American Idol <\/a>has just announced that the new season will kick off in January!<\/p>\n All three of the returning judges \u2013 Lionel Richie<\/a>, Carrie Underwood<\/a> and Luke Bryan<\/a> \u2013 appeared in the big reveal via the singing competition\u2019s official Instagram. The academic themed post opened with a paper tacked to a bulletin board promoting that classes for \u201cIdol University\u201d will be begin on January 26, 2026.<\/p>\n Each of the judges made their way to the flyer and tore off the information on the pull-away tabs which included the show\u2019s premiere date.<\/p>\n The caption read, \u201cThat\u2019s a tear we couldn\u2019t wait to make \ud83d\udc40 A new season of\u00a0#AmericanIdol<\/a>\u00a0premieres Monday, January 26 on ABC and Stream on Hulu!\u201d<\/p>\n This will mark the singing competition show\u2019s ninth season on ABC and\u00a0Hulu<\/a>\u00a0and 24th<\/sup>\u00a0overall. According to Deadline<\/a>, there will be at least one major twist coming to the Idol in 2026. The outlet reports that Richie, Underwood, Bryan and the show\u2019s longtime host, Ryan Seacrest will be making their way to Nashville with the lucky contestants who earn a golden ticket.<\/p>\n\n Instead of planting their roots in California as usual, they will instead head to the home of country music to introduce Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover<\/em>. It\u2019s unclear what exactly this week will entail, but it is expected to be an exciting shift for viewers as well as contestants.<\/p>\n Back in August, Idol used a similar scholastic theme to announce that the same judging panel would be reclaiming their roles in the next season.<\/p>\n \u201cClass is back in session,\u201d Bryan said in the video.<\/p>\n \u201cThis year, we\u2019re majoring in music as we help launch your dreams,\u201d Underwood continued as she packed up school lunches in her kitchen.<\/p>\n With his thermos of coffee in hand, Richie then introduced himself as the \u201cprofessor of positivity.\u201d Meanwhile, Bryan fittingly labeled himself \u201cprofessor of fun\u2026serious, but fun.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, the judges are eager to kickstart the upcoming semester of \u201cIdol University\u201d with a whole new class of talented contestants.<\/p>\n This will mark Carrie Underwood\u2019s second time serving as a judge on American Idol after joining the crew last year. She joined Bryan and Richie in their search for America\u2019s next singing sensation.<\/p>\n The 2025 \u201cIdol Across America\u201d live virtual nationwide search wrapped up with a nationwide open call on Sept. 24. Next up, those who made it through to the next round will get to showcase their skills in front of the judges and America.<\/p>\n During its eight seasons on ABC, American Idol was named a top unscripted series. The most recent season finale ranked No. 1 on the night, No. 1 for the week in primetime, and earned the best Total Viewer audience in two years.<\/p>\n The new season is set to air Monday, January 26 at 8 p.m. on ABC and Stream on Hulu.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Lionel](\"https:\/\/countrynow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/American-Idol-Judges-1024x681.jpg\")