‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 21 Episode 16 Release Date and Time
‘America’s Got Talent’ is barreling toward its finale, and the live rounds keep raising the stakes with every passing Tuesday. Season 21 has already delivered two weeks of nail biting Quarterfinal performances, and now fans are looking ahead to the next chapter of the competition.
With voting power fully in the hands of the audience this season, episode 16 promises another night where careers hang on a phone screen and a single tap of a button.
‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 21 Episode 16 Release Date and Time
Episode 16, titled ‘Quarterfinals 3’, is set to air on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. This episode marks the third of four Quarterfinal weeks that make up the live rounds of ‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 21.
Eleven fresh acts will take the stage that night, competing for a spot among the coveted semifinalists. As with the previous rounds, one lucky act will bypass the public vote entirely thanks to the Live Show Golden Buzzer, which sends a performer straight to the finals.
The remaining ten acts will need to rely on votes from viewers at home. America will then need to wait for the results episode to find out which three of those acts survive the round and continue their journey on ‘America’s Got Talent’.
Where to Watch ‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 21 Episode 16?
‘America’s Got Talent’ airs live on NBC every Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET during its Quarterfinal run. Viewers who miss the live broadcast can catch the episode the following day on Peacock, where new episodes typically become available for streaming.
Fans watching live also have the option to tune in through the NBC app on a smart TV using their cable provider credentials, or through Peacock Premium Plus. This flexibility has made it easier for fans to keep up with ‘America’s Got Talent’ regardless of their schedule, especially during a season with as many live show nights as this one.
Voting remains open to viewers using the NBC website, the ‘AGT’ mobile app, or TikTok comments, with the window typically closing early Wednesday morning ahead of the results show. That results episode for Quarterfinals 3 is expected to follow the same pattern set earlier in the season, airing the day after the performance show.
This season has notably shifted power almost entirely into the hands of the audience. There are no Wild Cards or Saves this year, meaning judges cannot override a public vote once it happens, aside from their one Golden Buzzer use per week.
What to Expect From Quarterfinals 3 on ‘America’s Got Talent’
The third week of Quarterfinals follows a format that has stayed consistent since the live shows began. Eleven acts perform in front of judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofía Vergara, and Mel B, all hoping to impress both the panel and the millions of viewers voting from home.
One judge will have the power to hit the Live Show Golden Buzzer during the episode, instantly sending their favorite act of the night directly to the finals without needing a single vote. That leaves the other ten acts fighting for just three remaining spots in the semifinals, based entirely on the results of the public vote.
Previous weeks of ‘AGT’ Season 21 have already produced plenty of buzzworthy moments, including strong vocal performances and acts that split the judges’ opinions. Given how unpredictable the earlier Quarterfinal rounds have been, episode 16 is expected to bring another mix of music, comedy, magic, and specialty acts vying for America’s attention.
With the Quarterfinals wrapping up the week after this episode airs, Quarterfinals 3 represents one of the last chances for lesser known acts to make a lasting impression before the competition narrows down to the semifinalist pool. Fans should expect another emotional night as performers put everything on the line for a shot at the ‘America’s Got Talent’ title.
Which act do you think deserves the Golden Buzzer treatment when Quarterfinals 3 hits the stage on September 1?
