THE MASKED Singer has announced a major change that will be a first in the show’s history ahead of the highly anticipated season premiere.

Fans of the popular reality competition series have been left scratching their heads and wondering how the show is going to pull off the move, given its current format.

Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Rita Ora and Ken Jeong on the set of The Masked Singer.
Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Rita Ora, and Ken Jeong in the THE MASKED SINGER episode Merging of the MasksCredit: FOX Image Collection via Getty I
On Monday, Fox shared a teaser clip of the upcoming 14th season of The Masked Singer.

In the video, a mystery person is seen stretching while wearing the show’s infamous “Don’t talk to me” black hoodie and a face shield that contestants are required to wear anytime they aren’t on stage.

Text over the video read: “For the first time in The Masked Singer history, you’ll know who is under one of the masks.

“And you’ll be able to follow their journey as no one on the cast or crew knows.”

The show then added that more will be revealed on December 10th, 2025.

Currently, the show centers itself on having masked celebrity contestants perform for an audience without anyone in the crowd – including the judges, the in-studio crowd, or the at-home viewers- knowing who the star really is.

No one is privy to finding out who the singing contestant is until they have been eliminated and take off their mask in front of the audience.

Only a select few members of the crew know the contestant’s true identity leading into the show.

A person in a black hooded outfit with a reflective face shield stands on brick steps under a white arched entryway.
The Masked Singer reveals big change that’s a ‘first in show history’ ahead of new season premiereCredit: Instagram/maskedsingerfox
 

Person in black outfit and reflective face shield standing near a column, with text "You'll know who is under one of the masks."
The masked contestant will be unveiled to the audience ahead of the judgesCredit: Instagram/maskedsingerfox
 

Person wearing a black hoodie with "DON'T TALK TO ME" written on it and a black visor.
The entire cast and crew will also be kept in the dark about the revealCredit: Instagram/maskedsingerfox
However, that is appearing to change in the upcoming season following the show’s surprising announcement.

Fans were left divided by the shakeup, with many wondering how it would even be logistically possible to pull off.

“Sounds impossible the cast would stay off social media long enough,” a fan wrote.

“Cast and crew won’t know… but they will because of editing and releasing the content?” a viewer questioned, while others chimed in with similar concerns about how this change will work

“Technically they won’t because the cast and crew is broad. The judges won’t know the directors might really the only people on the crew that would know is the editing group and odds are because they’re trying to find a way to switch the show up because the format’s gotten boring,” a fan speculated.

“They’re going to make everyone sign NDA’s so no one can leak information odds are they doing this whole switch up thing because the show has gotten stale and repetitive it’s literally the same thing every season,” another insisted.

While others were furious that producers were seemingly “eliminating the whole point of the show” with the change.

However, others took it as a sign that beloved former judge, Nicole Scherzinger, would be returning to the Masked Singer stage.

“My money is on Nicole returning? Please, please, please let that be the case,” one more begged.

Last season, Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole left the show to focus on her Broadway career and was replaced by British pop star Rita Ora.

The Masked Singer has taken an extended 6-month hiatus after previously cranking out two seasons a year since it premiered on Fox in 2019.

Season 13 ended with a bang after Redneck Woman country icon Gretchen Wilson was crowned the winner as the contestant, Pearl.

Pop Star Andy Grammer placed second as Boogie Woogie in the season that aired at the beginning of 2025.

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While the show would typically air another season at the end of 2025, the network shocked fans by announcing it won’t be returning until 2026.

Season 14 of The Masked Singer premieres on Wednesday, January 7th, 2026, at 8 pm ET on Fox.

Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy, Ken Jeong, and Rita Ora in Ghostbusters costumes on The Masked Singer.
Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Rita Ora in the THE MASKED SINGER episode “Ghostbusters Night”Credit: Getty
 

Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger, and Ken Jeong on The Masked Singer.
Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger and Ken Jeong in the “Elton John Night”episode of THE MASKED SINGERCredit: Getty