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How to Watch ‘American Idol’ Season 24 Online Without Cable
Host Ryan Seacrest and judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie are all back for the 24th edition of America’s biggest singing competition
Oscar Hartzog
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January 26, 2026
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Stars are ready to be discovered with American Idol returning for Season 24. The new season of the competition series will see Ryan Seacrest return as host, and Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie back in the judges’ chairs.
The new season will see some changes. For one, viewers will now be able to vote on social media — a first for reality competition TV. Showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick told Deadline that this move will likely bring more votes from younger fans, which “could tip the scale.” Last season’s finale received a record 26 million votes, which could be broken again with this new system. Vote-by-texting will still be available as well.
At a Glance: How to Watch American Idol Season 24
- Stream: DirecTV, Fubo, Sling, Hulu + Live TV, Hulu (next day)
- TV channel: ABC
- Premieres Monday, Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. ET
Another change coming this season is that “Hollywood Week” is being replaced by a stint in Nashville. “The music industry in Nashville is just as strong as it is in LA,” said Michaels Wolflick. “It is a hub and a dream for people to go to.” Season 24 will also have a new three-episode round set in Hawai’i called the Ohana Round.
Auditions for Season 24 took place in November at one location — Nashville’s Belmont University — instead of multiple, like previous seasons.
Ahead is everything you need to know about American Idol Season 24, including where to stream American Idol online and when the new season comes out.
How to Watch American Idol Season 24 Online
American Idol Season 24 will air on ABC on Mondays, and episodes come to Hulu the day after. If you want to stream new episodes right when they come out, you’ll want to get a live TV streaming service that carries ABC. Here are four of our favorites, including options with free trials that you can use to watch American Idol for free.
DirecTV
DirecTV is our favorite cable streaming solution, and it carries ABC in several packages for streaming American Idol Season 24. Plans with ABC start at $39.99 a month (MyNews being the most affordable), but you can get a five-day free trial on any plan.
Fubo
Fubo is another top live TV streaming service, and it carries ABC in all plans. Packages start at $55.99 a month, but you can start with a five-day free trial and a first-month discount.
Sling
ABC is also included in a few of Sling’s cable streaming packages. Sling plans start at just $19.99 a month, although the service does not currently offer a free trial.
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is great because you can watch new episodes of American Idol on ABC and stream them on Hulu if you miss an episode. This one offers a three-day free trial and costs $89.99 a month after the trial ends.
When Does American Idol Season 24 Come Out?
American Idol Season 24 premieres on Monday, Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. ET. The show used to air on Sundays, but ABC is changing that for the new season. This is also an earlier start date than previous seasons, which typically came out in March.
American Idol Season 24 Judges, Host
Ryan Seacrest is back to host American Idol for Season 24. Seacrest has hosted every season of the show, only sharing the role once with co-host Brian Dunkleman in Season 1. Judging trio Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie are also back this season.
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