The Australian Idol 2026 (Season 11) audition rounds wrapped up with a strong final push, and the latest episode (aired February 16, 2026, on Channel 7 and 7plus) delivered some of the most exciting Golden Ticket moments yet.

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This appears to be one of the concluding audition nights, as episodes have been rolling out progressively since the February 2 premiere. J

udges Kyle Sandilands, Marcia Hines, and Amy Shark (with hosts Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie) have been selective — not every “yes” vote guarantees a ticket, with holding rooms and final decisions narrowing the field.

Tonight’s Golden Ticket Winners (February 16 Episode / “Last Night” Batch)

From the official carousel post and fan reactions in comments, these contestants earned their Golden Tickets:

• Alita Santhosh (22, Adelaide, SA – vocal coach and Y2K R&B princess)
  Her smooth, glossy early-2000s R&B style (teased as “Shackles (Praise You)” by Mary Mary in some reports) wowed with confident runs and presence. Fans exploded with “Alita and Lydia made it!!! Let’s GOOOOOOO!!!!!”
• Lydia Virgo (24, Northern Beaches/Sydney, NSW)
  Performed “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga — a bold, empowering choice that showcased vocal power. Comments celebrated her alongside Alita as a highlight of the night.
• Asher Iyer (16, Brisbane, QLD – teen rapper)
  The young rapper brought fresh energy and skill, earning massive cheers: “YESSSSSSS ASHER GOT IN!!! HE GOT IN!!!!!” His audition stood out for youthful confidence in a genre not always dominant on Idol.
• Harlan Goode (18, Brisbane, QLD)
  Delivered “The Winner Takes It All” by ABBA — fans raved about his voice and looks: “Omg how gorgeous is Harlan & a voice to match, those eyes are mesmerising 💙”

These join the growing Top 30 list from earlier episodes (e.g., Kalani Artis, Eva Ilov, Mat Rigby, Charlie Moon, Sophie Poidevin, Alita already confirmed in prior batches, plus others like Nicholas Storm, Wanwue Tarpeh, Olivia Giaourtas, Riley Zischke, and Cody James).

Why These Moments Stood Out

The episode featured high-stakes auditions, with some contestants getting second chances (like Sophie Poidevin earlier) while others faced tougher scrutiny. Fan comments noted debates over fairness (e.g., hearing issues in one case), but the spotlight stayed on talent — emotional stories, genre diversity (R&B, pop, rap), and star potential.

The Top 30 is nearly complete (up to 30 spots total), shifting soon to group challenges, transformations, and eliminations before live voting shows. More reveals could drop if any final stragglers are announced.

Where to Catch Up

• Stream the February 16 episode and all auditions on 7plus (catch-up available).
• Follow @australianidol on Instagram/Facebook for carousel posts, clips, and Golden Ticket batches — they drop these after every major night.
• New episodes continue Sundays/Mondays at 7:00/7:30 PM AEST on Channel 7.

With this final audition wave, the Australian Idol 2026 field is locked in and diverse — from teen rappers to R&B queens. Who will shine in the Top 30? The real competition starts now! 🎤✨