What happened in The Voice Season 26? Recap and highlights

In a dazzling two-night finale that had viewers on the edge of their seats, The Voice Season 26 crowned its winner on December 10, 2024. The finale showcased the Top 5 contestants giving their all with both up-tempo bangers and soul-stirring ballads, but it was Sofronio Vasquez who ultimately claimed the title, making history as the show's first foreign male winner and second Asian champion.

The victory was particularly sweet for rookie coach Michael Bublé, who managed to pull off what veteran coaches spend seasons on The Voice dreaming about – winning on his first try and securing both first and second place with his team members Vasquez and Shye.

The Voice Season 26 finale featured the customary coach-contestant duets, though we can only imagine the interesting mix of Snoop Dogg's rap styling with his finalist's vocals (hopefully, they found some middle ground that didn't involve Snoop trying to hit those high notes). The season proved to be a masterclass in talent and entertainment, with some unexpected twists and turns along the way.

Who were the coaches in this season of The Voice?

The coaching panel got a fresh makeover this season, welcoming Michael Bublé and Snoop Dogg to their big red chairs alongside returning coaches Reba McEntire and Gwen Stefani. The unlikely combination of a crooner, a rapper, a country legend, and a pop icon created an entertaining dynamic that kept viewers guessing. Bublé, apparently not content with just showing up, decided to channel his inner overachiever by tying the record for most four-chair turns for a debut coach.

What all happened in The Voice Season 26?

Blind Auditions:

This season of The Voice introduced the "Coach Replay" feature, essentially giving eliminated artists a second chance at stardom – because apparently, the regular format wasn't dramatic enough.

Gwen Stefani made history by securing six four-chair turns, the most ever for a female coach in the show's 26 seasons. One might say she had her fellow coaches reaching for the block button faster than a contestant can say "I've been singing since I was three."

Battle Rounds: The Plot Thickens

The battle rounds maintained their traditional format, though notably without guest advisors – perhaps suggesting the coaches were feeling particularly confident in their mentoring abilities. The stealing mechanism remained in place, leading to some theatrical coach-vs-coach showdowns that would make Shakespeare proud in this season of The Voice.

Knockouts: The Great Disappearing Act

The knockout rounds brought unexpected drama when not one, but two contestants decided to pull a vanishing act. Tanner Frick from Team Bublé and Mor Ilderton from Team Gwen withdrew from the competition, marking the first time multiple contestants said "thanks, but no thanks" in a single season of The Voice. Jennifer Hudson and Sting stepped in as mega mentors, presumably to ensure the remaining contestants stayed put.

Playoffs: The Final Push

The playoffs featured an interesting mix of guest mentors, including gymnastics GOAT Simone Biles advising Team Snoop (because if anyone knows about nailing a perfect performance, it's her) and Machine Gun Kelly mentoring Team Gwen. The round determined the Top 8 who would advance to the live shows, with each coach selecting their top two performers.

Live Shows: The Home Stretch

The live shows brought a unique twist with contestants performing both solo numbers and Sting/The Police duets, with the legend himself providing bass accompaniment. The Top 8 was eventually whittled down to the Final 5, with Michael Bublé achieving the impressive feat of having two artists in the finale – not bad for a rookie coach.

In the end, Season 26 proved to be a landmark season for The Voice, breaking records and setting new precedents. From Bublé's success to Vasquez's historic win, the season delivered entertainment, surprises, and enough talent to fill a dozen recording studios.

It also proved that whether you're a smooth-crooning Canadian, a rap legend, a country music icon, or a pop princess, there's room for everyone in those big red chairs – as long as you know when to hit that button.