5 Things Every “American Idol” Fan Needs To Know About Season 24’s Finale
on Apr 29, 2026
Unpacking All Of The Must-Know Details About The Season 24 Finale Of American Idol
Season 24 of American Idol premiered on January 26, 2026. This season has featured returning judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie, plus longtime host Ryan Seacrest.
After a series of exciting and emotional auditions, Idol transitioned into Hollywood Week. The show switched things up this season by moving Hollywood Week to Nashville, deeming it the “Music City Takeover.”
From there, the singers traveled to Hawaii for one last round of pre-taped performances before the live shows started. Another change was introduced at that stage, as Idol implemented a new “social voting” process.
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For the first time ever, fans can vote for their favorite contestants on social media. You cast your votes by leaving a comment with a contestant’s name on Idol‘s pinned voting post on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. You can cast up to 10 votes per contestant, per platform.
You can also vote via text or online at AmericanIdol.com/Vote.
Now, with the season nearing its end, we’ve listed five important things Idol fans need to know about Season 24’s finale. Check out your essential viewing guide below!
When Is The Season 24 Finale Of American Idol?
At the time of this writing, the finale for Season 24 of American Idol is a little less than two weeks away. The finale will air on Monday, May 11.
However, you still have one more episode to enjoy before then! The semi-finals will air on Monday, May 4. The episode will feature a crossover with Dancing with the Stars, with some of the show’s professional dancers performing alongside Idol‘s Top 5 contestants.
How Can I Watch The American Idol Finale?
Just like every episode of Idol this year, the season finale will air on ABC. You can catch the finale live at 8 PM Eastern Time (or 7 PM Central Time).
The episode will be available to stream on Hulu the following day (Tuesday, May 12).
How Long Will The Finale Be?
According to a report from Deadline, the Season 24 finale of American Idol will be three hours long!
That’s an hour longer than most episodes. But it makes sense, because the finale will be jam-packed with performances from the finalists, judges, and special guests. Plus, they need plenty of time to reveal the results!
Are Any Special Guests Performing During The Finale?
The answer is…yes!
On April 22, Idol confirmed that superstar artist Alicia Keys will perform during the finale. She’ll also serve as a mentor to the Top 3 contestants as they prepare for their final performances.
Then, on April 26, we learned that eliminated contestants Kyndal Inskeep and Lucas Leon are returning to sing during the finale.
Inskeep will perform an original song, while Leon will join forces with Brad Paisley. Paisley previously served as a mentor to Season 24’s contestants while they rehearsed for their performances in Hawaii this year.
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That’s all we know so far. Based on past finales, we could expect performances from the judges, other eliminated contestants, and additional mentors who appeared earlier in the season.
Stay tuned for more details!
Who Are The Top 3 Contestants On Season 24 Of American Idol?
We don’t know the answer to this question…yet. But we do know who’s in the Top 5!
The Top 5 contestants were revealed during “Taylor Swift Night” on Monday, April 27. America voted for Hannah Harper, Keyla Richardson, Chris Tungseth, Braden Rumfelt, and Jordan McCullough to join that exclusive group.
Those singers will perform during the semi-finals on May 4. Only three singers will remain standing after what is sure to be a shocking elimination.
Make sure to follow along, because we’ll keep you up-to-date as soon as we know who’s in the Top 3.
Who do you think should win American Idol this year?
