Why General Hospital is taking a break on July 4 - no new episode this Friday; here's what ABC has planned for the holiday instead
General Hospital will not broadcast a new episode on Friday, July 4, 2025. ABC has confirmed that the soap will follow its usual holiday pattern by airing an encore episode instead. As with previous years, the network is preempting the daily drama to accommodate the Independence Day holiday and potentially reduced viewership.
The episode that will air in place of the new one is a rerun from November 24, 2024, featuring major moments involving several key characters. New episodes will return to ABC starting Monday, July 7, 2025.
The encore episode set to air this Friday is from November 24, 2024. In this episode, Kristina Corinthos-Davis has a courtroom breakdown, while Lulu Spencer has a tense face-to-face with her son, Rocco Falconeri. Meanwhile, Lucky Spencer and Elizabeth Baldwin confront Cyrus Renault, and Maxie Jones provides support to Sasha Corbin.
The episode also includes a moment where Damian Spinelli is left surprised by unfolding events, contributing to the overall intensity of that day's storyline.
Kai's proximity to Drew and the Quartermaines makes Trina extremely uncomfortable. Can she talk some sense into him?
— General Hospital (@GeneralHospital) July 3, 2025
Tune in to a tense, new #GH - STARTING NOW on ABC! @iamaliford pic.twitter.com/e4Tv7YAP42
A key storyline in the rerun focuses on Rocco Falconeri, who demands answers after discovering information left on Brook Lynn Quartermaine’s desk. Rocco learns about the circumstances of his birth and questions his mother, Lulu Spencer, after finding out about Britt Westbourne’s role as an unknowing surrogate.
Rocco is left confused and shocked when he asks Lulu directly, “You didn’t give birth to me, she did?” This marks a turning point in his understanding of his origins, something neither Lulu nor Dante Falconeri had told him before she fell into a five-year coma.
The episode also touches on Brook Lynn’s interaction with Cody Bell, where she admits someone “has to be the bigger person.” She appears to be reflecting on her past conflict with Lulu and possibly acknowledging her own role in escalating tensions.
Earlier, Brook Lynn had attempted to use Rocco’s birth records as a form of revenge, not realizing that Rocco would eventually find them on her desk. Her decision not to tell him earlier backfires, as Maxie had previously pointed out that she hesitated when the moment came.
The episode further features Josslyn Jacks, who is seen losing her temper with Vaughn, her WSB handler and a potential romantic interest. Despite their earlier closeness, Josslyn ends the relationship abruptly, telling Vaughn, “This isn’t working, we’re done.” The conversation takes place near a location decorated for Independence Day, underlining the holiday setting.
The decision to air a repeat episode is not new for the network. ABC has traditionally preempted General Hospital on national holidays like July 4, in line with viewer habits and programming adjustments. For instance, a repeat episode also aired on July 4, 2024.
This year’s preemption affects only one day—Friday, July 4. New episodes and ongoing storylines will resume as usual on Monday, July 7. According to Soaps.com, upcoming developments will include the aftermath of Kristina’s fire rescue and Natalia’s overdose, along with courtroom drama and rising tensions across Port Charles.
General Hospital will return with fresh episodes on Monday, July 7, 2025, in its regular slot—1:00 PM Central / 2:00 PM Eastern on ABC. Viewers can expect the ongoing plot to pick up from where it left off before the holiday break.
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Nancy Jaiswal is a journalist who started her career in reporting and has covered both hard and soft news. From serious city news developments to lighthearted lifestyle pieces, she has written on almost everything hapenning in India (except maybe alien invasions—yet!). For her, writing isn’t just work; it’s a passion, an obsession, and sometimes the reason she forgets to reply to texts.
