American Idol will be back for a landmark 25th season. The series that pioneered the music competition genre when it debuted in 2002 has been renewed by ABC, with the new season also streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. Keep reading for everything to know about American Idol Season 25.
American Idol Season 25 premiere date
ABC has not yet set a premiere date beyond confirming the new season arrives “next year.” Once the season premieres, episodes will stream the following day on Disney+ and Hulu, and once the show reaches its live phase, episodes will also stream live on Disney+.
Will the same judges return for American Idol Season 25?
Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood have not yet been officially confirmed to return as judges, but all three have expressed interest in coming back. ABC says additional details on the host and judging panel will be shared at a later date.
Will Ryan Seacrest return as host of American Idol?
Emmy winner Ryan Seacrest has not yet been officially confirmed to return as host for Season 25. He was the only talent associated with the original Fox show who returned for the reboot on ABC.
The American Idol auditions are underway
Season 25 auditions kick off Tuesday, Aug. 25, with the return of “Idol Across America,” the show’s live virtual nationwide audition tour. Hopefuls in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., will get the chance to perform face-to-face with an American Idol producer from wherever they are, for a shot at advancing to judge auditions.
The tour opens with a VIP Day on Aug. 25, limited to the first 250 singers to register. From there, the audition calendar rolls out state by state and region by region through late September:
- Florida, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia — Aug. 26
- Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania — Aug. 27
- The South Open Call — Aug. 31
- Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin — Sept. 1
- Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Washington — Sept. 2
- Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas — Sept. 8
- Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming — Sept. 9
- Nationwide Open Call — Sept. 11
- East Coast Open Call — Sept. 14
- Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina — Sept. 16
- Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont — Sept. 18
- West and Midwest Open Call — Sept. 21
- Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi — Sept. 23
- Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, Washington, D.C., Rhode Island, Massachusetts — Sept. 25
- Nationwide Open Call — Sept. 28
Dates are subject to change. Contenders can audition on any “Idol Across America” date regardless of where they live, open-call dates are available to anyone who misses their state’s specific slot, and video auditions will be accepted for those who can’t attend in person. Auditions are open worldwide to all eligible contenders.
Who is eligible to audition for American Idol?
Singers must be 15 years or older by Feb. 15, 2027, to try out. Registration and full eligibility details are available at americanidol.com/auditions.
How did American Idol Season 24 perform?
Season 24 delivered American Idol‘s biggest season premiere in four years, drawing 6.22 million total viewers, and its move to once-a-week Monday airings gave the show its best Monday performance among total viewers since the 2021-22 season. The Season 24 finale ranks as the No. 1 reality episode in primetime year-to-date for 2026, with 3.2 million interactions, and Idol holds nine of the top 10 most-social reality episodes in primetime so far this year, averaging 1.1 million interactions per episode.
American Idol is produced by Fremantle and 19 Entertainment, a part of Sony Pictures Television.
