Season 39 of The Amazing Race premieres on CBS with a special two-night event on September 30 and October 1, 2026. Hosted by Phil Keoghan, the new season kicks off in Vancouver, Canada, introducing 13 simultaneous Express Passes and a cross-continental route spanning five continents and nine countries for the $1 million prize.
Thirteen Express Passes Rewrite Starting-Line Strategy in Vancouver
That dynamic changes immediately when Season 39 premieres this fall. Launching from Vancouver, Canada, host Phil Keoghan delivers an unprecedented twist right at the starting mat by putting 13 Express Passes into play simultaneously.
Unlike previous iterations where a single pass might change hands or require winning a specific challenge, every single team starts this journey holding a pass that allows them to bypass a challenge of their choice without penalty. The catch, however, forces immediate strategic calculation: teams must use their passes by the end of the sixth leg.
Phil Keoghan noted that the season’s twists, including a new, unexpected reveal at the start line, ramp up the importance of strategy. He also highlighted that the first-time visit to Albania adds to the thrill of the race for $1 million.
Global Route Spans Five Continents and Introduces Albania
The race covers immense physical distance before crowning a winner. Over the course of the competition, racers will travel to five continents, nine countries, and 13 cities, logging a total distance exceeding 25,000 miles. Along the way, contestants face high-adrenaline physical tasks designed to test their nerve and adaptability across starkly different environments.
The route kicks off with a severe test of heights in Canada before shifting across the globe. According to production details, competitors will jump 200 feet off the catwalk of BC Stadium in Vancouver, walk with camels in Morocco and fly a paramotor through the skies of Laos
alongside a first-time visit to Albania.
Pro Athletes, Family Duos, and Close Friends Make Up the Cast
The 13 teams stepping onto the starting mat represent a broad mix of backgrounds, professions, and personal relationships. Among the most recognizable competitors are Ali Krieger and Joanna Lohman, professional athletes and parents from Montclair, New Jersey, and Silver Spring, Maryland. Krieger brings a decorated athletic resume to the competition as a two-time World Cup champion with the U.S. Women’s National Team (winning in 2015 and 2019), a 2016 Rio Olympian, a Champions League winner with 1. FFC Frankfurt in 2008, and an NWSL Champion with Gotham FC in 2023. Lohman’s professional career includes playing for the USWNT, Washington Freedom, Philadelphia Independence, Boston Breakers, and the Washington Spirit.
- Anuar Tager and Andrea Tager Ballesca: Developer and medical student father-daughter duo from Houston.
- Cody Langlois and Jaime Tribo: Civil engineer and dietitian siblings from Los Angeles and Tinley Park, Illinois.
- Daisha Wilks and Dalton Hamby: Videographers dating from Flat Rock and Jacksonville, Alabama.
- Zach Johnson and Nate Johnson: Car salesman and director of sales brothers from Dallas.
- Ann-Marie Tejcek and Riley Tejcek: Healthcare executive and marine officer mother-daughter pair from Carmel, Indiana, and San Diego.
- Dafina Dunmore and Saran Dunmore: Bond analyst/DJ and personal trainer sisters/best friends from Chicago.
- Conner Wilson and Garrett McGuire: Media producer and engineer childhood friends from Loomis and Rocklin, California.
- Doug Matter and Dylan Matter: Retired fire chief and college student grandfather-grandson pair from San Diego.
- Katie Schultz and Charlotte Schultz: Esthetician sisters from Murray, Kentucky.
- Erin Taylor and Javi Vintimilla: Head of human resources and pilot married couple from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
- Michelle Patterson and Matthew Patterson: Auto body shop owner/real estate agent and business operations director married parents from Rutherford, New Jersey.
- Jody Rebhun and Jenn Naso: History teacher and forensic scientist best friends and moms from Branford, Connecticut, and Larchmont, New York.
Premiere Schedule and Viewer Expectations for Season 39
The competition begins with a special two-night premiere event scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, and Thursday, October 1, airing at 9:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
As the show enters its 39th season, the core appeal remains rooted in ordinary people confronting extraordinary circumstances far from home. Keoghan noted in production statements that viewers continue responding to everyday Americans stepping outside their comfort zones to navigate unfamiliar cultures and high-stakes physical tasks.
“‘Amazing Race’ fans continue to make it clear what they love most is seeing everyday Americans stepping outside their comfort zones to race around the world and complete extraordinary challenges in extraordinary places – a chance to vicariously experience our amazing planet through the eyes of compelling, relatable contestants.”
Phil Keoghan, Host, via TVLine
