The Voice Season 30 Cut Week Explained: What Replaced the Knockouts, First-In Button and More

Cut Week is the new round in The Voice Season 30 that replaces the Knockouts and the Playoffs. It is the only round between the Battles and the Live Shows, it airs as a two-hour episode on Monday, November 2 on NBC, and NBC calls it the biggest elimination in the show’s history. Below is exactly how it works, how America’s vote builds the Top 13, and the other big changes this season, from the First-In button to the TikTok Artist of the Season award.

Last updated on October 15, 2026. The Battles are still under way, with Part 3 on Monday, October 19. Follow every result on our Battles results page and see who is out on our eliminations list.

The Voice Season 30 Cut Week at a Glance

Detail	Cut Week
What it replaces	The Knockouts and the Playoffs
When it airs	Monday, November 2, as a two-hour episode on NBC, with next-day streaming on Peacock
Artists going in	28, which is seven per team: six Battle winners and one stolen artist
Straight to the Live Shows	Two artists from each coach
Fighting for one spot	The other five artists on each team
After the coaches choose	America votes one more artist in, which makes a Top 13
What comes next	Six weeks of Live Shows, then the finale

How Cut Week Works on The Voice Season 30

1. Blind Auditions: every coach finishes with 12 artists, 48 in total. Meet them in our Season 30 contestants list.
2. Battles: each coach keeps half of the team, which is six Battle winners. Every coach also has one Steal, so each team ends with seven artists and 28 artists reach Cut Week.
3. Straight to the Lives: each coach sends two artists directly to the Live Shows.
4. The five-artist fight: the other five artists on each team compete for one more place.
5. The Top 12: each team’s winner joins its two direct picks, so every team has three artists in the Live Shows.
6. America’s vote: once the Top 12 is set, viewers vote one more artist into the Live Shows, which makes the Top 13.

Counting the artist America votes in, 28 artists go into Cut Week and 13 come out, which is why NBC describes it as the biggest elimination in Voice history.

What Replaced the Knockouts on The Voice Season 30?

In earlier seasons, the road from the Battles to the Live Shows ran through two more rounds, the Knockouts and the Playoffs. Season 30 removes both and replaces them with Cut Week, so the show now goes straight from the Battles to Cut Week and then to the Live Shows. Here is the full road to the finale this season.

Round	What happens
Blind Auditions	Coaches build teams of 12, with the new First-In button replacing the Block.
Battles	Two artists from the same team sing a duet, the coach picks a winner, and each coach has one Steal.
Cut Week	Two artists per team go straight through, five fight for one spot, and America votes one more artist in.
Live Shows	Six weeks of live performances, with results announced the same night, then the finale.

When Does Cut Week Air?

Cut Week airs on Monday, November 2 as a two-hour episode on NBC, and it streams on Peacock the next day. It also marks a time change: the show moves to 9 p.m. ET from Cut Week and keeps that slot for the rest of the season. Until then, the Battles air at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, October 19 and Monday, October 26.

The Voice now airs one episode a week, on Mondays, because NBC’s NBA games take over the Tuesday slot from October 20. When the Live Shows begin, they will be simulcast on NBC and Peacock in all time zones for the first time. See the full calendar and time zones in our how to watch The Voice Season 30 guide.

What Else Is New in The Voice Season 30?

The First-In button

The First-In button is the new Blind Auditions twist that replaced the Block. A coach who turns first can use it to claim an artist for their team before the artist chooses, even if other coaches turn their chairs afterward. Each coach can use it only once, and That means there are no Blocks this season. All four coaches have now used their button:

• Queen Latifah was the first to use it, on 16-year-old Mia Knight in the season premiere.
• Kelly Clarkson used hers on Johnnie Kapua, who had also drawn a turn from Queen Latifah.
• Adam Levine used his on Amanda Mikkel after her “Moon River” audition.
• Riley Green held his the longest and then used it on 15-year-old Allie Rae.

