ANTM Cycle 25 Update (2026): Tyra Banks’ Quotes, Timeline & What’s Next
Is America's Next Top Model Coming Back? (Cycle 25) Everything Tyra Banks Has Said
Last updated: February 22, 2026
If your group chat has been whispering “Cycle 25” ever since Netflix dropped Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, you’re not alone. Tyra Banks has been floating the idea of a return for years—sometimes sounding like it’s close, other times sounding like it’s out of her hands. Here’s what’s actually been said, what’s confirmed, and what’s still just runway-level teasing.
Quick takeaways
- As of February 22, 2026, Cycle 25 is not officially greenlit.
- Tyra Banks ends the Netflix docuseries teasing “plans” for Cycle 25—but without a network, cast, or date.
- Tyra has repeatedly suggested she wants to “end at 25,” and has said attempts to revive it depend on “the powers that be.”
- Fan reaction is split: nostalgia vs. “only if it’s safer and more ethical this time.”
Is Cycle 25 confirmed?
The cleanest answer: no official announcement has confirmed a new season (no network order, no casting call, no premiere date). The last completed cycle was Cycle 24, and the franchise has been off-air since its finale aired in April 2018.
What’s new in 2026 is that Tyra Banks—on camera, in a Netflix project built around the show’s legacy—explicitly teases that she’s not done and references “Cycle 25.” That’s a bigger hint than we’ve had in a while, but it’s still not the same thing as a pickup.
Watch: the Netflix doc trailer (and why it matters)
Before we even talk Cycle 25, this trailer explains why the conversation is back in the first place: Netflix’s Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model reopens old controversies, lets former contestants speak in detail, and puts Tyra in the hot seat—then ends with her teasing what comes next.
Timeline: everything Tyra Banks has said about Cycle 25
Tyra’s Cycle 25 trail isn’t one straight line—it’s more like a model walk with pivots. Here are the most-cited statements and how they fit together.
| Date | Where it showed up | What Tyra said (or was reported) | What it suggested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2015 | Tyra’s social posts about ending the show | She publicly framed the end as “time” and reflected on what the show introduced to pop culture. | ANTM’s first “goodbye” era (before the VH1 revival). |
| 2018 | Reported in later coverage of her Life-Size 2 press | She was described as considering a Cycle 25 return, potentially as a final “round-number” ending, possibly with an all-star angle. | She still viewed “25” as a meaningful finish line. |
| Feb 2020 | ABC Audio interview (as quoted in later reporting) | She said the show had done 24 cycles and she felt it should “at least end at 25,” adding “We shall see.” | Cycle 25 was a goal, not a guarantee. |
| 2020 | Haute Living interview (as quoted in later reporting) | She acknowledged it was the question she gets most and said they were trying to figure out how to do it. | Active interest, but still in “figuring it out” mode. |
| May 2024 | E! News | She said they had tried to bring it back, but it wasn’t up to her—“the powers that be.” | Rights/greenlight issues were bigger than Tyra’s personal desire. |
| May 2024 | Entertainment Weekly (via Yahoo) | EW reported (via a source) there were “no current plans” at that time. | Even if she wants it, it can stall for business reasons. |
| Feb 2025 | ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards (reported by NBC affiliates) | She admitted the show didn’t always get it right and didn’t want her legacy reduced to viral clips. | She’s defending the “impact” while acknowledging mistakes. |
| Feb 2026 | Netflix docuseries Reality Check + follow-up press coverage | She says her work isn’t done and teases: “You have no idea what we have planned for cycle 25.” | Big tease, still missing an official pickup. |
What “we have planned for Cycle 25” likely means (and what it doesn’t)
When a creator says “we have plans,” it can mean anything from “I have an idea” to “we have a deck and a buyer.” In entertainment terms, a real comeback normally needs at least a few of the following to be true:
- A platform commits money (network or streamer order).
- Production infrastructure is real (showrunner, casting, schedules, locations, insurance).
- Brand partners align (the old model of prizes and sponsors has changed a lot since 2003).
- Format changes address backlash (the Netflix doc makes clear why a “same as 2006” reboot would be a tough sell).
In other words: Tyra teasing Cycle 25 is meaningful—but it’s not the same as a confirmed season. The gap between “idea” and “greenlight” can be long, especially for a franchise with a complicated reputation.
What Reddit theories say about Cycle 25
The most consistent “Reddit logic” on a Cycle 25 return is basically: people would watch (nostalgia is powerful), but the show can’t come back unchanged. Fans argue about whether Tyra’s docuseries tease is seed-planting for a real deal or just “Tyra being Tyra.”
So, is a C25 happening?
America's Next Top Model is BACK! Cycle 25 is in the works.
Social reactions (X + Instagram)
Not everyone is cheering. Some former contestants and long-time viewers worry a comeback would repeat the same pressure-cooker dynamics the documentary criticizes, unless the format changes dramatically.
And it’s not just commentary—some ANTM alumni are also pushing for real-world changes around reality TV production and contestant protections. Here’s a post referenced in coverage about former contestants lobbying for stronger safeguards:
For a flashback to the earlier “end of an era” moment, here’s the Instagram post Tyra made during the 2015 goodbye phase:
If Cycle 25 happens: changes viewers will expect
A modern Cycle 25 probably has to look different from classic ANTM—not just for taste, but because the modeling industry and reality TV ethics conversations have changed.
- Clearer consent + safer sets for shoots, travel, and challenges.
- No “race swapping” concepts and a hard line against anything resembling blackface or ethnic costuming.
- Less humiliation, more craft: coaching, portfolio-building, real casting education, media training.
- Better aftercare: mental health support during and after filming.
- Realistic career outcomes: prizes and partnerships that match the way models actually work in 2026.
- A judging style that’s still entertaining without being cruel-by-default.
FAQ
Did Tyra Banks confirm ANTM Cycle 25 is officially happening?
She teased “plans” for Cycle 25 in the Netflix docuseries, but that is not the same as an official greenlight. As of February 22, 2026, no platform has announced an order for Cycle 25.
When would Cycle 25 premiere?
No premiere date exists yet. If a pickup happens, reality competition production timelines often put releases months (or longer) after a formal order.
Is the Netflix docuseries the return of the show?
No. Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model is a documentary series about the legacy and controversies of ANTM, not a competition cycle.
Will Tyra Banks host if Cycle 25 happens?
Tyra is the face most tied to the brand and she’s the one teasing it, but no official casting has been announced.