"A strategic move": Fox representative reveals why The Masked Singer Season 14 is skipping fall release 

Fox's hit guessing game The Masked Singer is breaking tradition after 13 consecutive seasons. Despite airing twice yearly since its January 2019 debut, the network has decided to pause the show's fall 2025 schedule, with Season 14 now planned for January 2026. This marks the first time the celebrity singing competition will miss a scheduled run.

A Fox spokesperson explained the shift to Deadline:

"Debuting the new season in January is a strategic move to give ample runway for America's favorite guessing game and allow us to creatively look at enhancing the show with the biggest names at the center of it."

The announcement comes just as Season 13 wrapped up on May 7, 2025, featuring four mystery celebrities behind the Boogie Woogie, Coral, Mad Scientist Monster, and Pearl masks, following a season that already unmasked stars like Cedric the Entertainer, Flavor Flav, and James Van Der Beek.

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The Masked Singer Season 14 schedule change explained

After 170+ episodes spanning six years, the schedule change appears designed to breathe new life into the Korean-inspired format. The show, based on MBC's King of Mask Singer, has maintained impressive ratings throughout its run but faces the challenge of sustaining audience interest as it enters "middle age."

Industry insiders suggest to Deadline that the extended break could help producers secure higher-profile celebrities for future seasons.

The extra preparation time might also allow for fresh twists to the format, which features disguised stars performing while panelists Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, Robin Thicke, and Rita Ora attempt to guess their identities.

While fans might worry about the future of their twice-yearly fix of costumed celebrities, Fox has assured viewers this isn't a permanent reduction. According to Deadline, the network plans to return to the biannual schedule in future seasons.

The shift aligns with Fox's strategy of launching major programming in January. Recent years have seen the network debut shows like Going Dutch, Doc, and unscripted hits like Gordon Ramsay's Next Level Chef during the first quarter.

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The industry trend and what lies ahead

The Masked Singer joins other reality TV giants that have scaled back from biannual schedules. While NBC's The Voice and CBS's Survivor still maintain two seasons yearly, shows like The Amazing Race (since 2016) and Dancing with the Stars (since 2019) have moved to annual formats.

Despite the scheduling change, The Masked Singer remains a ratings powerhouse. The series has consistently ranked among the top 10 unscripted entertainment programs with adults 18-49 (Live+7) during each of its six broadcast seasons.

Fox has promised a "super-charged" Season 14 when the show returns, suggesting the extended development period will be put to good use.

The show continues under the production of Fox Alternative Entertainment, with Craig Plestis (who brought the Korean format to America), Nick Cannon, and showrunner Rosie Seitchik serving as executive producers.

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Season 13 of The Masked Singer is now available for streaming on Hulu.