The Voice announces a major format change and a new Mic Drop feature heading into the Knockout rounds
The show has made numerous format changes that have received mixed reviews from viewers
THE Voice has announced a significant change in format and a new Mic Drop feature going into the Knockout rounds.
The changeup was revealed on Monday’s episode of the singing competition series following the completion of the Battle rounds.
After an incredible duel between trio Dek of Hearts and young singer Jack Austin, in which both were saved – Coach Niall Horan named Dek of Hearts the winner while Michael Bublé used his only steal on Jack – a major show change was revealed.
Instead of the coaches being awarded one steal and one save as usual in the Knockouts, there will be no second chances for the contestants.
Now, all steals and saves were taken off the table, making it a true matchup of the best singer wins.
To make the competition even more interesting, a new feature, the Mic Drop, was also introduced.
In this segment, each of the four coaches, including Reba McEntire and Snoop Dogg, can select one artist from their team to receive a Mic Drop.
America will then vote for those four recipients, and the singer with the most votes will perform at the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day 2026.
This is the first time that such an offering has been made available to a contestant on the show, especially so early in the season.
FANS’ REACTIONS
Fans reacted to the switch on social media, with many sharing their mixed feelings about the new format.
“No saves or steals is making me nervous,” one person wrote on X.
“The micdrop thing sounds cool,” another said.
“The Knockout transition ate!” remarked a third.
Monday also marked the start of the Knockouts, with 32 artists left in the competition.
A DIFFERENT SEASON
The Voice has made multiple format changes throughout the season, and this most likely won’t be the last.
A production source exclusively told The U.S. Sun that the show is “figuring it out as they go,” and more adjustments are expected to keep things interesting.
Earlier this month, when the Battle rounds began, the contestants were thrown for a loop when it was revealed that they would be choosing their own opponents rather than the coaches pairing them up.
The Blind Auditions also saw some changes, as host Carson Daly introduced the new “Carson Callback” card, which allowed him to choose a singer who received no chair turns to get another chance to audition.
The card went to Ryan Mitchell, who joined Team Reba after winning her over his second time on stage.
It’s safe to say that the rest of Season 28 will probably be altered as well, although it’s unknown what changes are in store.
The Voice is already gearing up for Season 29, which will premiere in early 2026 with a new coaches panel.
Kelly Clarkson, Adam Levine, and John Legend are planned to return to their red chairs after each spent multiple past seasons as coaches.
