it. Admittedly, it could simply be Grey’s Anatomy‘s way of drumming up nostalgia for long-time fans and may not be anything more than that. For what it’s worth, the official Instagram account tends to post both new and old clips of Grey’s Anatomy, including scenes with Cristina and the original interns for this. That being said, the edited post is something different and can, understandably, very easy to interpret as a tease about her return to Seattle.

While it isn’t really difficult to come up with a reason for Cristina to come back, Grey’s Anatomy season 23 may have the perfect narrative reason for her much-clamored homecoming. Assuming that nothing bad happens between Meredith and Nick, then it’s possible that the upcoming cycle will see them finally tying the knot. Cristina had already missed so many big moments in her best friend’s life, including the death of Derek and multiple near-death experiences herself. It would be great to see her finally make the trip back to Seattle for a happy occasion.

Oh has been asked about the chances of her coming back to the medical series countless times since leaving, and after being adamant about moving on from it, she changed tune in her most recent comment. This further opens the door for her return and lends credence to this ongoing theory that Crisitna is staging a comeback in Grey’s Anatomy season 23. Luckily, with only a few weeks to go before the series returns, people won’t have to wait that long to find out.

Grey’s Anatomy

9/10

Release Date

March 27, 2005

Directors

Rob Corn, Kevin McKidd, Debbie Allen, Chandra Wilson, Allison Liddi-Brown, Jeannot Szwarc, Tony Phelan

Writers

Shonda Rhimes, Julie Wong, Jen Klein, Tameson Duffy, Meg Marinis

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  Ellen Pompeo

  Dr. Meredith Grey

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  Chandra Wilson

  Dr. Miranda Bailey