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American Idol University — the theme for the singing competition’s latest season — is officially in session.
American Idol season 24 premieres on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, at 8 p.m. PT/ET, and since it’ll air weekly on ABC, cord-cutters can stream it live on any TV streaming service that carries the network, including DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Fubo (with a five-day free trial), Sling and Hulu + Live TV.
At a Glance: How to Watch American Idol Season 24
Since select streamers are offering free trials and limited-time discounts, viewers can livestream the latest episode at no cost; keep reading to learn more about each option.
How to Watch American Idol Season 24: Air Date and Time, Where to Stream Online
The 24th season of American Idol premieres with a two-hour episode, “Auditions, Part 1,” on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, at 8 p.m. PT/ET (and can be livestreamed via DirecTV, Fubo, Sling and Hulu + Live TV). New two-hour episodes air weekly during the same time slot, the first four of which will cover the audition process.
While the only way to livestream episodes online is through a live TV streaming service, like DirecTV, Fubo, Sling or Hulu + Live TV, new episodes will be available to stream on-demand the following day on Hulu and Disney+ with Hulu.
Learn more about each streaming option (and their free trials) below.
Learn more about each plan option, including how to build your own channel lineup (starting at just $19.99 per month), at directv.com.
Fubo
Fubo
Five-day free trial; packages from $55.99 per month ($45.99 for first month)
Watch ABC with a subscription to Fubo, which offers a five-day free trial for new subscribers.
After the trial, plans start at $45.99 for the first month and $55.99 monthly afterward.
Sling
Sling
Half off first month for select plans
ABC is included in Sling’s Blue Plan, starting at $45.99 per month.
For the best bang for your buck, opt for Sling’s Orange & Blue plan, which is currently half off for the first month: $33 for the first month and $65.99 monthly thereafter.
Hulu
Hulu + Live TV
Three-day free trial; packages from $89.99 per month
Watch ABC for free with a three-day trial to Hulu + Live TV, which comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+, starting at $89.99 per month.
Original Article on Hollywood Reporter