When does the amazing race start 2026? The 39th season of The Amazing Race began on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. The new season launched with a special two-night premiere, with the second episode scheduled for Thursday, October 1, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.
For viewers in the United States, the opening schedule is slightly different from the show’s normal weekly pattern. After the two-night launch, The Amazing Race returns to Wednesdays beginning October 7.
Season 39 brings 13 teams into a new international competition hosted by Phil Keoghan. The teams start their journey in Vancouver, Canada, before traveling through multiple countries and cities across five continents.
The season also introduces a notable change to the Express Pass. Every team receives one at the start of the race, but each team must use its pass by the end of Leg 6.
When does The Amazing Race start in 2026?
The 2026 season of The Amazing Race started on September 30, 2026, on CBS.
The first episode aired at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT and occupied a 90-minute broadcast window. The launch gave viewers the first look at the Season 39 teams, the opening challenges and the new rules surrounding the Express Pass.
The second episode follows on Thursday, October 1, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.
The unusual Thursday episode is part of the premiere event. It does not represent a permanent change to the show’s weekly schedule.
Starting October 7, CBS moves the series back to its regular Wednesday night position.
For viewers planning their television schedule, the opening dates are:
| Date | Schedule | Time |
|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2026 | Season 39 premiere | 9:30 p.m. ET/PT |
| October 1, 2026 | Second premiere episode | 9:30 p.m. ET/PT |
| October 7, 2026 | Regular Wednesday episode | 9:30 p.m. ET/PT |
This makes September 30 the official Season 39 premiere date.
What time is The Amazing Race on CBS?
CBS has scheduled The Amazing Race at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT during its opening week.
The series receives a 90-minute slot, ending at 11 p.m. ET/PT.
For viewers following the show after the two-night premiere, the same 9:30 p.m. ET/PT start time continues on Wednesday nights.
The schedule places The Amazing Race immediately after Survivor on regular Wednesday evenings. Survivor is scheduled to run from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. ET/PT, followed by The Amazing Race.
The first week is different because CBS uses a special Thursday broadcast for the second episode.
This means fans should pay close attention to the date when looking for the next installment. The first episode arrived Wednesday, the second follows Thursday, and the show then settles into its Wednesday schedule.
Why The Amazing Race has a two-night premiere
Season 39 begins with two consecutive nights of programming.
The first installment aired Wednesday, September 30. The second episode is scheduled for Thursday, October 1.
CBS has used the opening week to introduce viewers to the new cast and begin the international competition quickly.
The Thursday broadcast is particularly important for viewers who normally associate The Amazing Race with Wednesday nights. After October 1, the series returns to Wednesdays.
The next confirmed episode is scheduled for October 7 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.
The opening sequence therefore follows a simple pattern:
- Wednesday, September 30 — Season 39 begins
- Thursday, October 1 — Second premiere episode
- Wednesday, October 7 — Regular weekly schedule resumes
Viewers do not need to wait a full week between the first and second episodes.
Where can you watch The Amazing Race in 2026?
U.S. viewers can watch The Amazing Race through CBS.
The show is also available through Paramount+.
Paramount+ provides streaming options for viewers who prefer to watch the competition online. Premium subscribers can stream CBS programming live, while episodes also become available for on-demand viewing through the service.
The availability of individual episodes can depend on the subscriber’s plan and the platform’s current schedule.
For traditional television viewers, CBS remains the broadcast home of Season 39.
For cord-cutters, Paramount+ provides an alternative way to follow the season.
Who hosts The Amazing Race Season 39?
Phil Keoghan returns as host of The Amazing Race for Season 39.
Keoghan has served as the face of the U.S. version of the competition for many seasons. His role includes introducing destinations, explaining challenges and meeting teams at key points during the race.
He also serves as an executive producer.
The format continues to place teams of two against one another as they travel between destinations and complete challenges.
Contestants must follow clues, reach designated locations and finish tasks before continuing to the next part of the race.
Their performance determines their position at the end of each leg.
How many teams compete in Season 39?
Season 39 features 13 teams of two.
The teams represent different relationships, including family members, friends and other partners.
Among the confirmed competitors are professional athletes Ali Krieger and Joanna Lohman.
The cast also includes mother and daughter Ann-Marie Tejcek and Riley Tejcek, along with grandfather and grandson Doug and Dylan Matter.
Another team consists of best friends Jody Rebhun and Jenn Naso.
The two-person format remains central to the competition because each contestant must work closely with a teammate during travel and challenges.
Communication and coordination are important throughout the race.
A mistake by one person can affect both members of a team.
What is the biggest rule change in Season 39?
One of the most notable changes concerns the Express Pass.
In previous seasons, the advantage has been limited to selected teams or acquired through specific parts of the competition.
Season 39 takes a different approach.
All 13 teams receive an Express Pass.
That gives every team access to the same major advantage at the beginning of the race.
However, the passes come with a deadline.
Every team must use its Express Pass by the end of Leg 6.
The rule forces teams to decide when they want to use the advantage.
An Express Pass can allow a team to bypass a task, making it a potentially important tool during a difficult leg.
Because every team receives one, the timing of its use becomes an important part of the early competition.
Where does The Amazing Race 2026 begin?
Season 39 begins in Vancouver, Canada.
The Canadian starting point launches a journey that takes contestants across multiple international destinations.
The confirmed route covers five continents, nine countries and 13 cities.
The teams will travel more than 25,000 miles during the competition.
The route includes a mixture of familiar locations and destinations that are new to the U.S. version of the show.
One particularly notable addition is Albania.
Season 39 marks the first time that The Amazing Race visits Albania.
The route also includes destinations in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and North America.
Which countries are featured in Season 39?
The Season 39 route includes several international destinations.
