The Masked Singer returns for its second season this fall with fresh costumes, new performances and the same panel of celebrity judges. The reality competition that hides celebrities behind elaborate masks and costumes will expand its lineup and tweak its format, while keeping the central mystery intact: contestants are revealed only after they are eliminated, leaving viewers and the panel to guess identities from clues and performances.
Judges, Host and Season Details
The judges panel returns intact: Jenny McCarthy, Ken Jeong, Robin Thicke and Nicole Scherzinger will all be back to offer guesses, reactions and commentary. Nick Cannon returns as host, guiding the show’s live energy and the studio audience votes. Season two expands the roster from 12 contestants to 16, giving viewers more masked performers and more elaborate reveals. The series has also been renewed for a third season, scheduled to premiere immediately after the Super Bowl on Feb. 2, 2020.
What’s Changing This Season
Executive producer Rob Wade confirmed several format updates aimed at giving viewers more time to meet the characters and heighten the entertainment value. The producers introduced a new early-round structure called the “Smackdown” and adjusted how many performances appear in each episode.
- The early rounds will present four performers per episode instead of six. They face off in two initial sing-offs. Winners from those rounds are decided by a combination of the judges’ input and audience votes.
- The two remaining masked contestants then engage in a Smackdown: a short, playful and often comedic back-and-forth performance designed to put them “in each other’s faces.” The Smackdown’s loser is unmasked that episode.
- Season one winner T-Pain will return as a guest judge in season two, offering inside perspective from someone who has worn one of the show’s intense, heat-trapping costumes.
- Clues about each performer’s identity will be more challenging this season, but not impossibly so. Wade emphasized the importance of giving the audience meaningful hints rather than leaving them guessing with nothing to go on.
- Contestants are arriving better prepared and more strategic this season: some have altered their vocal delivery, adjusted their physical posture or modified their costumes to appear taller, shorter, larger or smaller to mislead viewers and the panel.
These changes aim to deepen the game aspect of the series while increasing the comedic and theatrical moments that helped the first season become a cultural phenomenon.
Premiere and Production Notes
The Masked Singer season two premieres on FOX on September 25 at 9:00 PM ET/PT. The show recently completed filming its finale; all contestants have been unmasked and a winner has already been chosen during production. Producers acknowledged the risk of spoilers and discussed how leaks can hurt the shared viewing experience, noting there is only so much they can do beyond relying on confidentiality and trust.
“I think anyone who leaks the cast is going to be pretty mean-spirited,” a producer explained, noting that even live broadcasts and strict contracts can’t guarantee that names stay secret. The show depends in part on people respecting the reveal process so that viewers can enjoy the guessing game.
Characters Revealed So Far
Below are several of the season-two characters that have been publicly revealed by the show. These distinctive costumes form a big part of The Masked Singer’s appeal—each character comes with a visual persona and a set of clues meant to mislead or hint at their true identity.
Photo Gallery
The show’s second season is visually bold: costumes and stage design are central to both the guessing game and the spectacle. Expect colorful designs, dramatic lighting and theatrical reveals that feed social media conversation and viewer speculation throughout the season.
With an expanded cast and new twists like the Smackdown, season two preserves the core mystery that made the series a hit while refining the format to give audiences more character-driven moments and surprising unmaskings. Tune in September 25 to see the new costumes, hear the first notes and join the guessing game all over again.