The auditions for American Idol season 24 have come to an end and Hollywood Week has arrived… though it’s not happening Hollywood for 2026.
There were some big changes for the new season, with ABC putting a big emphasis on Nashville as a filming location.
Not only were all auditions filmed at Belmont University in Nashville, the “Hollywood Week” round was also moved to Music City.
Keep reading to find out more…
While Idol has traditionally traveled the country for the auditions round, they were all held in Nashville this year. Potential contestants were allowed to submit virtual auditions ahead of the in-person round in Nashville.
“That’s a risk,” showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick told Deadline. “We’re not having different rooms to cut to, is that a problem? We don’t know until we do it. I love that there’s something exciting about it. Even if it’s a failure, it’s still an adrenaline rush to try something new. It did work out, though.”
There traditionally was a months-long period in-between the auditions and the filming of Hollywood Week, but that was eliminated this time. Instead of going to Hollywood for the next round, contestants stayed in Nashville and then second round of the competition was filmed right away.
Michaels Wolflick told Deadline, “The momentum of getting through, getting a golden ticket, making it to Hollywood in the past has been maybe sometimes months. There was a momentum that I wanted to experiment with. The music industry in Nashville is just as strong as it is in LA, too. It is a hub and a dream for people to go to.”
Learn about some of the other changes to this season!