Where to watch ‘American Idol’ in 2025Where to watch ‘American Idol’ in 2025
Some people dream of fame. Others just want to know where to watch American Idol. We’ll give you all the details about where the show is streaming, so you never miss a second of this singing competition’s show-stopping performances.
Where to watch ‘American Idol’ online
Watch American Idol with ExpressVPN for the best streaming experience. Simply connect to an ExpressVPN server location near you to bypass restrictions on any network—including schools and offices—and enjoy complete streaming access anywhere. Here are all the ways you can watch the series online!
Hulu
Hulu is the place to stream American Idol in the U.S. New episodes are added to the platform the day after they air live on ABC. If you prefer to catch the show live, you can subscribe to Hulu + Live TV, which includes ABC in its channel line-up. If you’re new to Hulu, you can take advantage of the trial period to watch some episodes of American Idol online for free!
The last thing you want is buffering in the middle of a performance. If your connection seems to slow down whenever you’re streaming, you could be the victim of activity-based ISP throttling. Use ExpressVPN to encrypt your connection so your ISP can’t see what you’re doing online. This way, you can stream smoothly.
CityTV+
Wondering where to watch American Idol in Canada? Look no further than CityTV+. New episodes are set to stream on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET—the same time as the U.S. You’ll need an existing account with a TV provider to access CityTV+. Simply go to the CityTV+ website or app, select your TV provider from the list on the sign-in page and enter your credentials to log in.
Where to watch ‘American Idol’ online for free
Viewers in the U.S. and Australia can watch some of the latest seasons of American Idol for free. When you’re traveling abroad, you can connect to an ExpressVPN server in your home country to change your IP location and stream the show without location error messages.
7plus
American Idol is available to stream on 7plus in Australia. This free, ad-supported platform currently gives you access to season 22 of the show, but there’s not yet any indication as to whether the latest season will be added to 7plus after it’s aired in the U.S. You’ll need to create an account to access 7plus content.
How to watch ‘American Idol’ without cable
ABC is in the channel line-up of multiple U.S. cord-cutting services. That means you have plenty of options to watch American Idol live at 8 p.m. ET on Sundays. Whichever one you choose, be sure to connect to an ExpressVPN server in the U.S. to avoid streaming blocks on networks like those at work or school.
Hulu + Live TV
American Idol airs live on Hulu + Live TV and is added to Hulu’s on-demand library the next day. Hulu is only available in the U.S. and you’ll need to provide a local ZIP code when you sign up. You can pay with a U.S. debit or credit card, PayPal, or a Hulu gift card.
Fubo
Fubo offers thousands of hours of live and on-demand programming, including American Idol. You can take advantage of the trial period to watch on-demand episodes for free, but you’ll need to create an account with an email address, U.S. ZIP code, and a U.S. credit or debit card.
YouTube TV
Viewers in the U.S. can stream American Idol live on YouTube TV. The platform usually offers a generous trial period (the length depends on your location), so you may be able to watch a couple of episodes for free. Keep in mind that YouTube TV requires new users to provide a U.S. ZIP code when they sign up.
DirecTV Stream
You can watch the latest season of American Idol live and on demand when you have a DirecTV Stream subscription. The platform offers a free trial, giving you the chance to watch some episodes of the show without spending a cent. You will need to create an account with your U.S. payment information and ZIP code.
Sling TV
To stream American Idol via Sling TV, you’ll need to sign up for the Blue package. The plan is a great choice for fans of reality TV, entertainment titles, and football. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to take advantage of the occasional free trials that Sling TV offers new subscribers.
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What is ‘American Idol’ about?
American Idol takes talented performers from singing in the shower to sold out arena shows. The program follows contestants as they sing their hearts out, first for a panel of celebrity judges and then for the American public. With legendary winners like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, and viral auditions that live on forever, it’s no surprise that American Idol has remained one of TV’s biggest talent shows since its 2002 debut.
What to expect from ‘American Idol’ Season 23
Season 23 of American Idol is set to bring some exciting changes to the show’s format. We’ll see season 4 winner Carrie Underwood return to the Idols arena, this time as a judge. Plus, rapper and singer Jelly Roll will join the show as its first-ever Artist in Residence, mentoring the contestants throughout the season.
‘American Idol’ release date
Season 23 of American Idol will premiere on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Episodes will also be added to Hulu’s on-demand library the day after they’ve aired live.
While the exact number of episodes and the finale date have not been officially announced, previous seasons have typically featured around 18 episodes. That means that we can expect to see the season 23 finale take place in late May.
‘American Idol’ cast
American Idol fans will be thrilled to hear that there will be an exciting new addition to the season 23 judges’ table. While longtime judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan will return for their 8th and 17th seasons respectively, American Idol alum Carrie Underwood will make her judging debut this year.
The show will also feature an Artist in Residence for the first time ever. The role will be taken up by country rap and hip-hop star Jelly Roll, who will act as a mentor to contestants, offering his guidance, feedback, and real-world music industry advice.
‘American Idol’ FAQ
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