American Idol Season 24: Which Judges Are Returning — And Who Could Be Replaced?
Fans are already buzzing about 'American Idol' Season 24, set for 2026, and the big question is all about the judges. Will the current panel stick around, or are producers lining up some fresh faces? Here's everything we know so far about who might be back at the table for the new season.
American Idol is locking in its Season 24 plans for 2026, and yes, the big question is who’s sitting behind the desk. Short answer: the show is sticking with what worked this past season.
Who’s back for Season 24
Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie will all return as judges when American Idol premieres in 2026 on ABC and Hulu. Underwood joined the panel this past season, stepping in for Katy Perry. Bryan and Richie have been there since the ABC revival launched in 2018, and they’re not going anywhere.
- Season 24 is set to premiere in 2026 on ABC and Hulu
- Judges returning: Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie
- Underwood joined last season, replacing Katy Perry
- Bryan and Richie have been on the panel since 2018
- The announcement came via Idol’s official YouTube promo, which cheekily billed the judges as "professors" while laying out audition info
The announcement (and the slightly odd "professors" bit)
Idol rolled this out with a playful YouTube spot that frames the judges as "professors" and folds in audition details for the new season. It’s a little goofy, a little inside baseball, but it gets the point across: same judges, new class.
Why Carrie makes sense at the table
Underwood is one of Idol’s all-time success stories, and having a former winner judge incoming talent is just smart. She’s got the resume to back it up, too — think "Before He Cheats" and "Jesus, Take the Wheel" from 2005, and "Blown Away" in 2012 — and she’s been candid about how the show has evolved since she competed.
"It was a different time in the show, in the world in general, and there was a decent chance you might get super-duper humiliated in front of tens of millions of people. It’s changed a lot, and hopefully people can leave with some information that will make them better — no matter how long they are on the show."
Where Season 23 left off
Season 23 wrapped earlier this year with Jamal Roberts taking the win. Now the band plays on into 2026 with the same panel and a fresh crop of contestants.