The field is set, and it’s a lineup that could only happen on Star Search. After weeks of live performances, eight acts are moving on to next week’s finale, representing everything from aerial acrobatics and elite dance crews to powerhouse vocalists, magicians, and stand-up comedians. Each finalist earned their place live and in real time. Now they’re one performance away from the win.
For the first time this season, the outcome will be decided entirely by viewers at home. When the finale streams live on Netflix, the judges step back and the audience takes full control.
The night unfolds in two stages: It begins with four head-to-head matchups between the eight finalists, with viewers scoring each act on a five-star scale — one vote per performer. From there, the top four performers advance to a final multiple-choice vote that determines the winner. All told, there are nine chances for the audience to vote.
Below, check out the final four matchups. Keep scrolling to revisit the standout performers we met along the way.
Performance pair Duo Vespertilio fuses gothic theatrics with high-risk trapeze work, delivering aerial performances built around a serialized narrative. Told in midair, their evolving vampire love story unfolds week by week — blending danger, drama, and precision above the stage.
Led by a world-record holder, Movement 55 is a professional dance collective built on elite technique and shared purpose. Rooted in classical training and powered by fearless connection, the troupe combines pirouettes, precision, and trust, proving that technical mastery and emotional cohesion can move as one.
A gospel-trained singer from Houston, Steven “Spud” Howard is ready to share his voice with the world. With roots in soul, R&B, and more, he began singing at the age of 4.
H3rizon is a Filipina Australian R&B-pop group built on airtight harmonies, self-directed choreography, and more than a decade of real friendship. Raised in Sydney’s Filipino community, where karaoke is a cultural cornerstone, Bernie, Tiara, and Gabby have sung together for years. Now based in Atlanta, the trio is ready to prove on a national stage that their voices speak for themselves.
Eleven-year-old singer Madison Lauren is a Filipina powerhouse from San Francisco who blends soulful emotion with jaw-dropping high notes. She will now have the chance to achieve her dream of hitting the “money notes” on the Star Search stage, just like her heroes before her.
Hailing from Spain, magician Harry Merlin Piper blends comedy and ventriloquism with big-illusion spectacle. Combining polished stage skills and unmistakable enthusiasm, he has the infectious excitement of someone who genuinely loves magic.
After a life-changing car accident left her leg paralyzed, New York native Janine Harouni jokes that she’s doing the one thing that she never thought she could: stand-up. The award-winning comedian and actor is now based in the UK, where her talents have gone global.
A varsity athlete turned Las Vegas magician, TJ Salta blends street-style charisma with close-up sleight of hand and real-time mind reading. His high-energy performances feel less like tricks and more like a superpower demonstrated live.
Weeks 1 and 2 of Star Search delivered unforgettable performances — and some tough goodbyes. While only a select group of acts could advance, every performer who took the stage brought talent, ambition, and heart to the competition.
From powerful vocal moments to bold creative risks, these artists made their mark in a single night, reminding us that Star Search is as much about discovery as it is about winning. Their journeys may be ending here, but their performances won’t be forgotten — and this is far from the last we’ll see of them.
A Filipino American musical comedian, JR De Guzman uses guitar riffs, stories of immigrant-family chaos, and crowd work to create warm, feel-good comedy rooted in lived experience and heart.
An elite youth acro troupe, K-STAR fuses Mongolian contortion, traditional martial arts, and dynamic acrobatics into high-energy performances. The group brings martial arts into a modern arena while keeping the art form rooted in discipline and unity.
Eighteen-year-old Sophie Saylor grew up visually impaired, learning to sing entirely by ear. After winning multiple local competitions and building viral success online, the childcare worker from Muskegon, Michigan, is ready to share her raw and emotionally honest voice on her biggest stage yet.
Kidd and Midas — Amaleke “Kidd” Bradley and Cameron “Midas” Murphy — is a Las Vegas-based dance duo with choreography staples that include gliding and popping. The group’s peformance style transforms street foundations into raw, cinematic storytelling.
A mentalist magician from the Netherlands with over 30 years of experience, Jan Reinder specializes in a unique style of physical and daring mentalism. He has performed all over the world and is planning an original, high-risk physical stunt for Star Search.
An Italian bubble artist and devoted father of four, Luca Cutrupi will bring a unique talent to the Star Search stage. The variety performer transforms simple soap bubbles into glowing, otherworldly magic.
Twelve-year-old vocalist Yair Keydar combines powerful vocals, Broadway flair, and deep emotional connection in every performance.
Nashville-based indie-folk/pop duo Stuck in September is a real-life couple set to compete together for the first time on Star Search. After meeting in a writing room four years ago, Nico and Marisa instantly clicked and created a series of viral covers and now a growing catalog of original music.
Hailing from New Orleans, country vocal trio Honky Tonk Chicks fuses classic country music with high-energy choreography and theatrical performance. Featuring three Broadway veterans, the group hopes to bring glamour, harmony, and live vocals back to country music.
