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‘American Idol’ Greenlit for Landmark 25th Season on ABC
The series that revolutionized music television is officially back for a monumental silver anniversary! ABC has announced that American Idol will return for its landmark 25th season next year, continuing its search for the country’s next breakout superstar.
Fans and aspiring singers won’t have to wait long for the action to begin. Episodes will air on ABC and stream the next day on Hulu and Disney+. Once the live shows kick off, viewers can also stream the action live directly on Disney+!
Related – ABC Local News Stations are Now Streaming Live on Disney+
The search for the next winner kicks off on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, with the return of “Idol Across America.” The live, virtual nationwide search allows hopefuls to audition face-to-face with an American Idol producer from anywhere in the country—or worldwide for eligible contenders.
2026 Virtual Audition Schedule (Subject to change):
- VIP Day (Aug. 25): Exclusive to the first 250 singers who register!
- FL, MI, VA, WV: Aug. 26
- CT, NJ, NY, PA: Aug. 27
- The South Open Call: Aug. 31
- IL, IA, MN, MO, WI: Sept. 1
- AK, CA, HI, NV, WA: Sept. 2
- KS, NE, ND, OK, SD, TX: Sept. 8
- AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, OR, UT, WY: Sept. 9
- Nationwide Open Call: Sept. 11
- East Coast Open Call: Sept. 14
- GA, NC, SC: Sept. 16
- IN, KY, TN, ME, NH, VT: Sept. 18
- West & Midwest Open Call: Sept. 21
- AL, AR, LA, MS: Sept. 23
- DE, MD, OH, Washington D.C., RI, MA: Sept. 25
- Nationwide Open Call: Sept. 28
Audition Requirements: Contenders must be at least 15 years old by February 15, 2027. Hopefuls can audition on any date regardless of location, and video submissions will be accepted for those unable to make a live virtual session. Register at americanidol.com/auditions.
The Season 25 milestone comes right on the heels of a massive ratings run for Season 24 earlier this year. Drawing 6.22 million viewers for its premiere—the show’s biggest launch in four years—the season went on to deliver its best Monday night audience performance since the 2021-2022 season.
American Idol also continues to dominate social media:
- The Season 24 finale stands as the No. 1 reality episode in primetime year-to-date for 2026, driving 3.2 million interactions.
- The show holds nine of the top 10 most-social reality episodes in primetime this year, averaging 1.1 million interactions per episode.
Details regarding the host and judging panel for Season 25 will be announced at a later date.
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