America’s Got Talent 2026 Semifinals Results and Live Blog
Tonight’s America’s Got Talent 2026 semifinal results aired on September 16, with twelve acts performing and only six advancing to next week’s live final based on America’s vote. The judges for the night were Howie Mandel, Mel B., and Sofia Vergara, with Terry Crews returning as host. Simon Cowell remains absent while recovering from back surgery.
Recap
The results show opened with a brief recap of last night’s semifinal performances to remind viewers of each act competing for a spot in the final. A guest appearance followed from Alan Cumming, who was on stage to promote the new season of The Traitors; he spoke about the show’s new season and its recent Emmy recognition. Later in the broadcast Chris Turner, the improv rapper who previously competed on AGT, returned to the judges’ table to perform a comedic improvisation based on audience suggestions and impressions gathered from his travels.
Results
Host Terry Crews announced that this season received the highest number of votes in the show’s history. The results were revealed in head-to-head format as paired acts were brought back on stage and America’s vote determined which act advanced and which was eliminated.
Olivia Befus and Kameron Marshall were the first pair called back. The first finalist announced was Olivia Befus; Kameron Marshall was eliminated.
The next pair was Daniel Alvarez and Veronika Goroshkova. Veronika Goroshkova earned the second spot in the final; Daniel Alvarez was eliminated.
Chris Turner: Improv Rapper Returns
Chris Turner returned to the stage to perform his signature improv-rap routine, drawing themes from the judges and the audience. He used playful accents inspired by places he’s visited while touring since his AGT appearance. The segment provided lighthearted entertainment between result announcements.
More Results
Terry then called back Acro Canine Crew and Cesar Diaz. America voted Acro Canine Crew into the final, eliminating Cesar Diaz. With that decision, two dog acts remain among the finalists.
Next, the pair Come Here and Luke Taleno returned. America advanced Come Here into the final, and Luke Taleno was eliminated.
The following pairing was Royal Lasers versus Young & Strange. Royal Lasers secured a spot in the final; Young & Strange were eliminated.
The final pair of the night featured Geno Ploeger and Travis Garland. America voted Geno Ploeger into the last remaining place in the final, and Travis Garland was eliminated.
Six Acts Advancing to the AGT 2026 Final
The six acts moving on to next week’s live final are:
Olivia Befus
Veronika Goroshkova
Acro Canine Crew
Come Here
Royal Lasers
Geno Ploeger
The acts eliminated tonight were:
Kameron Marshall
Daniel Alvarez
Cesar Diaz
Luke Taleno
Young & Strange
Travis Garland
These six semifinal winners will join the Golden Buzzer acts who already secured final spots earlier in the season: Hundred Fingers, Lai Noell, Nene Royale, and Unitree.
Notable takeaways from the night: with two dog acts advancing, animal performers continue to resonate strongly with the voting audience. Also, the final lineup does not include any stand-up comedians this year, which is an uncommon outcome for the show. Vocalists are well represented among the finalists, and viral or emotionally resonant performances remain strong contenders.
Looking ahead to the final, the competition will feature a mix of musical talent, variety acts, and innovative performances that have proven popular with viewers. One of the Golden Buzzer acts—Nene Royale—has gained substantial attention and remains a favorite among many fans, though the outcome will ultimately be decided by next week’s live audience vote and public voting.
Overall, the semifinals results delivered a varied final lineup and plenty of momentum heading into the live finale. Viewers can expect an energetic final episode with performances from the season’s top acts competing for the grand prize.