Naman Shrestha
Created by Simon Fuller, ‘American Idol’ is a competition reality series that brings together 12 aspiring singers from different walks of life and specializing in different genres with one common objective — to win a recording contract and a grand cash prize. The judges and America vote for the contestant they want to proceed to the competition’s next round. Meanwhile, the contestant with the fewest votes gets eliminated.
Following the same format, season 24 introduces us to a brand new set of 12 talented singers who are judged by three established judges — Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, ‘American Idol’ season 24 features impressive performances from aspiring artists, who get voted out one by one each week until the last man standing earns the title of ‘American Idol,’ gets a recording deal, and a cash prize. The competition takes place primarily in a closed space on an advanced stage, but the audition round is held in a hall of sorts.
Where Was American Idol 2026 Filmed?
The shooting for ‘American Idol’ season 24 took place in Tennessee, California, and Hawaii, particularly in Nashville, Los Angeles, and Kapolei. Stepping away from the pattern of previous seasons, the cast and crew members shot the Hollywood Week away from Los Angeles, California. According to reports, principal photography for the 24th round got underway in November 2025. Known for its music culture, Tennessee also served as the ideal backdrop for a singing reality series.
Nashville, Tennessee
‘American Idol’ season 24 was reportedly shot in the city of Nashville, situated on the Cumberland River in the state of Tennessee. According to reports, the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Belmont University, at 1900 Belmont Boulevard, served as the production location for the Hollywood Week of the 24th season. Talking about the opportunity to shoot at the prestigious university, American Idol Executive Producer/ Showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick stated, “We’re proud to partner with Belmont University, a school that shares our passion for discovering and celebrating musical talent. With so many Belmont auditions through the years, this collaboration feels like a natural fit.”
Los Angeles, California
Most of the pivotal sequences for ‘American Idol’ season 24 were taped in Los Angeles, located in Southern California. The filming unit supposedly took over a sound stage of one of the film studios located in and around Los Angeles in order to tape a significant chunk of the competition. Apart from the singing reality series, the City of Angels has served as a filming site for various other shows, such as ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’ ‘The Masked Singer,’ ‘America’s Got Talent,’ ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ ‘America’s Next Top Model,’ and more.
Kapolei, Hawaii
Additional portions for the 24th season of ‘American Idol’ were also filmed in the planned community of Kapolei, which is in the City and County of Honolulu. To be specific, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, situated at 92-1185 Aliinui Drive, served as a prominent production location for the reality series. The beachside resort hotel is home to hundreds of hotel rooms and shared villas spread across 21 acres. It also provides various other amenities, including dining establishments, beach activities, shopping, photography, and more.
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