Ryan Seacrest has signed a new deal to remain the host of American Idol through the show’s 24th overall season and its ninth on ABC, the network and producers confirmed in reports Wednesday.
The agreement extends Seacrest’s uninterrupted run as the series’ on-air anchor since the program debuted in 2002. Virtual auditions for the next cycle are already underway, and the 2026 season is scheduled to premiere in the first quarter of next year.
The new deal follows recent contract renewals by judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood for the 2026 edition. Katy Perry, who served on the panel for seven seasons, departed the series earlier.
Produced by Fremantle and 19 Entertainment, American Idol remains a flagship title for ABC. Megan Wolflick continues as showrunner and executive producer alongside Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman of 19 Entertainment. The show has undergone repeated format and production changes since its Fox debut, including altered audition processes, shifting semifinal formats, the introduction of mentoring roles and expanded live voting via apps and social media.
Seacrest, 50, has been the only on-camera figure to appear on every season of American Idol, shepherding the program through its move from Fox to ABC in 2018 and through multiple format retools. Reports estimate he earns roughly $12 million per Idol season and more than $75 million annually from his television and radio projects. In 2024 he also succeeded Pat Sajak as host of Wheel of Fortune.
Born in Atlanta in 1974, Seacrest began his broadcast career as a teenager and later moved to Los Angeles. His credits include Live with Kelly and Ryan, radio programs On Air with Ryan Seacrest and American Top 40, and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. Through Ryan Seacrest Productions, he has overseen series such as Keeping Up with the Kardashians. The Ryan Seacrest Foundation supports pediatric hospitals nationwide.
American Idol posted strong ratings in 2025. The May 18 finale drew 6.51 million viewers, the program’s largest audience in two years and a 16 percent increase from the prior season’s finale. Across a five-week spring run, the show averaged 7.25 million cross-platform viewers on Sundays; seven-day linear figures were 5.87 million for Sundays and 5.15 million for Mondays—numbers largely consistent with the year before. During the spring broadcast season, Sunday telecasts frequently topped 6 million viewers, making Idol the top entertainment program in primetime on its nights.
Executives and producers have continued to tweak the series to reflect changes in viewing habits and technology, including curated pre-audition screenings, expanded remote performance options introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and increased engagement through social platforms. The show’s combination of live voting, televised mentorship and high-profile judges has helped sustain its status as a major network entertainment property.
Representatives for ABC and Seacrest did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The deal was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.