One of NBC‘s longest-running reality competition shows has been renewed for another season of absurd challenges and breathtaking feats of strength. NBC has a slate of reality competition programming, including America’s Got Talent, Destination X, and The Voice, many of which have been running for years.
Deadline reported that NBC has renewed American Ninja Warrior for season 18, but this time, they’re adding new twists to keep the stakes higher than ever. When American Ninja Warrior season 18 premieres next year, fans can expect the same obstacle course fun the show is known for, but this time, they’re adding an exciting three-lane racecourse, allowing competitors to compete three-on-three in head-on challenges.
Hosts Matt Iseman, Akbar Gbajabiamila and Zuri Hall are all scheduled to return when American Ninja Warrior starts filming this fall in Las Vegas.
What NBC Renewing American Ninja Warrior Means
The Network Is Known To Keep Long-Running Performers Around
NBC used to be known as the home of iconic sitcoms like Friends and Seinfeld, but since the mid-2000s, it’s made a push for the reality competition show circuit. Unlike other networks or streaming platforms, NBC is known to follow the motto, “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” meaning they allow their shows to run for seasons on end if they’re performing well enough.
American Ninja Warrior, which has been on the air since 2009, is just one example. America’s Got Talent is NBC’s longest-running reality competition show, having premiered in 2006. The Voice is another of NBC’s longest-running reality competition shows, as it premiered in 2011.
NBC is also open to giving new shows a chance to shine on the network. It debuted Destination X, a geographical reality competition show, in May 2025. Destination X saw regular folks and reality stars alike compete to decipher their hidden location, leading to a grand prize winner. Destination X season 1 aired its finale in late July 2025.
Our Take On NBC Renewing American Ninja Warrior
NBC Won’t Stop A Good Thing
American Ninja Warrior doesn’t tend to drum up the same sort of drama that a traditional reality show would. Even shows like The Voice and America’s Got Talent often land in the headlines, but not so with American Ninja Warrior. Instead, the show is focused on competition and on concocting the craziest stunts that the American Ninja Warrior competitors have to push through in order to win big money.
American Ninja Warrior has a loyal audience and high enough ratings that NBC will continue to stand behind it. It’s family-friendly, unproblematic programming that the network considers to be valuable enough to keep renewing.
By instituting new features, like the three-way racecourse, NBC is keeping audiences interested and on its toes. The challenges continue to be off-the-wall, which is what audiences love.
American Ninja Warrior airs Mondays at 8 p.m. EDT on NBC.
Source: Deadline
American Ninja Warrior
- Release Date
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December 12, 2009
- Network
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NBC, USA Network, G4, Esquire Network, NBCSN
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Akbar Gbaja Biamila
Self – Competitor