TikTok Artist of the Season

The TikTok Artist of the Season is a fan-driven award that is separate from the competition. It does not affect who advances or who wins The Voice. NBC counts the likes and direct shares on official Season 30 performance posts from The Voice’s TikTok account, and the finalist with the most points is named TikTok Artist of the Season. The title is the only award, with no cash prize, and the winner is expected to be revealed in the finale.

• How points work: every eligible like or direct share is worth one point, and only posts marked as eligible count.
• Who can win: only artists who reach the finale. Points for artists eliminated earlier are ignored.
• Which rounds count: the Blind Auditions, the Battles and Live Shows 1 to 5. Cut Week is not included.
• Tiebreaker: a tie goes to the artist with more likes.

Round	Tracking window (ET)
Blind Auditions	Sept. 21 to Oct. 13, 2026
Battle Rounds	Oct. 12 to Nov. 2, 2026
Live Show 1	Nov. 9 to 16, 2026
Live Show 2	Nov. 16 to 23, 2026
Live Show 3	Nov. 23 to 30, 2026
Live Show 4	Nov. 30 to Dec. 7, 2026
Live Show 5	Dec. 7 to 13, 2026

Live Shows and voting

• Voting: fans vote by text message or by commenting on The Voice’s official TikTok account, and the old Voice app has been retired. Our how to vote guide has the steps.
• Same-night results: performances, voting and results happen in the same broadcast, so there is no separate results show.
• Peacock simulcast: the Live Shows stream on Peacock at the same time as NBC, in all time zones, for the first time.
• Theme weeks: the six weeks of Live Shows include Y2K and TikTok themes and a tribute to Dolly Parton.

A new look in the red chairs

Riley Green and Queen Latifah are first-time coaches this season, joining returning coaches Kelly Clarkson and Adam Levine, and Carson Daly hosts for his thirtieth season. Each coach also has a Battle Advisor, and you can meet them in our Battle Advisors guide.

The Voice Season 30 Cut Week FAQ

What is Cut Week on The Voice?

Cut Week is a new round in Season 30 that replaces the Knockouts and the Playoffs. Each coach sends two artists straight to the Live Shows, the other five on the team compete for one more spot, and America votes one extra artist in to make a Top 13.

When is Cut Week on The Voice Season 30?

Cut Week airs on Monday, November 2, 2026, as a two-hour episode on NBC at 9 p.m. ET, and it streams on Peacock the next day.

What replaced the Knockouts on The Voice Season 30?

Cut Week replaced both the Knockouts and the Playoffs, so it is now the only round between the Battles and the Live Shows.

How many artists are in the Live Shows?

The Live Shows have a Top 13. Each team has three artists, two chosen directly by the coach and one who wins the five-artist fight, and America votes one more artist in.

How many artists reach Cut Week?

28 artists reach Cut Week, with seven on each team: six Battle winners and one stolen artist.

Do Steals still exist on The Voice Season 30?

Yes. Every coach has one Steal in the Battles, and our Battles results page shows who has used theirs.

What is the First-In button on The Voice?

It is a Blind Auditions button that lets the first coach to turn claim an artist before the artist chooses. It replaced the Block, and each coach can use it once.

What is the TikTok Artist of the Season?

It is a fan-driven award for the finalist whose official Voice TikTok performance posts earn the most likes and direct shares. It has no cash prize and does not affect the competition.

How do you vote on The Voice Season 30?

During the Live Shows you can vote by text message or by commenting on The Voice’s official TikTok account. See our voting guide for the steps.

What time is The Voice on now?

The Voice airs on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC through October 26, and moves to 9 p.m. ET from Cut Week on November 2.

Format and schedule details are based on NBC announcements and coverage of Season 30, and this guide is updated as new details are confirmed.

Image credits: the coach photos in the featured image are official NBC press images, used for editorial purposes. If you are the rights holder of an image and would like it removed or credited differently, see our terms of service or contact us and we will act promptly.