Former One Direction star Niall Horan may be stepping away from The Voice for season 29—but he’s leaving fans with a big clue about what’s coming next in his career.
The Voice wrapped its 28th season in December 2025, with Horan once again proving his coaching prowess. Fans were surprised to learn that while the show returns on February 23, 2026, Niall will not be back in the red chair for season 29. Instead, Kelly Clarkson, Adam Levine, and John Legend will serve as the show’s coaches as the competition debuts a refreshed format.
Naturally, viewers began asking one big question: why is Niall sitting this season out?
Horan’s absence is especially notable given his incredible track record. He won every season he coached—guiding Gina Miles to victory in season 23, Huntley in season 24, and most recently Aiden Ross in season 28. But while he won’t be mentoring artists on TV this winter, it appears his focus has shifted back to his own music.
Since releasing his album The Show in 2023, fans have been eagerly waiting for what’s next—and Niall recently hinted that new music may be closer than expected. In a December 2025 interview with People for an Instagram video, he confirmed that he’s been spending plenty of time in the studio.
“Oh, there will be music, for sure. There’s no doubt,” Horan said. “I’m so excited about it. I’ve had a really fun year in the studio. It feels like the album of a 32-year-old—which I don’t think I’ve done before. There’s a maturity to it that I haven’t had before.”
Fans quickly flooded the comments with excitement. “Omg!! We’re gonna get new Niall music soon 😍,” one wrote. Another added, “This just made my entire year 😭,” while others pledged their support for whatever he releases next.
Even as he steps away from The Voice, Horan remains proud of his time on the show. Speaking to Parade in December 2025, he reflected on his experience fondly.
“It’s been amazing,” he said. “I’ve been so lucky with the artists I’ve worked with. The teams I’ve been able to curate over these three seasons have been incredible, and America has been so good to us—voting me the winner three times.”
While fans may miss seeing Niall on The Voice this season, it’s clear his next chapter is already taking shape—and new music appears to be leading the way.