The 20th season of NBC‘s hit reality competition show AMERICA’S GOT TALENT has started, and it’s already packed with new talent, heartwarming stories, and exciting performances. The show has been a place for unknown performers to become famous across the country for a long time. It is known for having a wide range of acts, from singers and dancers to magicians and comedians.
The judging panel in Season 20 features returning favorites: Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, and Sofía Vergara. Cowell, who is also an executive producer, joined in 2016, while Mandel has been a staple since 2009. Vergara entered the AGT world in 2020. This season also marks the return of Melanie Brown (Mel B), former Spice Girl and a previous AGT judge from Season 8 to 13. Mel B replaces Heidi Klum, who served as a judge through most of Season 8 to Season 19, except for a brief break in Season 14.
But while the on-screen action is what draws in viewers, it’s the stunning backdrop and historic setting of the show that adds a layer of grandeur to AMERICA’S GOT TALENT SEASON 20. The filming location plays a crucial role in creating the magic of AGT.
WHERE WAS AMERICA’S GOT TALENT SEASON 20 FILMED?
American Idol’s 20th season was mostly filmed in Pasadena, California, which is famous for its beautiful architecture and long cultural history. The main place was the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, which is at 300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA.
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – A HISTORIC FILMING DESTINATION
Since Season 11, AGT’s audition and live performance rounds have taken place at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. For Season 20, the venue will still be the place where contestants show off their skills, as it has been in the past. The new season’s filming began on March 14, 2025, but there was a short delay because of wildfires in Southern California. The team kept going and kept shooting at this famous location, even though there were problems.
The Civic Auditorium is an important part of Pasadena’s arts and performance scene. It was built in 1932. It was built in the Italian Renaissance style and has a grand front, ornate ceiling and a large main hall that can fit almost 3,000 people. In the past, the auditorium has been the site of the Emmy Awards (from 1977 to 1997), the NAACP Image Awards, Miss Teen USA, and more than one Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony.
It’s not just the scale of the venue that makes it perfect for AGT. The auditorium boasts a hand-painted ceiling mural by Italian-American artist Giovanni Smeraldi, Greco-Roman panels, and a historic Moller pipe organ—one of the few remaining from that era. These elements lend the venue a timeless elegance that complements the dramatic highs and emotional lows of the talent competition.
WHY PASADENA CIVIC AUDITORIUM IS IDEAL FOR AGT
The producers of AGT have used the Pasadena Civic Auditorium’s history and technical skills. The stage at the venue is 56 feet by 42 feet, which is big enough for big acts. Modern sound and lighting systems are also available at the theater, which is important for the TV format.
The Civic is also in the middle of the Pasadena Convention Center complex, which makes it easy for the film crew to get to other facilities and resources while they are shooting. Pasadena is a great place to film because it has a mild Mediterranean climate that makes it work for year-round production.
Through the years, the auditorium has come to mean AGT. People now connect the building’s grand design, sparkling lights, and fancy decorations with the thrills of the auditions and live rounds. Performers feel more awe when they are in a place with so much historical significance.
The Pasadena Civic Auditorium is still an important part of America’s Got Talent, even though it is now in its 20th season. It’s more than just a place to visit; its grand design and long history make it an important part of the AGT experience.
