ABC renews American Idol for season 22, the 7th season on the network
ABC has officially renewed American Idol for Season 22, marking the program’s seventh season since the series moved to the network. The renewal announcement came during the Disney/ABC advertiser upfronts in New York City and reflects the show’s continued importance to ABC’s schedule and its ability to draw a mass audience in an increasingly fragmented TV landscape.
Across Season 21, American Idol delivered steady viewership that remains strong for network television. The season averaged about 5.2 million viewers on Sundays and roughly 4.7 million on Mondays. In the key 18–49 demographic, Sunday episodes averaged around a 0.67 rating, with Monday episodes averaging near 0.56. Those numbers are slightly below an earlier season that averaged closer to 5.5 million viewers and a 0.7 demo rating across both nights, but they still position American Idol among the more consistent reality competition series on broadcast TV. Overall, declines in linear ratings are a broader industry trend and not unique to this franchise.
The renewal was widely expected after the shows’ recent promotion of “Idol Across America” virtual auditions, which highlighted the producers’ ongoing efforts to broaden access and find talent nationwide. With virtual auditions and the established production pipeline, ABC’s decision to bring back American Idol for a midseason 2024 return aligned with both audience demand and promotional momentum.
Three Hour American Idol season 21 finale airs on Sunday May 21 live coast to coast
The three-hour season finale of American Idol will air on Sunday, May 21, coast to coast, at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT. The Top 3 finalists — Megan Danielle, Iam Tongi and Colin Stough — will perform live as America votes to decide the winner. Longtime host Ryan Seacrest will reveal the winner at the end of the broadcast.
The finale will feature guest appearances and musical mentorship. Former judge Keith Urban returns to perform and to work with the finalists, and to mark the show’s milestone moments several alumni will join the celebration. Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken will appear in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the 2003 finale, a notable milestone that recalls the series’ long-running cultural impact.
On the judging panel this season are Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, with Ryan Seacrest returning as host. ABC plans to confirm the official cast and any additional talent later in the year ahead of fall filming for judges auditions. With production slated to resume in the autumn, American Idol Season 22 is scheduled to air in midseason 2024.
American Idol’s renewal continues a tradition of network reality programming that remains central to ABC’s lineup. The series’ combination of national auditions, live voting and high-profile judges has helped sustain interest and generate social media buzz, keeping it visible amid streaming competition and changing viewer behaviors.
In addition to American Idol’s return, ABC announced renewals for several other reality franchises. The network has picked up The Bachelor for Season 28 and renewed Bachelor in Paradise for Season 9, extending its long-running romance and competition slate. Shark Tank will also return for Season 15, maintaining ABC’s investment in entrepreneur-focused programming that performs well with advertisers.
As ABC heads into the next cycle, American Idol remains a cornerstone property: a live, event-style series that draws families and music fans for big performance nights, significant guest appearances and the annual reveal of a new winner. With Season 22 now confirmed, fans and aspiring contestants can look ahead to another year of auditions, mentorship and live competition on one of network television’s most enduring talent shows.