American Idol 2026: premiere date, judges, start time, and how to watch the new season

American Idol 2026 start date and why the schedule feels different this year

American Idol’s 2026 season is officially underway, with the Season 24 premiere airing Monday, January 26, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. ET. That premiere date matters because it also signals a notable scheduling shift: the show is leaning into a Monday-night slot early in the season rather than the Sunday rhythm many viewers associate with recent years.

For fans searching “when does American Idol start 2026,” the short answer is that it already started on January 26. The longer answer is that the weekly cadence can evolve as the competition moves from auditions into later rounds, so the night of the week is worth re-checking as the season progresses.

What time is American Idol on tonight and when the next episode airs

If you’re asking “what time is American Idol on tonight” on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, the key detail is simple: there is no new episode airing tonight. The season began with a Monday premiere, and the next installment is scheduled for Monday, February 2, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

That means your best “tonight” option is either catching a replay window in your area, using an on-demand option tied to your TV provider, or watching the most recent episode after it posts for streaming. Availability can vary by service and region, but the live first-run window this week is not on Tuesday night.

A quick guide for the most common questions:

• New episode time: Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET

• Episode length: typically two hours for early-season audition episodes

• Tonight, January 27: no new episode scheduled

• Next new episode: Monday, February 2 at 8:00 p.m. ET

American Idol judges 2026: Carrie Underwood joins returning faces at the table

The American Idol judges lineup for 2026 features Carrie Underwood alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, with Ryan Seacrest continuing as host. Underwood’s presence is a major talking point, especially because she carries the unique credibility of being an Idol success story with a long, chart-defining career that spans radio hits, arena tours, and multiple eras of country-pop crossover.

The dynamic this season is being framed around mentorship as much as critique, with the panel positioned to guide contestants through not only performance choices, but also the pressure-cooker decisions that can shape a contestant’s identity on television. For viewers, that tends to translate into more coaching language at the desk and fewer purely gotcha moments, particularly in auditions where the show is introducing new faces to the audience.

Where to watch American Idol and what channel it’s on

For anyone searching “what channel is American Idol on,” the series airs on ABC in the United States. Live viewing is available the same way most primetime broadcast shows are: through a standard ABC channel feed on cable, satellite, or an over-the-air antenna, depending on your setup.

If you’re searching “where to watch American Idol” because you don’t watch live TV, there are two main paths people use:

• Live streaming through a service that carries your local ABC feed

• Next-day streaming, where new episodes typically become available after the live broadcast window

Because viewing options and posting times can differ by subscription type and region, the most reliable step is to confirm within your TV provider’s guide or your streaming app’s schedule page. If you’re outside the U.S., availability can vary significantly, and some regions may receive episodes on a delayed timetable.

As the season moves past auditions and into later rounds, expect more updates about episode nights, voting windows, and live-show timing. For now, the headline is clear: American Idol 2026 is back, it started January 26, it’s airing Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET, and tonight is a night off.