Grey’s Anatomy Is Bringing Back a Fan Favorite for Season 22 — Guess Who’s Scrubbing In
Grey’s Anatomy is bringing back a fan favorite: Dr. Addison Montgomery returns in Season 22 after a multi-season hiatus, with the actress confirming the comeback and setting up a major moment for the drama.
Here we go again: Grey's Anatomy is pulling a familiar face back into the mix, and yes, it is the one a lot of you have been asking about. Dr. Addison Montgomery is clocking in for Season 22.
So, when do we see Addison?
Variety had the scoop, and Kate Walsh has now confirmed it: she is back as Dr. Addison Montgomery in an episode titled "Strip That Down," airing January 29, 2026. Yes, that is the title. This will be her first Grey's appearance since Season 19, where she popped up in "Gunpowder and Lead."
ABC kicked off Grey's Anatomy Season 22 on October 9, 2025, and the network is still treating the show like a cornerstone in its lineup. Alongside Grey's, ABC is pushing dramas like High Potential, 9-1-1, and 9-1-1: Nashville, with comedies Abbott Elementary and Shifting Gears holding down the lighter side. Plot details for Addison's January episode are being kept under wraps, which tracks with how they usually handle her drop-ins.
A quick refresher on Addison and Kate Walsh
- Walsh joined Grey's in Season 1 and was a series regular through Season 3.
- She kept turning up as a guest through Season 8 while headlining the spinoff Private Practice for six seasons, from 2007 to 2013.
- She returned in a recurring role for Seasons 18 and 19.
- Her last visit to Grey Sloan was Season 19's "Gunpowder and Lead."
What Walsh has been doing since
Since her S19 stop-by, Walsh has stayed busy on TV with 13 Reasons Why, Emily in Paris, and The Umbrella Academy. On stage, she performed in 2024's world premiere of "Jordans" at The Public Theater. Next up on the film side is "What the F-ck Is My Password?," directed by Steven Pink and featuring Alexander Ludwig, Stephen Dorff, Kal Penn, and Adam Pally. She is represented by Gersh, Untitled, and Yorn Levine Barnes.
Why this return matters
Addison's appearances have become a pattern: not full-time, not gone, just strategic, timely drop-ins that keep the character stitched into Grey's larger story. For a show in its 22nd season, having one of its most recognizable alums swing back through is both good fan service and smart continuity. Mark your calendar for January 29, 2026, and expect ABC to keep the specifics quiet until we're closer.