American Idol is moving production from Los Angeles to Atlanta for season 25, while ABC has yet to confirm its judges. The ‘American Idol’ Leaves Hollywood Behind With Atlanta Move For Season 25 first appeared on The Blast

Popular music competition show “American Idol” is moving production from Los Angeles to Atlanta, Georgia, after more than two decades.

Producers are reportedly in talks with a studio complex in the area, but it remains unclear whether they’ve signed a deal.

Meanwhile, the judges’ lineup has yet to be confirmed following Lionel Richie’s recent health scare.

‘American Idol’ Trades Hollywood For Atlanta

ABC reality giant “American Idol” is leaving its longtime Hollywood headquarters for Georgia amid a growing wave of reality TV shows exiting Los Angeles.

Fremantle, which produces the iconic singing competition alongside Sony Pictures Television’s 19 Entertainment, confirmed that the series will shift its primary production base to the Atlanta area for its upcoming 25th season, per Deadline.

Reports suggest the company is working to finalize a deal with a studio complex in the area. Filming for the new season, which premieres in the new year, is set to begin soon.

Atlanta is already home to extensive studio infrastructure, having hosted major Marvel Studios blockbusters as well as unscripted TV hits like ABC’s “Press Your Luck” and FOX’s “The 1% Club.”

‘American Idol’ Already Took Hollywood Week Out Of Hollywood

In hindsight, the series seemed to be testing the waters for operations outside L.A.

For more than two decades, the catchphrase “You’re going to Hollywood!” served as the show’s defining badge of honor. Judges delivered the line to contestants who passed their initial auditions and earned a golden ticket to the next round, Hollywood Week.

However, season 24 looked different, as that round didn’t happen in Hollywood. Instead, it took place in Nashville, Tennessee, and was dubbed the “Music City Takeover.”

That portion of the show usually takes place several months after auditions. Last season, however, production held it immediately afterward to capitalize on the singers’ excitement about advancing.

“The momentum of getting through, getting a golden ticket, making it to Hollywood in the past has been maybe sometimes months,” showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick explained to Deadline. “There was a momentum that I wanted to experiment with.”

• “American Idol” alum Caleb Flynn was charged with murder in his wife’s killing.
• Kelly Clarkson raised eyebrows when she claimed “American Idol” didn’t give her the promised prize.
• Carrie Underwood faced a hostile “American Idol” audience and didn’t hold back.
• The singer drew mixed reactions after claiming she was “booed a lot” on the show.
• Lionel Richie’s kids were “crazy scared they could lose him” after his health crisis.
• Richie’s ex-wife shared a health update following a scary onstage incident.

Georgia’s Tax Incentives Appear To Sweeten The Deal

Meanwhile, rising costs and competitive state tax incentives appear to have pushed the show toward “Y’allywood,” the nickname for Georgia’s booming entertainment sector.

Georgia offers a transferable film and television tax credit of up to 30% for qualifying unscripted productions that spend at least $500,000 within the state.

FOX’s “The Masked Singer” also moved production from L.A. to New Jersey for a similar reason. The state “offers production tax incentives of 30% on qualified expenses with up to 40% on certain studio projects,” including unscripted shows.

California, meanwhile, recently expanded its own film and television tax credit program to include select unscripted projects with a minimum budget of $1 million per episode, a criterion that “American Idol” reportedly doesn’t meet.

L.A.’s Reality TV Production Takes A Steep Hit

The latest development underscores L.A.’s growing struggle to retain unscripted television, with FOX’s “The Masked Singer” also leaving within the same one-year period.

According to data from FilmLA, reality TV production in the city dropped roughly 63% over five years as networks sought more cost-effective filming locations across the country or abroad, per Deadline.

The report also showed that unscripted production in L.A. recorded 40% fewer shoot days than in the second quarter of 2025, even as television production overall rose year over year.

‘American Idol’ Judges Remain Unconfirmed As Auditions Begin

Virtual auditions for the upcoming 25th season are already underway, with in-person auditions typically taking place in October or November.

According to Deadline, host and Atlanta native Ryan Seacrest, along with judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood, are “expected” to return for the milestone season.

However, ABC has not yet confirmed the judges’ lineup. The announcement is still pending after Richie’s recent health scare.

The 77-year-old singer underwent cardiac testing in an ICU after checking himself into the hospital late last month, per TMZ.

A source later told PEOPLE that he was back home in L.A. and was “doing great.”

The ‘American Idol’ Leaves Hollywood Behind With Atlanta Move For Season 25 first appeared on The Blast