Confirmed countries and locations include:
- Canada
- Spain
- Morocco
- Albania
- Sri Lanka
- Laos
- Australia
- New Zealand
- United States
The journey covers five continents in total.
Contestants must adjust to different environments, transportation systems and challenge requirements as they move between destinations.
The international format remains one of the defining elements of The Amazing Race.
Each leg presents a different combination of travel and competition.
What challenges will contestants face?
Season 39 includes a range of physical and mental challenges.
One confirmed challenge involves a 200-foot jump from the catwalk of BC Stadium in Vancouver.
The season also features a camel-related challenge in Morocco.
Another challenge takes contestants into the air through a paramotor flight in Laos.
These activities demonstrate the range of experiences built into the new season.
Contestants are not simply racing from one city to another. They must complete specific tasks before receiving instructions that allow them to continue.
The challenges can test physical ability, concentration, communication and the ability to work under pressure.
How does elimination work on The Amazing Race?
Teams race through a series of legs.
At the end of an elimination leg, the team that arrives last can be eliminated from the competition.
The exact circumstances can vary because not every leg necessarily follows the same structure.
Teams must therefore manage both speed and accuracy.
Arriving quickly does not help if contestants make mistakes that force them to repeat a task or lose valuable time.
The race also requires constant cooperation between partners.
Every team member has a role to play, from navigating and reading clues to completing physical challenges.
What is the prize for The Amazing Race Season 39?
The winning team is competing for a $1 million prize.
The prize remains one of the most recognizable elements of the American version of the franchise.
Teams must survive the elimination rounds and reach the final stage of the race.
The winners are determined by the competition’s final leg rather than by viewer voting.
The format therefore places the focus on performance throughout the race.
The Amazing Race 2026 route covers more than 25,000 miles
The scale of the Season 39 journey is significant.
The confirmed route covers more than 25,000 miles and passes through five continents.
Teams will visit nine countries and 13 cities during the competition.
Travel itself becomes part of the challenge.
Contestants must reach destinations while following instructions and managing the limitations placed on them during each leg.
The international itinerary also gives each episode a distinct setting.
The teams encounter different landscapes and challenge environments as the race progresses.
What happened before the Season 39 premiere?
CBS scheduled a special anniversary program immediately before the new season.
“The Amazing Race: 25 Years Around the World” aired September 29, 2026.
The one-hour special celebrated 25 years of the franchise.
It featured archival material and interviews connected to the show’s history.
The special aired one day before Season 39 began.
That created a two-day lead-in to the new competition: the anniversary special on September 29 followed by the Season 39 premiere on September 30.
The timing also gave longtime viewers an opportunity to revisit the show’s history before the latest season began.
When is the next episode of The Amazing Race?
The next scheduled episode is Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
This is the second episode of the two-night Season 39 premiere.
After that broadcast, the series returns on Wednesday, October 7.
The October 7 episode is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.
From there, CBS has established the Wednesday-night pattern for the season.
For viewers searching for the next episode after the October 1 broadcast, Wednesday is the key night to remember.
Is The Amazing Race on October 1, 2026?
Yes.
CBS has scheduled The Amazing Race for Thursday, October 1, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.
The episode follows the Big Brother Season 28 finale in the CBS lineup.
It is part of the Season 39 premiere event and is not the beginning of a permanent Thursday schedule.
The next episode moves back to Wednesday, October 7.
What should viewers know about the 2026 schedule?
The most important point is that the season has already started.
Anyone searching for the premiere date after September 30 should use September 30 as the Season 39 launch date.
October 1 represents the second episode.
The regular weekly schedule begins October 7.
The opening schedule can be summarized as follows:
| Date | Episode status | Broadcast time |
|---|---|---|
| September 30 | Season 39 premiere | 9:30 p.m. ET/PT |
| October 1 | Second premiere episode | 9:30 p.m. ET/PT |
| October 7 | Regular weekly episode | 9:30 p.m. ET/PT |
This schedule makes the 2026 launch easy to follow once the special two-night opening is taken into account.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the amazing race start 2026?
Season 39 of The Amazing Race started on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
What time does The Amazing Race air?
The show airs at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT during its Season 39 schedule.
When is the second episode?
The second episode airs Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.
When does the regular Wednesday schedule begin?
The regular Wednesday schedule begins October 7, 2026.
Where can U.S. viewers watch the show?
Viewers can watch The Amazing Race on CBS or stream it through Paramount+.
How many teams are competing?
There are 13 teams, with two contestants on each team.
Who hosts Season 39?
Phil Keoghan returns as host and executive producer.
Where does the new season start?
The Season 39 race begins in Vancouver, Canada.
How many countries are included in the route?
The confirmed route covers nine countries and 13 cities across five continents.
How far do the teams travel?
The teams travel more than 25,000 miles during the competition.
What is the Season 39 Express Pass rule?
All 13 teams receive an Express Pass, and each team must use its pass by the end of Leg 6.
What is the prize?
The winning team receives a $1 million prize.
Does Season 39 visit Albania?
Yes. The season marks the first visit to Albania by the U.S. edition of The Amazing Race.
Is September 30 the premiere date or October 1?
September 30 is the official Season 39 premiere date. October 1 is the second episode of the two-night premiere.
The 2026 season has begun with a special opening schedule, a new Express Pass rule and a global route covering five continents. For U.S. viewers, the key dates are September 30 for the premiere, October 1 for the second episode and October 7 for the return to the regular Wednesday schedule.
Curious to know more about the Amazing Race 2026 cast? Take a closer look at the racers, teams, and personalities set to appear in the upcoming season. Find out who is competing and learn more about their backgrounds and journey. Read the complete cast details here: Amazing Race 2026 cast
Are you watching The Amazing Race Season 39? Share your thoughts on the new season and stay tuned for the latest confirmed updates.