Australian Idol 2027 Auditions: New Judge Morgan Evans, Dates & How to Apply (Season 12)

Last updated: August 29, 2026

• Status: Season 12 confirmed for 2027 on Seven Network and 7plus
• New judge: Morgan Evans, replacing Kyle Sandilands
• Returning judges: Marcia Hines, Amy Shark
• Returning hosts: Ricki-Lee Coulter, Scott Tweedie
• Where to apply: idolauditions.com.au
• Age eligibility: 15 to 35 years old (confirm exact cut-off date once 2027 applications open)
• Expected premiere window: Late January to early February 2027
• Expected application window: Mid-to-late 2026, based on prior season patterns

Australian Idol Season 12 will bring its biggest judging panel shake-up in years, with country star Morgan Evans stepping in for Kyle Sandilands. Here’s a complete, regularly updated guide to auditioning for the 2027 season — eligibility, dates, judges, and how to apply.

Is Australian Idol Returning for a 2027 Season?

Yes. Australian Idol has been renewed for a twelfth season, set to air in 2027 on Seven Network and its streaming platform 7plus. This continues the show’s annual run since its 2023 revival, when Seven acquired the format from Network 10.

Seven has not yet published a full press-style renewal announcement the way it has in past years (for example, the Season 11 renewal was confirmed live on-air in March 2025), but the confirmed judging panel change for 2027 — reported in August 2026 — makes the season’s return official in practice.

Season 11 (2026) wrapped its grand final on April 14, 2026, with 21-year-old Kesha Oayda from Jindabyne, NSW, taking the title as the show’s first female winner in more than 18 years.

Who Are the Australian Idol 2027 Judges?

The Australian Idol 2027 judging panel is Marcia Hines, Amy Shark, and new addition Morgan Evans, with Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie returning as hosts. This marks the first panel change since the show’s Seven Network revival in 2023.

Why Did Kyle Sandilands Leave Australian Idol?

Kyle Sandilands announced in July 2026 that he was stepping down from Australian Idol “for the good of the brand,” following an on-air dispute earlier in the year with KIIS 106.5FM co-host Jackie “O” Henderson that sparked an online campaign against him.

Sandilands had judged the show since its 2023 reboot and previously appeared on the original series from 2005 to 2009, replacing original judge Ian “Dicko” Dickson.

Who Is Morgan Evans?

Morgan Evans is an ARIA Award-winning and Golden Guitar-winning Australian country singer-songwriter who grew up in Eleebana, in the Lake Macquarie region of NSW, and now divides his time between Nashville and Australia.

He performed his single “Letting You Go” on the Australian Idol 2026 grand finale before being announced as the show’s new 2027 judge. In a statement, Evans said he was looking forward to helping new artists find their voice, drawing on experience that goes back to teaching guitar in Newcastle.

Marcia Hines and Amy Shark both return to the panel for 2027, alongside hosts Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie, both of whom have been with the show since its Seven Network revival.

When Do Australian Idol 2027 Auditions Open?

Australian Idol 2027 audition dates have not been officially confirmed as of August 2026. Based on the pattern from the last three seasons, online applications typically open mid-year, with in-person callbacks and judge auditions running from September through the end of the year, ahead of a late-January or early-February premiere.

Season	Applications Opened	Auditions/Filming	Premiere Date
Season 10 (2025)	Mid-2024	Post-September 2024	February 2, 2025
Season 11 (2026)	Mid-2025	Post-September 2025	February 2, 2026
Season 12 (2027, projected)	Expected mid-to-late 2026	Expected post-September 2026	Expected late January–early February 2027

This page will be updated as soon as Seven Network or idolauditions.com.au confirms official 2027 dates — bookmark or check back for the latest.

Who Is Eligible to Audition for Australian Idol 2027?

To audition for Australian Idol 2027, applicants generally need to be between 15 and 35 years old, an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident living in Australia, free of any existing record label or TV contracts, and available for the full production period.

Exact age cut-off dates and availability windows are confirmed each year when applications open — treat the figures below as a guide based on recent seasons until Seven publishes official 2027 terms.

• Age: 15 to 35 years old (exact cut-off date confirmed with each season’s official terms)
• Citizenship/residency: Australian or New Zealand citizen, or permanent resident living in Australia
• Contracts: No current agreement with a record label, management company, or other TV show
• Availability: Free for filming roughly September 2026 through mid-2027
• Health & background: Must pass health screenings and background/criminal record checks
• Under 18: Parental or legal guardian consent required

Note: some third-party audition guides list inconsistent age ranges (15–29 in some cases, 15–35 in others). The 15–35 range reflects the most recent confirmed eligibility criteria from the show’s official application process — always verify against idolauditions.com.au once 2027 terms are published.

How to Apply for Australian Idol 2027 — Step by Step

1. Visit idolauditions.com.au and create an account when 2027 applications open.
2. Complete the application form with personal details — name, date of birth, contact information, location, and background.
3. Record your video audition. Recent seasons have required a high-quality video of one song from a pre-selected list plus one song of your own choice.
4. Tell your story. Applications typically ask about your job, passions, challenges, and why you want to be on Idol — this shapes how producers frame your audition.
5. Submit and wait for callbacks. Successful applicants move to producer sessions and, eventually, in-person judge auditions.
6. Alternative: nominate someone else. Via idolauditions.com.au/nominate, you can submit a public video link of a singer you think should audition, along with your own contact details.

Where Will Australian Idol 2027 Auditions Be Held?

City-by-city audition locations for 2027 have not yet been announced. In recent seasons, in-person auditions have toured major Australian cities, with individual judges occasionally visiting regional or remote locations for standalone tryouts.

This section will be updated with confirmed cities as soon as they’re released.

How to Prepare for Your Australian Idol Audition

• Choose songs that show range and personality — a ballad to showcase vocal control, plus something that reflects your individual style, works better than an overdone classic.
• Nail your intro. A confident 20–30 second opener (“Hi, I’m [name] from [city], and this song means…”) sets the tone before you sing.
• Prioritise clear audio over fancy visuals. Natural lighting and clean sound matter more to judges reviewing video submissions than production value.
• Be authentic in your written application. Judges and producers often reference your story — job, challenges, motivation — when shaping your on-camera moment.
• Practice solo. Band members must audition individually; group performances aren’t accepted.