America’s Got Talent 2026 Callback Rounds Feature Celebrity Judges
America’s Got Talent makes a notable change to its 2026 season format by introducing a dedicated Judges’ Callbacks round that brings celebrity guest judges into the decision-making process. This is the first time the series has formally added guest judges to the callbacks stage, a shift that changes how finalists will be chosen and raises the stakes for acts still vying for a spot in the live shows.
The Judges’ Callbacks follow the Live Acts Revealed special that aired on July 28. After that special, each core judge selected a smaller group of standout performers to return for one more performance. During the callbacks, those chosen acts will perform again and compete for the remaining slots in the live broadcast rounds. The callbacks are presented as a two-week event airing on Tuesdays, Aug. 4 and Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, with the live shows set to begin the week after.
This season’s callbacks format is designed to give selected acts one final, focused opportunity to impress the judges and audiences before the live competition begins. Rather than a large, impersonal arena, the callbacks bring a more intimate environment and extended interaction between judges, celebrity guests and contestants—allowing for deeper critique, coaching and a clearer picture of which acts are truly ready for live television.
America’s Got Talent 2026 Celebrity Guest Judges
The guest lineup is star-studded and pairs each primary judge with a high-profile collaborator. Emma Bunton of the Spice Girls reunites with Mel B, offering a reunion dynamic and music-industry perspective. Comedian Nikki Glaser partners with Howie Mandel, bringing a sharp comedic eye to evaluate humor and stage presence. Social media star Lele Pons and Latin Grammy-winning artist Sebastián Yatra join Sofía Vergara, combining digital-era insight and Latin music expertise. Global pop artist Normani teams up with songwriter-producer Poo Bear alongside Simon Cowell, adding contemporary pop performance and songwriting sensibilities to the panel. These pairings are intended to expand the evaluative range and bring fresh perspectives to each judge’s decisions.
A total of 23 acts are returning for this phase, representing a wide cross-section of the kinds of talent AGT showcases: powerful vocalists, multi-member dance ensembles, standout comedians and variety performers with unique, memorable presentations. Each judge, together with their celebrity guest, will spend time working with their selected acts, offering feedback, coaching and refinement as the performers prepare for one last performance and their final chance to secure a live-show berth.
Filming for the Judges’ Callbacks takes place in a variety of distinctive locations across Los Angeles and England, offering a more personal backdrop than a typical studio stage. Settings include Simon Cowell’s Malibu home, Mel B’s hometown of Leeds, sunny Beverly Hills with Sofía Vergara, Howie Mandel’s podcast studio and the Laugh Factory. These locations provide a mix of relaxed, intimate atmospheres and iconic entertainment spaces, allowing cameras to capture both performance moments and behind-the-scenes preparation.
The episodes are presented with a documentary-style approach that blends storytelling with performance. Viewers will see the creative process, mentor-judge conversations and the emotional buildup to each act’s final callback performance. That narrative approach is designed to give the audience a fuller sense of each act’s journey, while still delivering the show-stopping performances AGT fans expect.
For viewers familiar with the X Factor franchise, the Judges’ Callbacks bear some resemblance to the X Factor’s “Judges Round,” where acts perform in close, often residential settings for a smaller panel. The intimate format allows judges to evaluate contestants on nuance, versatility and stagecraft in ways that large-audience auditions do not. This season, AGT adapts that concept to its own format while adding its own production touches and the influence of celebrity guest judges.
Ultimately, the Judges’ Callbacks round aims to provide a more curated, mentor-driven selection process. By combining celebrity expertise, varied filming locations and a storytelling-driven presentation, AGT’s new callbacks phase seeks to give deserving acts a clearer path to the live shows and to offer viewers a richer, more immersive viewing experience.