American Idol’s New Platinum Ticket, Explained

American Idol will introduce the Platinum Ticket this season, but what is it and what does it do? 

The Platinum Ticket, which is given to contestants during the audition rounds, helps them get to Hollywood Week, The Wrap reported.

American Idol host Ryan Seacrest recently took to Twitter to explain more about the season’s new feature in a short video.

“We all know the Golden Ticket gets you to Hollywood Week,” Seacrest said. “But this year, this is historic, for the first time, we have the Platinum Ticket. There are only three of these for the entire season, and if the judges vote unanimously for you to get this as a contestant, then you bypass the first round of Hollywood Week. I mean, it is, it’s a game-changer.”

Find out who the judges give one of our platinum tickets to on @americanidol starting Sunday night on @ABC! pic.twitter.com/VaVuNR9xpN

— Ryan Seacrest (@RyanSeacrest) February 20, 2022

Idol judge Katy Perry also explained more about the Platinum Ticket via the Television Critics Association (TCA) Winter Press Tour. Perry’s comments were published by the Wrap.

Like Seacrest, Perry said that the ticket gets the contestants to Hollywood Week. The ticket also gives them some other advantages.

“They get to basically observe from the box seats at the theater—one day, they get to rest their voice, strategize, check out the competition, and select who they want to duet with,” Perry shared. “They get a tiny advantage because they’re the cream of the crop.”

In addition, the Platinum Ticket makes an appearance during a new promotional video for this season of Idol.

“See that wall over there?” Perry tells a contestant at the 1:44 mark. “There is one Platinum Ticket that gets given in each city we go to. You get to go to Hollywood Week, but you get a little shortcut because it’s the twentieth year of creating superstars, and you’re a superstar.”

Idol has been teasing the new season on social media ahead of its Sunday (Feb. 27) premiere.

“Our search for #TheNextIdol launches THIS SUNDAY at 8/7c! [rocket ship emoji, star emoji] Intrepid space explorers @ryanseacrest, @lionelrichie, @lukebryan & @katyperry are all back for our historic 20^th season!! [blue heart emoji, microphone emoji, smiley face emoji, alien emoji]

Our search for #TheNextIdol launches THIS SUNDAY at 8/7c! 🚀🌟

Intrepid space explorers @ryanseacrest, @lionelrichie, @lukebryan & @katyperry are all back for our historic 20th season!! 💙🎤🤩👽 pic.twitter.com/kD3UfcSkTF

— American Idol (@AmericanIdol) February 21, 2022

Ahead of the Sunday premiere, Idol shared an audition from this season.

Singers Jimmie Allen and Bebe Rexha will serve as Idol’s celebrity guest mentors following the news that former mentor and country radio show host, Bobby Bones was leaving the franchise.

American Idol airs on Sunday, February 27 at 8/7 c on ABC.