Another year of Australian Idol means another slate of contestants vying for the opportunity to win $100,000 and a hotly coveted recording package.
Australian Idol returns to Seven and 7plus on Monday, 2 February 2026.
Here’s everything you want to know about the returning reality TV show…
Who are the judges of Australian Idol?
The judges of the popular singing competition are Marcia Hines, Amy Shark and Kyle Sandilands.
Marcia was a judge from 2003 until 2009 and returned in 2024. She rose to fame in the 1970s with her singing talents and has released 22 albums, earning her induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
TV Week Logie Award winner Amy Shark made soundwaves around the world with the release of her debut album Love Monster in 2018, which topped the ARIA charts and led to many ARIA awards for the Australian singer-songwriter. She has been a judge on the show since 2023.
Kyle Sandilands is one of Australia’s biggest shock jocks, best known for his co-hosting gig on The Kyle & Jackie O Show with Jackie O Henderson on KIIS FM.
Read more about the Australian Idol judges here.
When is the premiere of Australian Idol 2026?
As mentioned above, Australian Idol returns to screens on Thursday, 2 February 2026. Viewers can tune into Channel 7 or stream on-demand on 7Plus.
Channel 7 has said that there are some big changes this season, and it will be the “toughest” yet for contestants.
Who are the hosts of Australian Idol 2026?
Returning to the hosting gig are none other than Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie.
Ricki-Lee is an alumna of the competition. She competed in the second season of the show in 2004 and returned to host the 2023 reboot. And she’s remained since.
Scott also joined the 2023 reboot on Channel 7. Before Australian Idol, Scott was a radio presenter for Nova 106.9, hosted various shows including Prank Patrol, The Loop, and was also the online behind-the-scenes host for I’m a Celebrity…Australia. He made his acting debut on Neighbours in a guest-starring role as well.
Are there live shows for Australian Idol 2026?
Last season in 2025, fans were able to purchase tickets for the live shows in October. However, nothing is confirmed yet.
Watch this space!
Who is the most successful Australian Idol contestant?
Arguably, Guy Sebastian is the most successful Australian Idol contestant.
After winning the first season back in 2003, Guy went on to have an illustrious career.
For instance, six of his singles reached number one on the ARIA charts, not to mention he’s won multiple ARIA Awards, including Best Pop Release and Best Live Act.
In 2015, Guy represented Australia at Eurovision, finishing fifth with his song Tonight Again.
And in 2019, Guy became a coach on The Voice Australia – although he’s not returning for the 2025 season.
You can read what all the previous Australian Idol winners are up to now here.
Watch Australian Idol on Channel 7 and 7plus.
