The Voice 29: Vets Kelly Clarkson, Adam Levine, John Legend join panel for All-Star competition featuring former contestants.
The Voice 29 is indeed happening this spring 2026, but with a MAJOR format overhaul. The panel will only include three judges–veterans Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Adam Levine. That’s right, Kelly is back for the first time since season 23 (spring 2023). The three stars coached together with Blake Shelton back in season 16 (spring 2019). Additionally, the new format is dubbed The Voice: Battle of Champions and will be full of gimmicks galore!
Each of the three coaches teams will consist of three artists–a total of 30 contestants. The new format includes 4 rounds. Via NBC.com.
The new format will bring back all-stars from prior seasons as well as Voice artists returning to help choose the winner.
- Triple Turn Competition: During the high-stakes Blind Auditions, the Coaches will attempt to score the most 3-Chair Turns. The Coach who wins will earn a special advantage in the Battles.
- Super Steal: The Coach with the most 3-Chair Turns after the Blinds automatically earns a Super Steal for the Battles. This lets the Coach trump another Coach’s attempt to steal an Artist, securing their win.
- In-Season All-Star Competition: During Knockouts, each Coach will bring back two Artists from their former teams to compete in the In-Season All-Star Competition. The selected veteran Artists will compete in head-to-head sing-offs. The Coach with the most sing-off wins is guaranteed a second Season 29 Artist in the Finale.?
- New voting for Semi-Finals and Finale: The Season 29 Semi-Finals and Finale will feature a new voting block comprised of super fans and past Voice Artists. This group will be in the in-studio audience during these rounds, voting for their favorites in real time.
Plus former coach Cee Lo Green will return to the show during Knockouts to judge the In-Season All-Star Competition. He’ll watch each pair of Artist alums compete against each other and pick a winner. His selections determine which Season 29 Coach is guaranteed two Artists in the Finale.
The Voice 27 spring ratings struggled against American Idol
We previously speculated that NBC would skip The Voice spring cycle altogether. American Idol killed The Voice when it came to ratings. But it looks like NBC is going for a gimmicky format change, bringing back beloved coaches like Kelly and Adam and a slew of former The Voice contestants.
One problem: Unlike American Idol, The Voice contestants come and go. There are no Kelly Clarksons, Carrie Underwoods, Adam Lamberts, Clay Aikens, on which the audience still feels attached. Bringing back Kelly is smart. It’s surprising she is willing to return, as her entire shtick the past couple years has been about feeling overwhelmed and overworked. She seemed completely done with The Voice by the time she left the show.
Also, the big CHAMPIONSHIP season wasn’t enough to lure back Blake Shelton. Maybe he wanted more money than the network was willing to pay. A three coach panel is way less expensive than the traditional four. Thirty contestants may be the fewest The Voice has ever featured. Season 1 involved 32 contests across 4 coaches.
Will format gimmicks save The Voice?
Arguably, the reason American Idol garnered higher ratings this spring is that ABC airs Idol as a once a year event. The contestants and judges travel to outside locations. Voting starts early, as does the live shows. Bringing back superstar season 4 winner Carrie Underwood as a judge also thrilled fans. More expensive to produce? Yes. More exciting to watch? Absolutely.
The Voice initially aired 5-6 weeks of Live Shows. Now, only the semi-finals and finals are live. Budget cutting has hurt The Voice. Throwing a bunch of gimmicks at it may not be the answer to ratings woes. Also, It’s telling that they have to poach from American Idol to cast singing show contestants on the coaches panel. Casting Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson for the panel was ALWAYS about using Idol’s former contestants against them. In the early years it made sense. But by now, The Voice should have a few stars of their own.
The Voice 28 airing this fall will follow a traditional format. Studio tickets for Seasons 28 and 29 are available now
The Voice season 28, which premieres this fall, featuring veteran coaches Niall Horan, Reba McEntire, Michael Bublé and Snoop Dogg, will follow the traditional Blinds-Battles-Knockouts-Live Finals format.
As in prior seasons, seasons 28 and 29 will tape at the same time at Universal studios in Universal City, California.. Tickets are available at 1iota.com.
Season 28 Battle Rounds are in the books. The Battles and Knockouts Tickets are available now. Filming takes place August 7 and 8 (Battles) and August 28 and 29 (Knockouts). Get Tickets.
Season 29 Blind Auditions film July 22 and July 23. Get Tickets.
