American Idol Renewed for Season 24 (Nine on ABC)
ABC and Disney confirmed on Friday, May 9 that American Idol has been renewed for a 24th season overall and a ninth season on the ABC network. The renewal secures another installment of the singing competition that has been a staple of network television for more than two decades and continues to be a key part of ABC’s unscripted lineup.
Host Ryan Seacrest announced during recent broadcasts that auditions are open for the new season. Prospective contestants are invited to submit audition clips through the show’s official audition portal on abc.com. Eligibility rules specify that applicants must have been born on or between June 2, 1996 and February 15, 2011.
Along with American Idol, ABC has ordered new seasons of several other unscripted staples, including America’s Funniest Home Videos, Celebrity Jeopardy!, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, and Shark Tank. These renewals join previously confirmed seasons of Dancing With the Stars and The Golden Bachelor on ABC’s schedule for the 2025–26 broadcast year.
At the same time, ABC has not yet announced renewal decisions for The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. The network is reportedly forgoing the series’ typical summer run for The Bachelorette this year, and industry reports indicate no final decisions have been reached for either franchise heading into next season.
American Idol 2025 ratings stay steady, recently blew away The Voice
Ratings for American Idol have held at a consistent level throughout the season. Recent episodes — the “Ladies Night” broadcast on Sunday, May 4 and the “Judges Song Contest” on Monday, May 5 — produced some of the strongest audience numbers of the season. The Sunday show earned a 0.6 rating in the key 18–49 demographic and attracted approximately 5.17 million viewers. The Monday edition drew a 0.4 demo rating and about 4.28 million viewers.
By comparison, an episode of The Voice airing in the same window posted a 0.2 rating in the 18–49 demo and roughly 2.57 million viewers, giving Idol a clear advantage in that night’s head-to-head performance. It is important to note that American Idol has been airing live shows with viewer voting in effect; The Voice’s live voting period does not begin until later in May, so direct comparisons will be more even once both shows are fully into their live voting phases.
While broadcast television ratings have generally declined over recent years as audiences shift to streaming, competition reality formats like American Idol and Dancing With the Stars continue to deliver steady live viewership that is valuable for networks. When ABC relaunched Idol in 2018, the network set a premiere target in the key demo and achieved its goal, demonstrating the format’s continued commercial viability. At the same time, the steady migration of viewers to streaming platforms is reshaping long-term strategies for networks and content owners.
Dancing With the Stars already simulcasts its live episodes on Disney+, and there is ongoing speculation about whether other live franchise shows might follow a similar path. Simulcasting live programming on streaming services can help reach audiences who no longer rely solely on traditional broadcast, but any such change would depend on strategic decisions by the networks and streamers.
As of this season, American Idol has only three episodes remaining. The next two installments — scheduled as Disney-themed episodes — lead into a three-hour grand finale, where the Top 3 performers will compete and a new winner will be crowned. The finale is planned as a special, extended broadcast that concludes the current season and sets the stage for next year’s production.
With the renewal now official, producers and the network will begin preparations for the upcoming season’s casting, production schedule, and promotional rollout. For hopeful contestants and fans alike, the announcement confirms that American Idol will return to search for fresh talent and continue its long-running role as a major platform for emerging performers.