What Are the Judges’ Callbacks on “AGT”? All About What the New Round Means for Contestants

Emily BlackwoodTue, July 28, 2026 at 11:30 PM UTC

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‘America’s Got Talent’ judges Howie Mandel, Mel B, Sofia Vergara and Simon CowellCredit: Chris Haston/NBC -

America’s Got Talent season 21 introduces the Judges’ Callbacks round, giving 23 acts a second chance to perform

Each judge works with contestants in unique locations, including Simon Cowell’s Malibu home and Howie Mandel’s podcast studio

Celebrity guest judges include Nikki Glaser, Sebastián Yatra, Normani and Emma Bunton of the Spice Girls

America’s Got Talent looks a little different this season.

Ahead of season 21, NBC announced that the reality competition series would feature a new round between the auditions and live shows called the Judges’ Callbacks. This twist allows acts hand-picked by judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofía Vergara and Melanie “Mel B” Brown to audition one more time before the panel chooses who will advance.

“Once the Auditions are over, we have to go back and watch the Auditions over and over again to determine who we think should be the finalists, and that’s a really hard part of when we do this,” Cowell, who also serves as an executive producer on AGT, told NBC Insider in June 2026.

He added that spending 30 to 40 minutes more with each act was “really helpful” in getting to know them and in choosing the finalists. “They told me a lot about themselves and why they came on the show,” Cowell continued. “It was really, really fascinating.”

So, what exactly happens during the Judges’ Callbacks round on America’s Got Talent? Here’s everything to know about the season 21 twist, including when those episodes will air and which celebrity guest judges will appear.

What are the Judges’ Callbacks on America’s Got Talent season 21?

Change Raptures on ‘America’s Got Talent’Credit: Trae Patton/NBC

The Judges Callbacks is a new round on AGT season 21, during which 23 acts will get a second chance to work closely with the judges and perform for them one more time before they announce the finalists for the live shows.

Cowell told NBC Insider that he was the first to say yes when a producer posed the idea.

“So, one of the producers said, ‘What if each Judge took a number of contestants who they like, but would like to see a second time?’ ” he recalled. “And I thought, Actually that’s a really, really good idea. So I held my hand up first and I said, ‘I’d like to see those contestants. I’d like to get to know them better.’ ”

Cowell added, “I really learnt a lot from spending time with them. I spent one day with all of them just talking and getting to know them, a lot about them. And then the following day they all performed in my garden.”

Where are the America’s Got Talent Judges’ Callbacks episodes filmed?

According to Deadline, the Judges’ Callbacks episodes were filmed in four unique locations across the United States and England.

Brown will host her picks in her hometown of Leeds, while Vergara will work with hers in Beverly Hills.

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Mandel is taking his group to his Los Angeles podcast studio and the legendary Laugh Factory comedy club.

Cowell’s selected acts joined him at his home in Malibu, an intimate setting he said was unlike anything he’s experienced.

“So you’ll see the difference of how we all are with the contestants,” he told NBC Insider. “And just seeing this particular act in my garden was one of the most surreal moments, I think, of my career. You’ll see what I mean when you watch the episode.”

Who are the celebrity judges in the Judges’ Callbacks round on America’s Got Talent?

Nikki Glaser; Normani; Emma BuntonCredit: Taylor Hill/Getty; John Nacion/WireImage; Karwai Tang/WireImage

Each AGT judge will be paired up with one or two celebrities to help them make their final pick.

Comedian Nikki Glaser will join Mandel, singers Lele Pons and Sebastián Yatra will team up with Vergara, and pop star Normani and producer Poo Bear will sit with Cowell.

The Judges’ Callbacks round will also feature a Spice Girls reunion as Brown will reunite with Emma Bunton.

“Cats out the bag ….i asked Emma…..’BABY SPICE’ To be MY special guest judge on Americas Biggest TV show #AGT,” Brown captioned a July 2026 Instagram selfie with Bunton. ”First ever judges call backs 😊 and youuuuuuu are gonna LUV it ! DO NUT miss it !!!”

When will the America’s Got Talent Judges’ Callbacks episodes air?

Following the “Live Acts Revealed” special on Tuesday, July 28, AGT judges will invite a small group of acts to perform for them one more time before the live shows.

These Judges’ Callbacks performances will air on August 4 and August 11 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Where can I watch America’s Got Talent?

Cat Williams on ‘America’s Got Talent’Credit: Trae Patton/NBC

New episodes of AGT will air live on NBC and can be streamed the next day on Peacock.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”