Fans of reality TV, get ready because American Idol is returning to the spotlight.

Prepare to enroll in Idol University, based in Nashville, Tennessee, as the dynamic team of Ryan Seacrest, Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood embark on the quest to find the next singing sensation. This season brings a twist with a collegiate vibe, turning the usual “Hollywood Week” into a “Music City Takeover” at Nashville’s Belmont University, scheduled for February and March.

Additionally, some upcoming episodes will be filmed at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawai’i.

Curious about the premiere date for the new season of American Idol and how to catch all the excitement live? Here’s what you need to know.

Is American Idol On Tonight (January 25)?

Unfortunately, tonight’s ABC primetime lineup won’t include American Idol. Instead, viewers can enjoy a rerun of America’s Funniest Home Videos at 8:00 p.m. ET, followed by four episodes of Shifting Gears.

When Does American Idol Start?

The Season 9 premiere of American Idol (“Auditions, Part 1”) airs Monday, January 26 from 8:00-10:00 p.m. ET on ABC.

New episodes will air Monday nights on ABC.

How To Watch American Idol 2026 Live Online:

If you have a valid cable login, you can watch new episodes of American Idol live on ABC or the ABC app/website.

The only way to watch shows airing live without cable is by using a live TV streaming service. Our favorite is DIRECTV, which comes with a five-day free trial before payment begins.

DIRECTV offers a number of flexible subscription options, including Genre Packs, so you can best choose which streaming plans fit your needs and budget. Plans start at $49.99/month.

You can also watch ABC live with an active subscription to Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, or Sling TV. YouTube TV, FuboTV, and Hulu + Live TV offer free trials for new subscribers.

Will American Idol 2026 Be on Hulu?

Yes! New episodes will be available for next-day streaming on Hulu, Disney+, and ABC.com.

If you’re new to Hulu, you can get started with a 30-day free trial on the streamer’s basic (with ads) plan. After the trial period, you’ll pay $10.99/month. If you want to upgrade to Hulu ad-free, it costs $18.99/month.

If you want to stream even more and save a few bucks a month while you’re at it, we recommend subscribing to one of the Disney+ Bundles, all of which include Hulu. These bundles start at $12.99/month for ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu and goes up to $32.99/month for Disney+, Hulu, and Max, all ad-free.