For the first time, The Masked Singer will skip a cycle, returning to the FOX schedule in January 2026
FOX recently renewed The Masked Singer for season 14. But there is a catch. The singing show featuring celebrities in crazy costumes is skipping the Fall cycle, and will not return to television until January. It’s the first time The Masked Singer has skipped a cycle since it debuted midseason 2019.
Representatives from FOX say The Masked Singer will eventually return to two cycles a season. But for now, the show is taking a break.
“This juggernaut will return next year for Season 14 as it takes midseason by storm with a spectacular, super-charged new season,” a Fox spokesperson said in a statement. “Debuting the new season in January is a strategic move to give ample runway for America’s favorite guessing game, and allow us to creatively look at enhancing the show with the biggest names at the center of it.”
The Masked Singer initially reigned supreme in the ratings
The Masked Singer could use a reset. At first, it slew the ratings, dwarfing numbers from fellow singing shows such as The Voice and American Idol. FOX bosses bragged that they made the right decision cancelling Idol back in 2016 (ABC rebooted it two years later). However, the recently aired The Masked Singer two-hour finale only nabbed a 0.4 in the key 18-49 demo and 2.89M viewers. American Idol ratings for Sunday 5/11 and Monday 5/12 nabbed .57 in the key demo, 5.17M viewers and .39 in the key demo and 3.78M viewers, respectively.
The Masked Singer boasts a fun gimmick. But it IS a gimmicky show. One that has worn thin with viewers. Taking time to refresh the format seems necessary at this point. One problem with the show is that it does NOT attract big celebrities. It’s mostly folks whose careers have seen better days. If FOX re-fashioned the show more like a once a year event, they may be able to attract more star power.
For Fall, Wednesday nights will feature two unscripted shows. The Floor at 8 pm and a new show, 99 to Beat, at 9 pm. The Masked Singer panelist, Ken Jeong and former Dancing with the Stars host Erin Andrews helm the new series.
