Country star Luke Bryan is gearing up for a packed year. He’s set to return to the judges panel on “American Idol” season 24, premiering on Monday, Jan. 26, and he’s also hitting the road for a massive summer tour, featuring a lineup of talented acts.
Bryan announced his “Word on the Street Tour” on Instagram, with rising country stars like Karly Scott Collins, Drew Baldridge, Zach John King, and others joining him as opening acts. The tour is set to kick off in May and run through September.
Luke Bryan Announces His ‘Word on the Street’ 2026 Tour Featuring Special Guests
Luke Bryan just announced his 2026 summer tour, bringing along several rising country artists as opening acts. According to Taste of Country, the “Word on the Street Tour” will hit cities across the U.S. and Canada, kicking off with a two-night event in Gilford, New Hampshire, on May 29 and 30.
From there, Bryan will perform in major cities including Myrtle Beach, Fort Worth, Buffalo, Nashville, Long Beach, Charlotte, Tampa, and more, before closing out the tour in East Troy, Wisconsin, on Sept. 26.
A poster for Bryan’s summer tour also featured all the headlining acts, which will vary by city. They include Drew Baldridge, Karley Scott Collins, Lanie Gardner, Randall King, Zach John King, Shane Profitt, Raelynn, Lauren Watkins, Jake Worthington and DJ Rock.
Tickets go on sale on Jan. 30.
Bryan Is Back on ‘American Idol’ Season 24: All the Major Changes Coming to the New Season
Before Bryan hits the stage to kick off his summer tour, he’ll be busy selecting the newest “American Idol” winner when the show returns on Monday, Jan. 26, for season 24. The new season will also see major changes, including moving Hollywood Week to Nashville.
In an interview with Deadline, showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick discussed the major change, sharing, “The music industry in Nashville is just as strong as it is in L.A., too. It is a hub and a dream for people to go to.”
In fact, all the auditions took place at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University in Nashville, rather than having the judges, who include Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood, travel to different cities.
Another huge change is the introduction of an “Ohana Round,” where 30 hopefuls will sing for a group of “industry tastemakers,” who will then narrow the contestants down to 20. The round will take place at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii, during Hollywood Week.
On top of that, Idol will make a historic change to its voting process. Wolflick told Deadline that viewers will be able to vote for their favorite contestants via social media, aiming to attract a new generation of fans. The show will continue to offer texts and phone voting as well.
“We have to meet the audience where they are. Back in 2002 when the show began, texting was the new hot thing,” she shared, adding, “We also have to meet the technology where it is, as well. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to vote for their favorites, weigh in from their couch with their second screen, in real time.”
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