Phil Keoghan is standing on a mat somewhere in the world, and honestly, that’s all most of us need to know to get excited. But The Amazing Race new season—specifically Season 37—is shaping up to be a weird, wild, and surprisingly strategic ride that feels a lot different than the "bubble" seasons we had to endure during the pandemic. If you’ve been watching the show since it first premiered way back in 2001, you know the vibe. It’s that frantic energy of people sweating through their shirts while trying to find a specific statue in a city where they don't speak the language.
CBS has been tight-lipped about some of the finer details, but we know the route. We know the stakes. Most importantly, we know that the "charter planes" are finally a thing of the past. Thank god.
What’s Actually Changing in The Amazing Race New Season
The biggest news for Season 37 is the return to commercial travel. For a few years there, the production was stuck using a private Boeing 757 to move contestants around because of health protocols. It was fine, I guess, but it killed the drama. Remember when teams used to sprint through airports? Or when a gate agent would tell someone they were too late to board, and their entire game would fall apart in an instant? That’s back.
No more hand-holding
When the teams have to book their own flights, the lead can evaporate in seconds. One bad connection in Frankfurt or a delayed flight out of Tokyo, and the frontrunners are suddenly in last place. It’s the great equalizer. Season 37 is leaning heavily into this. The producers have hinted that navigation and travel logistics are going to be more punishing this time around.
The casting for the The Amazing Race new season also looks to be a bit more "diverse" in terms of life experience. We aren't just getting 20-something influencers who want to grow their Instagram following. We're seeing more parents, more blue-collar workers, and more people who actually look like they’ve never left their hometown. That’s where the best TV happens. When someone who has never been out of the Midwest has to navigate the subway system in Tokyo, it’s pure gold.
The Route Everyone Is Talking About
Word on the street (and by street, I mean the obsessive fans on Reddit and Reality Fan Forum who track flight paths) is that the race is heading back to some heavy hitters. We're looking at a heavy focus on Asia and Europe this year.
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- Japan: There have been sightings of the production crew in Osaka. If you remember the "wasabi bomb" or the "human Tetris" challenges of the past, you know Japan always brings the heat.
- Thailand: Specifically the islands. Expect some water-based challenges that will leave half the cast sea-sick.
- Spain: Rumors suggest a leg in Madrid or potentially the Andalusia region.
It's refreshing. For a while, the show felt a bit repetitive with its locations because of travel restrictions. Now, the world is wide open again. Seeing the yellow and red flags in a crowded marketplace in Bangkok just hits differently.
Why the "Express Pass" is more dangerous now
In recent seasons, the Express Pass—which lets a team skip a task—has been played pretty safely. But with the return of commercial travel, the value of that pass triples. If you can finish a task in ten minutes and get to the airport while the other teams are still struggling to build a kite or herd goats, you win the leg. Period.
Statistics You Might Find Surprising
If you think the race is just about being fast, you’re wrong. Data from the last ten seasons shows that the teams who win the first leg only have about a 15% chance of winning the whole thing. It’s actually a curse. You get a target on your back. Everyone wants to U-Turn you.
Actually, let's look at the "U-Turn" stats.
Historically, about 80% of teams who are U-Turned end up in the bottom two for that leg. It’s almost a death sentence unless someone else gets hopelessly lost. In the The Amazing Race new season, the U-Turn is expected to be "blind" more often, meaning teams won't know who screwed them over until they watch the show months later. That adds a layer of paranoia that is honestly just fun to watch.
The Reality of Casting and Diversity
CBS made a pledge a few years ago to ensure their reality casts are at least 50% people of color. This has fundamentally changed the dynamic of the show for the better. We’re seeing different perspectives on how people interact with various cultures.
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In Season 36, we saw a wide range of backgrounds, and Season 37 is following suit. Statistically, the show has seen a massive uptick in viewership among younger, more diverse audiences since this shift. It’s not just about "checking boxes"—it’s about the fact that a team from South Central LA is going to have a very different reaction to a rural village in Vietnam than a pair of lawyers from Manhattan. That friction and learning curve is the heart of the show.
How to Watch and What to Look For
The show usually airs on Wednesday nights, often paired with Survivor. It’s a powerhouse block for CBS. If you’re a cord-cutter, Paramount+ is your best friend here because they usually drop the episodes right after they air on the East Coast.
Keep an eye on the "edit." If a team is getting a lot of "personal" backstory in the first ten minutes, they are either winning the leg or going home. There is no in-between. The producers love to make you cry right before they kick someone off the show.
Tips for the hardcore fans
- Watch the backpacks. In the The Amazing Race new season, you’ll notice some teams pack light—like, "one change of clothes" light. Others bring everything including the kitchen sink. The light packers usually do better in the heat, but they smell terrible by the end of the race.
- Look at the maps. If you see a team holding a physical map upside down, just go ahead and assume they’re eliminated.
- The "Philimination." Pay attention to Phil Keoghan’s eyebrows. If he looks disappointed when a team arrives at the mat, it’s because they were actually a fan favorite who messed up.
Strategy for Season 37: It's All About the Money
The prize is still $1 million. In 2026, that doesn't go as far as it did in 2001, but it’s still life-changing.
The smartest teams this year seem to be the ones who are playing "middle of the pack." You don't want to be first and be a target, and you obviously don't want to be last. Staying in 3rd or 4th place for the first eight legs is the sweet spot. Then, in the penultimate leg, you turn on the jets.
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Don't forget the "Roadblocks"
The rules state that teammates have to split the Roadblocks (tasks only one person can do) fairly evenly. Usually, it's a 6-6 split or a 7-6 split depending on the total number of tasks. A common mistake is letting the "stronger" person do all the tasks early on. Then, you get to the finale, and the person who is terrified of heights has to skydive because they’re the only one with Roadblock credits left. Season 37 has already shown some teams making this mistake in the early legs.
Common Misconceptions About the Race
People think the crew helps them. They don't. If a team is wandering around a train station for four hours, the camera crew is just silently filming them suffer. They aren't allowed to give directions or even nod in the right direction.
Another big one? That the show pays for everything. While the show covers the big stuff like flights and hotels during the race, the "daily stipend" the teams get for food and taxis is tiny. If they blow their money on a long taxi ride, they’re eating bread and water for the rest of the leg. It’s brutal.
Your Next Steps for Following the Season
To get the most out of The Amazing Race new season, you shouldn't just watch the episodes. The real fans know where the extra context lives.
- Follow the Phil Keoghan socials. He often posts "behind the scenes" snippets that explain why a certain task was harder than it looked.
- Check the "Mat Chats." Usually, Paramount+ or the CBS YouTube channel releases extended interviews with the eliminated teams. These are often better than the actual episodes because you get the "tea" on who was actually annoying to live with.
- Track the route on Google Earth. It’s a fun way to see exactly how far these people are traveling. Some legs cover thousands of miles in 48 hours.
Honestly, just enjoy the ride. It’s one of the few reality shows left that feels somewhat earnest. It’s about people seeing the world, losing their minds, and hopefully realizing they’re capable of more than they thought. Grab some snacks, settle in, and get ready for the next "Yield" to ruin someone's life.