Fact Check: Is Ariana Grande Starring In Ryan Murphy Gem’s Next Season?

Ariana Grande has joined Ryan Murphy’s upcoming season of American Horror Story, which has been on air since the early 2010s. Grande, who’ll appear opposite Cynthia Erivo in the forthcoming Wicked sequel, has joined other returning figures for the follow-up to American Horror Story: Delicate, which lacked Murphy’s presence as a showrunner.

Taking to his IG, the Glee creator announced the cast for season 13, alongside a premiere date. The new season is set to premiere next year during the spooky month, pretty on brand for the series.

American Horror Story Season 13’s Cast Revealed

In addition to the Wicked star, who previously worked with series creator Murphy and Brad Falchuk in Scream Queens, many returning figures, including the likes of Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson, will return.

Ariana Grande in Wicked | Credit: Universal Pictures

However, it’s Jessica Lange’s return that comes as a surprise, as unlike Paulson, who previously expressed interest in a return, a few months back, the Constance Langdon actor was vehemently against this idea, adding (via Deadline), “I haven’t done it for more than 10 years, 12 years, so, no, I’m not doing it.” The confirmed cast for season 13 is listed below:

With exactly a year remaining before the show arrives on FX, it’ll be interesting to see how Murphy will approach his next AHS season after missing out on Delicate back in 2023.

American Horror Story‘s Plot: Everything We Know So Far

What makes AHS stand out is that each season offers something fresh, whether it’s season 2’s asylum setting, season 3’s exploration of a witch coven, or season 8’s world-ending stakes following its apocalypse element.

As for what to expect from season 13, it’s anyone’s guess as the show is no stranger to surprising its fanbase. While any direction is possible, there are a few breadcrumbs for fans to follow.

The release window could be a major hint. Considering it’s releasing in the spooky month, particularly on Halloween, witches could be a possibility. Another major thing to address is Murphy’s IG poll, which he posted back in 2021, where he asked fans what they’d love to see moving forward. Among all the options, Bloody Mary and Sirens rose as favorites.

Moreover, back in 2018, Murphy addressed that the witches would be back (via ET), and with a Halloween premiere on the cards, coupled with the showrunner’s return after season 12, witches could indeed be returning in season 13. For now, most of us can only speculate. As for Grande, given her prowess in Wicked, it’ll be interesting to see how she approaches this genre shift.

What are your expectations for the next AHS season? Drop below!

American Horror Story will premiere on October 31, 2026 (USA).