American Idol Season 24 is here, premiering January 26, 2026, on ABC (Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT, next-day on Hulu)! With fresh twists like the ‘Ohana Round in Hawaii and a historic new voting method, fans have more ways than ever to support their favorites.

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Here’s your complete guide to how to vote on American Idol, when voting starts, modes of voting this season, and a look at last year’s controversies from Season 23.

When Does Voting Start in Season 24?

Voting begins during the live shows, expected to kick off after the early rounds (Nashville auditions, Music City Takeover, and ‘Ohana Round).

• Exact dates will be announced during episodes, but live voting typically opens at the start of the East Coast broadcast (around 8 p.m. ET).
• Votes usually close shortly after the show ends (often around 6 a.m. ET the next morning).
• Watch for Ryan Seacrest’s announcements: “Voting is now open!” — that’s your cue to cast those votes!

Modes of Voting This Season – A Historic First!

This season introduces real-time social media voting for the first time ever in Idol history! Showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick calls it a way to “meet the audience where they are” and make voting easier for Gen Z and beyond.

You can vote up to 10 times per contestant per method (up to 30 total across platforms):

Online Voting
Head to AmericanIdol.com/Vote (or idolvote.abc.com).

• Create a free account (must be 16+ and in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or U.S. Virgin Islands).
• Sign in, select your contestant, assign votes, and save!

American Idol App
Download the official app (iOS or Android).

• Log in, go to “Vote Now,” pick your favorite, and submit up to 10 votes per contestant.

Text (SMS) Voting
Text your favourite american idol singer number (revealed during the episode) to 21523.

• Example: Text “1” to 21523 for contestant #1.
• Standard message/data rates apply; up to 10 votes per contestant.

Social Media Voting (NEW for 2026!)
Vote directly on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, X, etc., in real time!

• Details are being finalized, but expect interactive posts or features during live episodes.
• This could tip the scales for trending favorites!

Last Year’s Voting Controversies (Season 23 – 2025)

Season 23 broke records with over 26 million votes in the finale, but it wasn’t without drama:

• Fans accused the show of being “rigged” after fan-favorites were eliminated early, with claims of bias toward country artists (“Country Idol” complaints).
• Some viewers fumed over the live voting format, saying it favored superfans who voted immediately without watching full performances.
• Historical gripes (from past seasons) include phone line overloads, “rigged” saves, and gender bias against female contestants.
• Despite the backlash, winner Jamal Roberts earned massive support, and no major investigations confirmed foul play.

Season 24’s social media voting aims to make things fairer and more inclusive — but we’ll see how fans react once live shows begin!

Final Tips for Voting Success

• Vote early and often during the window!
• Follow @AmericanIdol on social media for updates.
• Check the official FAQs at idolvote.abc.com for the latest rules.

Who’s your pick to win Season 24? Drop your predictions and start rallying votes — the next American Idol is counting on you! 🎤✨ #AmericanIdol2026 #HowToVote #IdolVoting