Season 24 of American Idol has officially launched, but longtime fans quickly noticed something unusual during the premiere auditions: no platinum tickets were handed out.
The platinum ticket, first introduced in Season 20 (2022), has been a coveted advantage in recent years and returned in Seasons 21, 22, and 23. Traditionally, three contestants received this special honor during auditions — though not always in the very first episode. So did the show quietly retire the twist?
Not quite.
Platinum Tickets Aren’t Gone — They’ve Just Moved
ABC has confirmed that platinum tickets are still part of Season 24, but they’re being awarded in a completely new way. Instead of appearing during auditions, the platinum tickets will now be handed out later in the competition during a newly introduced phase called the Ohana Round.
The Ohana Round will take place in Hawaii once the competition narrows down to the Top 30 contestants. During this round, artists will perform in front of a unique mix of industry insiders — including singers, entertainment journalists, social media personalities, and tastemakers.
At the end of the round, three contestants will receive platinum tickets, chosen by the judges based on feedback from these focus groups.
Showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick explained the change to Deadline, saying the goal is to give judges insight into how different audiences respond before America begins voting. Each group will select a favorite performer, and those three artists will earn platinum tickets — though contestants can’t vote for themselves.
By the end of the Ohana Round, the competition will shrink from 30 artists down to 20, which is typically when viewer voting begins.
What Does the Platinum Ticket Do This Season?
In past seasons, receiving a platinum ticket allowed contestants to skip the first round of Hollywood Week, often considered the most demanding and stressful stage of the competition.
However, with the platinum tickets now being awarded at the Top 30 stage, the exact advantage they’ll provide remains unclear. Fans will have to wait and see how the show redefines the perk this season.
A Look Back at Past Platinum Ticket Winners
Over the years, several standout contestants have earned platinum tickets:
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Season 20: HunterGirl, Kenedi Anderson, Jay
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Season 21: Cam Amen, Kaylin Hedges, Tyson Venegas
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Elijah McCormick later received a fan-voted platinum ticket at the AMAs
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Season 22: Odell Bunton Jr., Abi Carter, Julia Gagnon
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Season 23: Kolbi Jordan, Filo, Canaan James Hill
So far, Abi Carter is the only platinum ticket recipient to go on to win American Idol, while HunterGirl finished as the Season 20 runner-up.
What This Means for Season 24
With the platinum ticket twist reimagined and the addition of the Ohana Round, American Idol Season 24 is shaking up its familiar formula. Whether this change gives contestants an even bigger edge — or simply adds more drama — remains to be seen.
One thing’s for sure: American Idol is keeping fans guessing.
