American Idol 2025-2026 | Auditions, Application Form, Dates & Judges

Additionally, if you competed in ANY previous American Idol season and advanced to the Top 10 stage of the competition, you are NOT eligible. Some legalize from the FAQ regarding prior contracts:

To accept an invitation to participate in the competition portion of the Program (currently scheduled to begin in December 2019), you must be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of Producer that you do not have…including, but not limited to, an exclusive recording contract, merchandising contract, a live and/or global touring agreement and an exclusive management contract.

In the event that you already have a management contract prior to your first audition in front of the Program judges, the requirement to enter into a management contract shall not apply to you provided that you can demonstrate to the satisfaction of Producer and 19 Entertainment Limited that such contract commenced prior to the date of your first audition in front of the Program judges.

If you can’t make an in-person audition, post your audition online HERE. Register for in person auditions HERE. 

When is American Idol coming back for season 3?

It’s official: American Idol is returning in February 2020. Although an exact premiere date hasn’t been announced yet, this season will be returning earlier than the past two (season 1 aired on March 11 and season 2 returned on March 3).

American Idol shared the exciting news in early November with a fun video showing everyone’s favorite judges on the search for “one SHELL of a voice!”

Judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie will they return

Yes, and so is in-house mentor Bobby Bones. Even though Variety reported in May that Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie had not yet inked new deals with ABC, it looks like over the summer they all ultimately decided to come back to the competition series once again.

American Idol 2020 Audition Cities

New York, NY – July 23
Mobile, AL – August 20
Macon, GA – August 23
Tallahassee, FL – August 23
Santa Barbara, CA – August 23
Baton Rouge, LA – August 25
Columbia, SC – August 26
Las Vegas, NV – August 26
Waco, TX – August 27
Knoxville, TN – August 29
Salt Lake City, UT – August 29
Colorado Springs, CO – September 1
Raleigh, NC – September 1
Washington, D.C. – September 4
Wichita, KS – September 4
San Jose, CA – September 6
Pittsburgh, PA – September 7
Springfield, IL – September 7
Spokane, WA – September 8
Detroit, MI – September 10

Locations and dates subject to change.

When and where are American Idol auditions for season 3

American Idol auditions for the 2020 season took place over the summer and early fall with more than 20 stops throughout the U.S. Idol hopefuls had the chance to audition in-person or online with the requirement of being between 15 to 28 years old:

• Mobile, AL
• Tallahassee, FL
• Macon, GA
• Santa Barbara, CA
• Baton Rouge, LA
• Columbia, SC
• Las Vegas, NV
• Waco, TX
• Knoxville, TN
• Salt Lake City, UT
• Raleigh, NC
• Colorado Springs, CO
• Washington D.C.
• Wichita, KS
• San Jose, CA
• Pittsburgh, PA
• Springfield, IL
• Spokane, WA
• Detroit, MI
• Nashville, TN
• Chicago, IL