Season 24 of American Idol is bringing an exciting twist to the competition with the introduction of a brand-new stage called the Ohana Round. After an intense Hollywood Week, judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie made the biggest cut in the show’s history — reducing the field from 127 contestants to just 30. Now, those remaining hopefuls are preparing to face another major challenge.
The upcoming March 9 episode will showcase the Top 30 performers competing in the Ohana Round, a format that has never been seen on the show before. The round adds a fresh layer of strategy and feedback as contestants take the stage once again to prove they deserve a place in the Top 20.
What Is the Ohana Round?
The Ohana Round serves as the next stage of the competition following Hollywood Week. During this round, all 30 contestants perform again, hoping to impress not only the judges but also several groups of voters who will help influence the results.
Although the judges will still share their critiques, they will also receive input from special voting groups designed to reflect how different audiences respond to the contestants. According to showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick, the round acts as a kind of “focus group,” helping the judges understand which artists viewers are connecting with the most.
At the end of the round, each voting group will select its favorite performer. Those selected contestants will receive Platinum Tickets, which previously appeared during the audition stage as a special advantage in Hollywood Week. This season, however, the exact benefit of the Platinum Tickets has not yet been revealed.
After all performances are complete, 10 contestants will be eliminated, leaving only 20 singers to continue in the competition.
Who Gets to Vote?
The Ohana Round introduces a unique voting system that includes three different groups:
- The contestants themselves
- Family and friends, with each singer bringing two loved ones
- A panel of “industry tastemakers”
This group of tastemakers includes well-known voices from the entertainment and music industries, such as social media personalities Kaniyia Brown and Terry McCaskill, dancer and choreographer Sasha Farber, singer and content creator Anthony Gargiula, singer and actress Loren Gray, Rolling Stone co-editor-in-chief Shirley Halperin, vocal coach Cheryl Porter, and country music personality Kelly Sutton.
Together, these voters will help highlight the artists who stand out the most during the performances.
A Hawaiian Setting for the Competition
The Ohana Round takes place at the Aulani Resort in Hawaii, continuing a recent tradition for the show. Since Season 20, American Idol has traveled to Hawaii for a special portion of the competition.
In previous seasons, the Top 24 contestants performed in Hawaii before a small number were eliminated. Season 24, however, brings a slightly different structure. After the Ohana Round determines the Top 20, those remaining contestants will also perform at the Aulani Resort before the judges decide who advances to the Live Shows.
With a new format, a new voting system, and a stunning tropical setting, the Ohana Round could become one of the most memorable additions to American Idol yet.
American Idol Season 24 airs Mondays at 8/7c on ABC.
