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Entertainment • TV Series

America's Got Talent (season 11)

America's Got Talent (season 11) is the eleventh season of the U.S.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

America's Got Talent (season 11) is the eleventh season of the U.S. reality competition series America's Got Talent. It premiered on May 31, 2016, on NBC and was won by singer and ukuleleist Grace VanderWaal, with The Clairvoyants finishing second and Jon Dorenbos third. The season is also notable for a live stunt that went wrong and nearly killed its performer.

Production

Season 11 aired on NBC in 2016 and featured the series’ standard audition, judge selection, and live competition format. Simon Cowell joined the judges’ panel for the season, while Nick Cannon remained the host.

Contestants and results

The season was won by Grace VanderWaal, a singer and ukuleleist. The Clairvoyants placed second, and magician Jon Dorenbos finished third.

Broadcast and reception

The season averaged around 11.44 million viewers per episode. It is also remembered for a live televised stunt that went wrong and nearly resulted in the performer’s death.

Episodes

The season ran from late May through mid-September 2016, including audition episodes, judge cuts, quarterfinals, semifinals, and a live finale. The finale results were broadcast on September 14, 2016.

Key facts

  • The season premiered on May 31, 2016, and ended on September 14, 2016.
  • Simon Cowell joined the judges’ panel for this season.
  • Grace VanderWaal won the season at age 12.
  • The season averaged about 11.44 million viewers per episode.
  • A live stunt during the season went wrong and nearly killed the performer.
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Canadian context

America's Got Talent has a Canadian audience, and season 11 was widely available to viewers in North America through NBC-era broadcast and media coverage.

Frequently asked questions

Who won America's Got Talent season 11?
Grace VanderWaal won season 11.
Who were the runners-up in season 11?
The Clairvoyants placed second, and Jon Dorenbos finished third.
When did season 11 premiere?
It premiered on May 31, 2016.
Which network aired the season?
NBC aired the season.
Who hosted the season?
Nick Cannon hosted the season.
Who joined the judging panel in season 11?
Simon Cowell joined the judging panel for season 11.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%27s_Got_Talent_season_11
    Supports: Premiere and finale dates, winner, runner-up, third place, average viewership, and notable live stunt incident.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%27s_Got_Talent
    Supports: Season 11 overview, premiere date, filming context, and Simon Cowell replacing Howard Stern.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/americas_got_talent/s11
    Supports: Network, release date, genre, and season metadata including NBC and May 31, 2016.
  4. TheTVDB — https://thetvdb.com/series/americas-got-talent/seasons/official/11
    Supports: Episode list and finale dates for season 11.
  5. JustWatch — https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/americas-got-talent/season-11
    Supports: Simon Cowell joining the judges panel and Nick Cannon returning as host.