The Voice is changing the game for its 29th season. Titled The Voice: Battle of Champions, the new season brings back three fan-favorite coaches for a high-stakes competition that introduces major new rules and a fresh format. For the first time, the show will feature a three-coach panel, with Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, and Adam Levine all returning to the iconic red chairs. The season is set to premiere on Monday, February 23, 2026, on NBC.
The Coaches Lineup
Season 29 features a powerhouse trio of coaches, all of whom are past winners of the show. This marks the first time in the show’s history that the panel is composed entirely of coaches who have previously guided an artist to victory.
Kelly Clarkson is a four-time Voice champion, the most wins of any female coach in the show’s history. She will be filming this season alongside her daytime talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, through a coordinated production schedule. Adam Levine, an original coach from Season 1, returns with three wins under his belt. His bromance with Blake Shelton was a longtime fixture of the show. John Legend, an EGOT winner, rounds out the panel. He has one Voice win from his debut season as a coach.
The dynamic between these three veterans is expected to be intensely strategic and competitive, as each has the expertise to navigate the season’s new rules.
Major Format Changes and New Rules
The Voice: Battle of Champions overhauls the traditional format, introducing significant changes to every single round of the competition, from the Blind Auditions to the Finale.
The Blind Auditions and The Triple Turn Competition
The first major change happens during the Blind Auditions. Coaches will compete in a Triple Turn Competition, where they will vie to secure the most artists who cause all three coaches to turn their chairs. The coach who wins this competition gains a special advantage to use in the next round. Each coach will end the Blind Auditions with a team of 10 artists, slightly smaller than in previous seasons.
The Battle Rounds and The Super Steal
The winner of the Triple Turn Competition doesn’t just get bragging rights. They earn a powerful new tool called the Super Steal for the Battle Rounds. This game-changing advantage can be used only once during the Battles. When activated, it negates any other coach’s attempt to steal an artist, guaranteeing the winning coach secures the artist for their own team.
The Knockouts and The In-Season All-Star Competition
The Knockouts will see one of the most exciting twists, blending the past with the present. Each coach will bring back two artists from their former teams to compete in an In-Season All-Star Competition. These returning veteran artists will represent their coaches in head-to-head sing-offs.
Adding to the nostalgia, original Voice coach CeeLo Green will return to the show to judge these All-Star sing-offs. His decisions will determine which coach has the most sing-off wins. The victorious coach is then guaranteed to have two of their current Season 29 artists advance to the Finale, a huge advantage.
The Semi-Finals and Finale Voting
The competition culminates with the Top 9 performing in the Semi-Finals, leading to a Top 4 Finale. In another first for the show, a new voting block will be introduced. This group will be comprised of superfans and past Voice artists who will be part of the in-studio audience. They will vote for their favorites in real time during the live shows, adding a new layer to the competition.
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Premiere Date and Schedule
The Voice: Battle of Champions premieres on Monday, February 23, 2026, at 9/8c on NBC. The show is kicking off with a special schedule for its first week, airing three two-hour episodes:
- Monday, February 23 at 9 p.m. ET
- Wednesday, February 25 at 8 p.m. ET
- Thursday, February 26 at 8 p.m. ET
After this premiere week, the show will return to its regular weekly time slot, airing on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET beginning March 2. New episodes will be available to stream the next day on Peacock.
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