Upamanyu Biswas
Created by Simon Cowell, NBC’s ‘America’s Got Talent’ is a reality talent show where participants from around the country and beyond showcase their unique skills and talents onstage to impress a panel of judges and the audience. Each competitor can walk away with a grand cash prize at the end of their journey, which they must first navigate after getting the auditions and participating in the live episodes. The twentieth season sees the return of Howie Mandel, Sofía Vergara, and Simon Cowell on the panel alongside a familiar addition who has been on a hiatus from the series for a while – Mel B. In the meantime, Terry Crews continues his consecutive run as the host of the series, bringing vibrancy to the show’s presentation. While the competition has seen a few changes through the years, its eye-catching stage backdrop has been a series staple since its conception, including season 20.
America’s Got Talent Season 20 Filming Locations
Filming for ‘America’s Got Talent’ mainly takes place in the wide expanses of California, a state flush with modern cities, beautiful geographical formations, Mediterranean weather, and coastal views. The principal photography for season 20 began on March 14, 2025. The production had been halted earlier due to the ongoing wildfires in Southern California, the same region where the show is essentially taped. As such, the crew had to navigate the logistical and environmental challenges in their path as they geared up for yet another successful installation of the NBC talent show.
Pasadena, California
Like previous seasons, the twentieth season of ‘America’s Got Talent’ was lensed in the Pasadena Civic Auditorium at 300 East Green Street in the city of Pasadena, California. The arena has held the audition rounds for the NBC series since 2006, showcasing its longstanding relationship with the project. However, its actual history ranges back even further as it was built in 1932, in an era before the Second World War, capturing the grand beauty of an untouched period and melding it with modern technological innovations that make it an appealing venue today. The Civic has a majestic Italian Renaissance-inspired exterior and lavish indoors that can hold up to 2,997 people. It also consists of a main floor, private enclosures, and a balcony. Its main attraction, however, remains the auditorium, which is fitted with intricate decorations that are brimming with cultural heritage.
Over the years, the auditorium’s stage has played host to numerous nail-biting rounds of ‘America’s Got Talent.’ As such, it has become a familiar sight for fans of the show, especially when dissecting the various eye-catching paraphernalia stocked around the room. On the ceiling of the Civic Center is a hand-painted mural by late Italian-American artist Giovanni Smeraldi. In the meantime, Greco-Roman panels adorn the stage from all sides and also line the walls. Going back to the World War II comment, there is also a rare Moller pipe organ in the auditorium that is kept as a touch of history, having even survived the collateral damages of WWII. Thus, the Civic continues to dazzle audiences as it brings another round of NBC’s talent show to life, setting the stage for an exciting competition.
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