'The Bachelorette' Season 18 Release Date: When Michelle Young's Season Will Air
Bachelor Nation is getting a lot of brand new content this year. The first 2021 season of The Bachelorette may have just ended, but ABC viewers have both a season of Bachelor in Paradise and a brand new Bachelorette to look forward to before the end of the year.
During Matt James' controversial After the Final Rose special, Katie Thurston and Michelle Young were named as the next Bachelorettes. Thurston's season has just ended with her choosing Blake Moynes, but Young's season is just a few months away.
When The Bachelorette Season 18 comes out
All previous seasons of Bachelor in Paradise have run from August to September, and Season 7 is no exception. The new season will air on August 16, 2021, in The Bachelorette's former time slot of 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT on ABC.
That show is expected to air until the end of September, at which time viewers will get to see Young's season.
While The Bachelorette's last season aired on Mondays, Season 18 is moving to Tuesdays. The first episode will air on Tuesday, October 19, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT on ABC. As ever, episodes will be available from the following day on Hulu.
Young was introduced to fans of the franchise in The Bachelor Season 25, when she was the runner-up behind Rachael Kirkconnell, the controversial contestant whose photos at Antebellum-themed parties emerged after she had shot the show. This led to Chris Harrison defending her, in a tone-deaf interview that led to the host leaving the ABC show after two decades.
Young is the third Black Bachelorette after Rachel Lindsay and Tayshia Adams. Speaking on the Matt James After the Final Rose, Young said of her upcoming role: "I am ready. I do think this process works. When you can set down all of these outside distractions and dive in, I think you can really learn a lot about somebody. I'm just excited. I'm ready to get started."
Fight for Young's Heart
In July, the 35 men who would be set to fight for Young's heart were revealed. They range in age from 25 and 36 and come from four different countries – the U.S., Canada, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
During the recent Men Tell All special, Thurston revealed that filming was about to start on Season 18, and that she had been giving advice to Young. She said: "I've spoken to her as much as I can because I know it's any day now they're gonna take her phone away.
"I think the biggest advice I've given her is to just be open. Don't close yourself off too early. I think guys can surprise you... weeks later when you don't expect it."
After Harrison announced he was leaving the franchise for good, current co-hosts Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe have confirmed they will be back to help guide Young through her search for love. Bachelor in Paradise, meanwhile, will be hosted by a selection of celebrity guest hosts including Lance Bass, Tituss Burgess, Lil Jon and David Spade.
