Big Changes Are Coming To “American Idol” – Learn What’s New For Season 24
on Jan 23, 2026
American Idol Returns On January 26 With Judges Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, And Lionel Richie
Big changes are coming to American Idol this year!
The show’s 24th season will premiere on ABC on Monday, January 26. Judges Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie have all returned, as well as longtime host Ryan Seacrest.
RELATED: WHAT DOES THE WINNER OF “AMERICAN IDOL” RECEIVE AS A PRIZE?
The show has already released a few sneak peek videos showcasing the new season. These videos have highlighted some powerful and emotional auditions.
In the first teaser for the new season, the Idol judges revealed one of the changes coming to the show this year. Hollywood Week will now be held in Nashville!
Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover was filmed at the prestigious Belmont University in Nashville.
“We’re heading to Nashville,” Bryan said in the Season 24 teaser, with Richie filling in to finish his sentence, “to find the best, undiscovered talent.”
American Idol Introduces Multiple Changes, Including A New Round
More changes are coming to American Idol in Season 24 beyond Hollywood Week’s transfer to Nashville. We’ve got the scoop on how these new elements will shake up the competition.
To begin, the show is introducing a brand-new round! Called the ‘Ohana Round, this phase will be introduced when the Idol contestants and crew travel to Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, in Hawaii.
A press release from ABC says:
“Designed as the ultimate focus group, the ’Ohana Round blends peer respect, emotional support and professional insight before the competition moves on to America’s Vote. In this new round, the top 30 hopefuls will perform for industry tastemakers — who collectively reach nearly 149 million followers…”
Those “industry tastemakers” include:
- Social media personalities Kaniyia Brown and Terry McCaskill
- Music creator and artist Anthony Gargiula
- Singer and actress Loren Gray
- Rolling Stone co-editor-in-chief Shirley Halperin
- Writer, podcast host, and cultural commentator Evan Ross Katz
- Singer and vocal coach Cheryl Porter
- Country music personality and Grand Ole Opry announcer Kelly Sutton
Then, after singing for these “tastemakers,” only 20 contestants will advance past the ‘Ohana Round.
A History-Making Voting Method Will Be Introduced
Additionally, American Idol will introduce a historic new voting method this season. Showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick told Deadline about the process.
Now, Idol viewers can vote for their favorite contestants through a new “live social voting” method. In other words, fans can cast votes on social media for the first time ever.
“We have to meet the audience where they are,” Wolflick said. “Back in 2002 when the show began, texting was the new hot thing. We also have to meet the technology where it is, as well. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to vote for their favorites, weigh in from their couch with their second screen, in real time.”
Wolflick also hopes the live social voting aspect will appeal to younger viewers.
“If we can get Gen Alpha and Gen Z to weigh in a little bit more in the easiest way possible, that’s very exciting,” she said. “It could tip the scale. Trends are always different.”
More details surrounding the live social voting method still need to be ironed out. In addition to the new process, text and phone voting remain open to viewers who prefer those methods.
Stay tuned to learn more about the changes coming to American Idol this year! In the meantime, enjoy one of the”sneak peek” auditions below.
