Season 24 · Music

American Idol 2026 (season 24): U.S. release date, episode schedule and where to watch

Season 24 of American Idol aired from January 26, 2026 to May 11, 2026 on ABC (16 episodes).

Season complete ABC Verified November 3, 2026

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Quick answer

American Idol season 24 ran from January 26, 2026 to May 11, 2026 on ABC (16 episodes).

U.S. premiere: January 26, 2026
Where: ABC
Time: Varies by station
Episodes: 16
Finale: May 11, 2026

Season 24 episode schedule (U.S.)

American Idol season 24 U.S. episode schedule
Ep.	Title	U.S. date	Time	Status
1	Auditions 1	Mon, Jan 26, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
2	Auditions 2	Mon, Feb 2, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
3	Auditions 3	Mon, Feb 9, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
4	Auditions 4	Mon, Feb 16, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
5	Hollywood Week in Music City Part 1	Mon, Feb 23, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
6	Hollywood Week in Music City Part 2	Mon, Mar 2, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
7	'Ohana Round	Mon, Mar 9, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
8	Top 20 at Disney's Aulani Resort in Hawai'i Part 1	Mon, Mar 16, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
9	Top 20 at Disney's Aulani Resort in Hawai'i Part 2	Mon, Mar 23, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
10	Songs of Faith	Mon, Mar 30, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
11	90s Judges' Song Contest	Mon, Apr 6, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
12	Rock & Roll Hall of Fame	Mon, Apr 13, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
13	Disney Night	Mon, Apr 20, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
14	Celebrating Taylor Swift on American Idol	Mon, Apr 27, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
15	Class of 2006: Reunion / Idol X DWTS	Mon, May 4, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed
16	Grand Finale	Mon, May 11, 2026 ^[1]	Check local listings national slot	Listed

Broadcast times are the network's national slot and your local station may differ. Streaming times are converted to your time zone when your browser allows it.

Where to watch season 24

Where to watch American Idol season 24 in the U.S.
Where	How	When	Notes
ABC	Broadcast (free)Antenna / cable	January 26, 2026 – May 11, 2026	Original U.S. run on ABC. [1]

Common questions

How many seasons of American Idol are there?

American Idol has 24 seasons and 730 episodes listed, with the first airing on June 11, 2002.

Is American Idol still on?

American Idol is still running; its most recent episode aired on May 11, 2026.

Where can I watch American Idol?

American Idol originally aired on ABC in the U.S. Streaming rights for older seasons change over time, so check ABC's own app and the major streaming services for the current home.

When was the first episode of American Idol season 24?

Season 24 episode 1 premiered on Monday, January 26, 2026 on ABC.

About American Idol

American Idol is a music and reality series that aired on ABC, running since 2002 with 24 seasons and 730 episodes. American Idol is still running; its most recent episode aired on May 11, 2026.

Where to watch every season of American Idol →