Born in Amsterdam, pop-rock artist Jaïr Faria blends cinematic rock with emotional pop in live performances with strong visuals and personal storytelling that give voice to queer, Black experiences rarely seen front and center in mainstream music.
A 13-year-old bluegrass prodigy, Myles Gee’s old soul channels classic Americana music through jaw-dropping flat-pick guitar work and heartfelt vocals.
A Taiwanese-born mentalist now residing in Los Angeles turned childhood bullying into his superpower. Now, Johnny wields magic as his voice, his armor, and his way of finally being seen.
Houston-based hip-hop dancing and breaking group, Rad Crew is redefining what the art form looks like on the biggest stage. Co-founded by 2024 Olympian Bboy Jeffro, Rad Crew’s style is raw, clean, elevated, and rooted in legacy.
Kiran and Nivi are twin sisters and independent pop artists who have drawn millions of listeners worldwide, blending classical Indian training with contemporary pop. Using precise harmonies and emotional songwriting, they’ll step into the competition looking to expand their global reach.
This fearless tap-dance duo is redefining what tap can be by blending tradition, experimentation, humor, and raw athleticism. Using rhythm as language, they’re pushing an art form beyond nostalgia and into something undeniably modern.
These two former stand-up comedians unexpectedly became roommates and best friends, forming a comedy musical duo that’s guaranteed to get an audience singing and laughing along.
Taiwan-born circus performer Chihhan Chao is taking his dynamic form of diabolo acrobatics to a whole new level. The gold award winner at the inagural 2025 World Diabolo Contest, Chao now shines under the bright lights of Las Vegas.
MIV (Made in Vietnam) is revolutionizing laser performances into a completely new art form by fusing hip-hop, electronic music, and cutting-edge laser technology. Born and raised in Vietnam, the genre-defying duo consider themselves “laser assassins.”
A Southern R&B soul and country vocalist, Bear Bailey was raised inside one of Louisiana’s toughest state prisons, where his mother worked as a corrections officer. He later became a viral “gas station singer” with millions of followers — and now wants to turn the online attention into a respected music career.
From Ukraine to Utah and every step in between, Davyd and Stella turn friendship, sacrifice, and relentless work ethic into championship-level ballroom dance.
A 7-foot-tall comedian from Atlanta, Liam Nelson is bringing a new perspective to the comedy world while shining light on the often underrepresented Marfan syndrome community. He uses humor to help people living with a physical disability feel seen and laugh through their shared experiences.
Just 11 years old, Eric Adrien Williams infuses his Broadway-style vocals with gospel soul. Boasting a natural joy for performing, he balances school, stage work, and childhood while pursuing musical ambitions well beyond his years.
Eight-year-old aerialist and gymnast Kaylen Fairchild brings massive stage confidence in a bite-sized frame. The Brooklyn native combines silks, hoop, hammock, and trapeze with imagination, bravery, and pure childhood joy.
A professional international dance collective, Ladymetry is made up of 12 women moving with unified precision. Known for creating striking geometric illusions through angles, spacing, and synchronization, the group transforms mass movement into spectacle — every formation is engineered for maximum visual impact.
A four-man R&B harmony group — consisting of Tourè, Nixx, Kendahl, and Matt — 2BYG brings old-school soul, real vocals, and brotherhood back into the spotlight. Rooted in classic harmonies, they prove that vocal groups still have a place — and a future — in 2026.
A first-generation Mexican magician raised at the Magic Castle, Fernando Velasco combines large-scale illusion with deeply personal storytelling. Fueled by spectacle, fire, and emotion, his performances walk the line between danger and vulnerability — every illusion carries weight beyond the reveal.
A young Texas powerhouse with a commanding country voice, Blair Kudelka has been performing since she was 5. Known for her standout yodel and confident stage presence, she’s already won awards and competitions, as well as performed at the Grand Ole Opry — an uncommon résumé for a young artist.
By day, Issy Saadeh works as a legal analyst in Manhattan. By night, he’s an aspiring pop artist stepping toward a dream long deferred. As the eldest son of an immigrant Arab family, he prioritized stability over ambition — until now. This moment marks his chance to pursue the music career he put on hold.
A junior dance troupe defined by precision, passion, and genuine sisterhood, The Force delivers athletic movement and storytelling in every routine.
With a lot of life experience and no filter, Susan Rice proves that age doesn’t quiet a voice — it sharpens it. Her comedy is fearless and unapologetically alive.
A stunt dog trainer and her border collie, Macy and Tempo bring high-energy dog dancing, athletic tricks, and undeniable joy to the stage. Their performances blend precision training with playful chemistry — showcasing what’s possible when trust leads the routine.
Voting happens live — right from your TV. Here’s how it works:
Want a step-by-step walk-through?
Read Tudum’s complete guide to voting on Star Search.
