An eighteenth season of So You Think You Can Dance was announced on December 5, 2023, with a judging panel composed of series creator Nigel Lythgoe (which would have been his seventeenth season as judge), season 2 contestant and season 7–11 and 14 All-Star Allison Holker,[3] and former Dancing with the Stars pro dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Comfort Fedoke guest judged during the auditions. Cat Deeley returned to her role as host for a seventeenth consecutive season.[1][2]
The season premiere ended with a tribute to season 4 runner-up, former judge, and Holker's husband Stephen "tWitch" Boss who was found dead by suicide in December 2022.
The auditions for season 18 of So You Think You Can Dance took place in Pullman Yards in Atlanta, Georgia where all the dancers had to audition in front of judges Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Allison Holker, and special guest judge Comfort Fedoke.[11] Unlike previous seasons, this season took more of a documentary style and taught the audience a little bit more about the dancers' background. Notable dancers included Easton Magliarditi who auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation, Jin Lee, who had dedicated her dance to Allison Holker's late husband Stephen "Twitch" Boss,[12] Kenidee Allen who had trained with Maks,[13] Kaylee Bays, a dancer that had been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danolos syndrome that left her in a wheelchair,[13] and Mariyah Hawkins who had previously auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation.[14]
Like season 17, the Callbacks/Academy Round was renamed the Choreography Round and took place over the course of one day, as opposed to one week like past seasons. The Choreography Round consisted of two rounds led by choreographer, Galen Hooks. The first round had the contestants dancing in different groups, the second round focused on partner work. 35 contestants made it to the choreography round and contestants were eliminated after each round until 10 remained to advance to the studio shows.
For the first time this series, the judges are solely responsible for which dancers are safe and which are eliminated, with no audience voting. Previously, the dancers which received the most audience votes each week would be safe from elimination.
Top 10 Perform – Challenge #1: Music Videos (April 15, 2024)[edit]
In this challenge, the top 10 were divided into two groups of five dancers; each group performed a music video together. The dancers were judged by how they performed both during the filming of the music video as well as the finished product. The judges determined the bottom 4 dancers; the bottom 4 each performed a solo and the judges eliminated two dancers.
Top 8 Perform – Challenge #2: Broadway (April 22, 2024)[edit]
In this challenge, the top 8 were divided into two groups of four dancers; each group performed a Broadway piece together. The dancers were judged by how they performed both during the filming of the Broadway piece as well as the finished product. The judges determined the bottom 4 dancers; the bottom 4 each performed a solo and the judges eliminated two dancers.
Top 6 Perform – Challenge #3: Movies (April 29, 2024)[edit]
In this challenge, the top 6 were divided into two groups of three dancers; each group performed a movie sequence together. The dancers were judged by how they performed both during the filming of the movie sequence as well as the finished product. The judges determined the bottom 3 dancers; the bottom 3 each performed a solo and the judges eliminated one dancer.
Group Routine: Top 6: "Low" – Flo Rida (Hip Hop; Choreographer: N/A)