Lionel Ritchie posing with Mickey Mouse on the set of ‘American Idol’ (Cover Image Instagram | @lionelrichie)

From the get-go, ‘American Idol’ Season 24 is grabbing major attention for its idol university theme and talented pool of contestants. While the auditions are still ongoing, fans are curiously awaiting the special-themed nights to see their favorite contestants fight it off in style. Now, to add to the excitement, the show has announced its theme nights, with three popular favorites set to make a return.

In an interview with Billboard, executive producer and showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick confirmed that three fan-favorite ‘American Idol’ theme nights are returning for season 24: Disney Night, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night, and the Judges’ Song Contest. On Disney Night’s return, she said, “Yes, we love that. I think Disney Night and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night are staples on the show now. People love them, and they’re super interesting and ever evolving, and there’s a wealth of mentors and experts who can speak on both subjects.”

Talking about the judges’ song contest, Wolflick revealed the theme night will be back with a new spin, explaining, “We’re going to do a themed version of the Judges’ Song Contest this year with a bit of nostalgia with ’90s music, which will be great.” Wolflick further teased an exciting finale, adding that there will be ‘a special surprise mentor for the finale,’ hinting at another standout moment for the long-running series.

Furthermore, she also addressed the move to a one-episode-per-week format, describing it as a return to the show’s traditional roots: “It’s around the same number of episodes. Once a week, and we started in January. That’s ‘old school’—premiering in January.” She then went on to point out the advantages of the format: “Once a week is better in some ways. It’s a lot to ask, four hours a week.” Acknowledging changing viewing habits, she said, “What we know now in 2026 is there are so many different ways how people watch the show. You watch it on ABC. You watch it on Hulu. You watch it on Disney+. Or on Instagram.”

‘American Idol’ Season 24 will also feature a university-themed episode celebrating the 20th anniversary of the iconic 2006 Season 5. “We’re going to do the 20th anniversary with the class of 2006 for our university theme, Wolflick said. Notably, Season 5 is widely considered one of American Idol’s most successful runs, launching stars such as winner Taylor Hicks, runner-up Katharine McPhee, Chris Daughtry, Elliott Yamin, Kellie Pickler, Ace Young, Bucky Covington, Paris Bennett, and the late Mandisa.

Daughtry’s Top 4 elimination remains one of the most shocking moments in the show’s history, adding to the anticipation of how the series will pay tribute to these alumni and whether any will appear in the commemorative episode, as per ScreenRant.That said, the return of fan favorites Disney Night and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night promises major crowd appeal.