So, you're sitting there, remote in hand, ready to see some frantic airport sprints and Phil Keoghan’s legendary eyebrow raise, and you're wondering what time is amazing race on tonight. Honestly, the answer is a little more complicated than it used to be. Gone are the days when you could just bank on a specific hour every single week without checking the news first.
Currently, in early 2026, there’s a bit of a "gap year" vibe happening. CBS recently shook things up. After a massive 2025 that saw two full seasons—Season 37 in the spring and Season 38 in the fall—the network decided to bench the Race for the first half of 2026. Instead of the usual globe-trotting chaos we expect on Wednesday nights, they’ve plugged in a new show called America’s Culinary Cup alongside Survivor 50.
Basically, if you’re looking for a new episode right now, you won't find one. But don't panic. Season 39 is already filmed.
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When Does Season 39 Actually Start?
If you're looking for the exact hour and minute, we have to look at the established CBS "competition block." For the past few years, CBS has found its groove by pairing Survivor and The Amazing Race back-to-back.
When the show returns—which insiders and network schedules suggest will be Fall 2026—the time slot is almost certainly going to be 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.
Why that specific time? Because Survivor has moved to a permanent 90-minute format. It takes up the 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. slot, leaving the Race to carry the torch until 11:00 p.m. It’s a late night for those of us with early jobs, but the 90-minute episodes have become the new gold standard. Fans loved the extra footage so much in Seasons 35 through 38 that the network hasn't looked back.
Breaking Down the Typical Broadcast Schedule
While we wait for the official Season 39 premiere date, here is how the timing usually breaks down across different time zones. CBS is pretty consistent once they actually get the show on the air.
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- Eastern Time (ET): 9:30 p.m.
- Central Time (CT): 8:30 p.m.
- Pacific Time (PT): 9:30 p.m.
Sometimes, especially during the fall, the NFL throws a massive wrench into these plans. If you live on the East Coast and there’s a late-afternoon football game that runs long, 60 Minutes gets pushed back, which pushes the whole Sunday lineup back. Fortunately, the Race has mostly lived on Wednesday nights lately, which avoids the "NFL hangover" delay.
Wednesday is the sweet spot. It's stable. It's reliable. It’s when you can actually trust your DVR to start at the right time.
Where to Watch if You Missed the Live Airing
If 9:30 p.m. is too late for you to stay awake—hey, no judgment here—you have options. The way we consume this show has changed a lot since the early 2000s.
Paramount+ is the obvious home for everything CBS. If you have the "Paramount+ with Showtime" tier, you can actually watch the show live as it airs on your local CBS station. If you’re on the cheaper "Essential" plan, you have to wait until the next morning. Usually, new episodes drop on the app around 3:00 a.m. ET on Thursdays.
I’ve found that watching the next day is actually better if you’re a superfan. You can skip the commercials and pause to look at the clue envelopes to see if you can solve the puzzles before the teams do.
What to Expect from the Next Season
Since Season 39 was filmed in late 2025 (roughly between September and October), the world was fully open again. We’re expecting a return to the classic travel style—public airports, messy standby lists, and teams getting lost because they can't find a taxi driver who speaks English.
The "COVID-era" charter planes are gone. That’s a huge deal for the timing of the show's drama. When everyone is on the same plane, the "time" they arrive is identical, which makes the middle of the episode feel a bit flat. With the return to commercial travel, teams can be hours or even a full day apart.
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Actionable Steps for Race Fans
Don't just sit there waiting for the TV to tell you what's happening. If you want to stay ahead of the schedule, here is what you should do:
- Check the CBS Fall Press Release: Usually released in May or June, this will give the exact date for the Season 39 premiere.
- Set a "Series Recording" on your DVR now: Even if the show isn't on for six months, most modern DVRs will hold that "wishlist" and grab the first episode the second it appears in the guide data.
- Follow Phil Keoghan on social media: He is notoriously active and often leaks little hints about filming locations and air dates before the official CBS PR machine gets moving.
- Binge Season 38 on Paramount+: If you missed the "All-Star" style run with the Big Brother contestants (Jas and Jag Bains took the win in New York City), it’s worth a rewatch while you wait for the new cast to debut.
The bottom line? You won't find the Race on your TV tonight. But come September 2026, clear your Wednesday nights at 9:30 p.m. The world is waiting.