Honestly, the waiting game for a new season of The Amazing Race is basically its own grueling Roadblock at this point. If you’re checking your DVR and wondering why your Wednesday nights feel a little empty, you aren't alone. We just came off a whirlwind 2025 that gave us two back-to-back seasons, including that heavy-hitter Big Brother crossover in Season 38. But now? The silence from CBS is a bit loud.
If you are looking for the next leg of the journey, here is the deal. The Amazing Race Season 39 is already filmed. It exists. The footage is sitting in an edit suite somewhere, but because of some massive scheduling shifts at CBS, we are looking at a much longer wait than usual.
When Is Next Amazing Race Season Actually Premiering?
We’ve got some good news and some "grab a snack, it's gonna be a while" news. Usually, we expect a spring season to follow the fall cycle, but 2026 is throwing us a curveball. CBS decided to hand the post-Survivor timeslot over to a brand-new show called America’s Culinary Cup (featuring Padma Lakshmi).
Because that cooking competition is hogging the spring 2026 schedule, The Amazing Race Season 39 is currently slated for Fall 2026. Is there a chance it pops up sooner? Maybe. CBS likes to keep the Race in its back pocket as a "strike replacement" or a filler if a new drama flops. But for now, plan on a September or October 2026 premiere. It’s a bummer, I know. It means the cast has to keep their mouths shut for almost a full year about who won the million dollars.
What We Know About the Season 39 Route
The show finally broke its "COVID bubble" habits for good this time. While Season 38 was strictly a European adventure, Season 39 is going back to its global roots in a big way. Filming happened between September 22 and October 17, 2025.
✨ Don't miss: Chase From Paw Patrol: Why This German Shepherd Is Actually a Big Deal
They started in Vancouver, Canada—which is actually the first time the American version has kicked off in a Canadian city. From there, the production went wild. We’re talking five continents. Nine countries. Twelve legs.
Here is the rumored (and mostly confirmed) flight path:
- North America: Starting line in Vancouver (Jack Poole Plaza).
- Europe: Stops in Spain and a brand-new debut for the franchise in Albania.
- Africa: A return to Morocco.
- Asia: Sri Lanka and Laos (the first time back in Laos in years).
- Oceania: Melbourne, Australia, and Christchurch, New Zealand.
- The Finish Line: They wrapped it all up in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Seeing Albania on the list is huge. Fans have been begging for more Eastern European or Balkan representation for a decade. The fact that they also hit Christchurch marks the first time the show has touched down in Oceania since way back in Season 22.
The Cast: No More Reality TV Retreads?
If you were exhausted by the all-Big Brother cast of Season 38, you can breathe. Phil Keoghan has been pretty vocal about the fact that they aren't going back to the "all-stars from other shows" well for a while. Season 39 is featuring 13 teams of regular people with pre-existing relationships.
🔗 Read more: Charlize Theron Sweet November: Why This Panned Rom-Com Became a Cult Favorite
There is a bit of a spicy behind-the-scenes detail here, though. This is the first season since the early 2020s where CBS rolled back its mandatory 50% BIPOC casting diversity initiative. Does that mean the cast won't be diverse? Not necessarily. Casting director Jesse Tannenbaum has said publicly that his personal philosophy hasn't changed. He still wants a show that looks like the real world, regardless of the corporate mandate being lifted. We’ll have to see how the final 26 racers look when the headshots finally drop later this year.
The Big Twists for 2026
Phil has been teasing that "Luck is the residue of design" for this upcoming season. What does that actually mean? Apparently, they’ve introduced some new twists that actually worked the way production intended.
We are likely seeing the 90-minute episode format stay for good. It’s cheaper for the network than producing a whole separate show, and fans actually like seeing the travel logistics that used to get cut.
Expect:
💡 You might also like: Charlie Charlie Are You Here: Why the Viral Demon Myth Still Creeps Us Out
- The return of the "Scramble" (where teams can do tasks in any order).
- No more "Charter Planes." They are back to the mercy of commercial flight bookings, which is where the real drama happens anyway.
- A "special episode" that Phil mentioned is personally significant to him—likely something involving the New Zealand leg, given his roots there.
Why the Delay is Actually a Good Thing
I know, waiting until the fall of 2026 feels like an eternity. But look at it this way: the show was getting a little stale when they were rushing production in the post-pandemic era. By filming in late 2025 and taking a year to edit, they have time to really craft the narrative.
Season 38 was won by Jas and Jag Bains (the Big Brother brothers), and while they were great competitors, the "European only" route felt a bit repetitive. Season 39 going to places like Sri Lanka and Albania brings back that "National Geographic" feel that made the early seasons so iconic.
How to Pass the Time
If you're itching for a fix before the fall 2026 premiere, you've got options.
- The Amazing Race Canada: Usually airs in the summer and is arguably just as good (if not more intense) than the US version.
- The Amazing Race Australia: They’ve been doing "Celebrity" versions lately that are surprisingly funny.
- Paramount+ Rewatch: Go back and watch Season 31. It’s the last time they went to Africa before this upcoming season, and it holds up incredibly well.
Basically, the next season is coming, it's just playing hard to get. The route looks legendary, the "regular person" cast is a welcome reset, and Albania is finally getting its moment in the spotlight. Keep an eye out for an official trailer around August 2026.
Your next move: If you haven't seen the Season 38 finale yet, go finish that on Paramount+ so you're caught up on the most recent winner's circle. Then, set a calendar alert for the late summer "Upfronts" when CBS will finally drop the exact September premiere date.