<P> Scandal was renewed for a seventh season on February 10, 2017, alongside with the rest of ShondaLand - shows . The series continued to air at Thursdays in the timeslot 9 p.m. E.T. like the previous seasons . It will premiere in the fall of 2017, not airing in January like the previous season . ABC announced on June 26, 2017, that the seventh season will consist of 18 episodes . </P> <P> Long - time director Tom Verica shared on Twitter that he will only direct the series finale this season as well as the fact that Kerry Washington is set to direct her first episode . Actress Darby Stanchfield is also set to direct her first episode . </P> <P> Sharat Raju revealed on Twitter that he is set to direct an episode in October . </P> <P> Speculations about the seventh season being the final season had started as the sixth season began airing . ABC entertainment president Channing Dungey commented in January 2017 that it had not been much discussion about the show's future after the seventh season, but she would happily keep the show on as long as Rhimes "feels that she has creative runway to write the show ." Andy Swift from TVLine said that the show needed to end after the seventh season as he felt "this once - great drama is simply spinning its wheels, serving us the same old flavors with only slightly different toppings ." Before the sixth season finale, multiple sources reported that Scandal would be ending next season . ABC confirmed on May 16, 2017, that the seventh season would be the final season for the show . Shonda Rhimes released a statement about the ending of the show calling the seventh season "Olivia's Swan Song" as she said: </P>

When does season 7 of scandal go on netflix