The season began airing on October 22, 2020. On July 17, 2019, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a thirteenth season consisting of 13 episodes. Marc Ceccarelli, Vincent Waller, and Jennie Monica took over the executive producer roles after his death.
This is the first season without Hillenburg's involvement, following his death on November 26, 2018, though he is still credited as an executive producer. The series chronicles the exploits and adventures of the title character and his various friends in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom. It consists of 26 episodes comprising 52 segments, alongside two standalone clip show specials, making it the longest season to date. The thirteenth season of the American animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants, created by former marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg, began airing on Nickelodeon in the United States on October 22, 2020, and ended on November 1, 2023.
