As one of the nation’s favourite reality shows, we knew Australian Idol would be back on our radar in 2026.
Channel Seven confirmed that the singing competition would be back at its 2026 Upfronts event, but when do we need to cancel plans for the season premiere?
Keep scrolling for all the details…
What is Australian Idol?
Australian Idol sees everyday Aussies take to the stage and sing their hearts out in a bid to win a recording package and $100,000 cash prize.
Judged by Marcia Hines, Amy Shark and Kyle Sandilands, the auditions have already been filmed but we’re expected to see contestants sing it out on live shows where viewers can vote for their favourites, as per previous years.
The show kickstarted the careers of some of the country’s most well-known musicians including Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Casey Donovan, Stan Walker, and Ricki-Lee, the latter of whom now hosts the show with Scott Tweedy.
So when does Australian Idol 2026 start?
The 11th season of Australian Idol will hit screens on 2nd February 2026, exactly a year on from the last series.
We’re already seeing some sneak peeks of the upcoming season and it’s clear the talent will be top notch.
First look at contestant Kalani Artis
Landscaper Kalani Artis wowed the judges with his acoustic version of Torn by Natalie Imbruglia and he definitely looks like one to watch.
“You are exactly what we hope to walk through these doors,” Amy says in the trailer. Watch it in full below.
The musician hinted at his Idol journey whilst sharing a clip of a new song he had written to social media.
“I’m working on some really cool things atm and as of next month am not gonna be able to release any music until after the first quarter of 2026, which is why iv made the move to drop these couple of tracks with little to no plan, but it’s worth it, and it’s all worth the wait to hear what’s on the horizon for next year, so with that here’s the first of 2 tracks I’ll be releasing over the next 2 weeks,” he wrote.
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