The Amazing Race 39: When Does The Next Season Start? (Latest 2025/2026 Schedule)

The question of "When does The Amazing Race start?" is one of the most common searches for reality TV fans, especially with the show’s unpredictable scheduling in recent years. As of December 2025, the most recent season, The Amazing Race 38, has just concluded, wrapping up a thrilling, reality-star-studded competition.

The good news for fans is that the next chapter, The Amazing Race 39 (TAR 39), has already finished filming, ensuring a fresh batch of episodes is on the way. While an official CBS premiere date hasn't been locked in, the production schedule and network trends point toward a Fall 2026 launch, likely in September or October 2026, where the show traditionally anchors CBS's reality lineup.

The Amazing Race Season 39: Expected Premiere Date and Latest News

For the millions of dedicated viewers eager to know the exact start date for the next global journey, here is the most current information regarding The Amazing Race 39, including its anticipated schedule and major production news.

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• Expected Premiere Window: Fall 2026
• Anticipated Start Date: September or October 2026
• Network: CBS (and streaming on Paramount+)
• Host: Phil Keoghan (returning for his 39th season)
• Filming Status: Filming for Season 39 wrapped on October 17, 2025.
• Starting Line Location: The race kicked off on September 22, 2025, in Vancouver, Canada, specifically at Jack Poole Plaza in Coal Harbour.
• Cast Format: The season will feature 13 teams of new, regular contestants, a return to the classic format after Season 38’s all-star cast of former reality TV personalities.

The delay from the filming wrap (October 2025) to the expected premiere (Fall 2026) is standard for the show, allowing for post-production and securing a prime slot in the network's television schedule. Host Phil Keoghan has already teased new twists for Season 39, promising a fresh challenge for the teams.

A Look Back: The Amazing Race 38 (The Reality Star Edition)

The season that just concluded, The Amazing Race 38, was one of the most-watched in recent history, primarily due to its unique casting decision. The season featured 13 teams composed entirely of former contestants from other major reality shows, primarily Big Brother and Survivor. This crossover event created high drama and a new layer of competitive strategy.

TAR 38 Key Facts and Winners

Season 38 kept fans on the edge of their seats, with frontrunners and underdogs battling through challenging Roadblocks and strategic Detours across multiple continents. The finale, which aired on December 10, 2025, saw a tight finish at the final Pit Stop.

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• Premiere Date: Thursday, September 25, 2025 (Special premiere night)
• Finale Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
• Winners: Brothers and entrepreneurs Jas Bains and Jag Bains.
• Historical Note: Jas and Jag Bains became the first Sikh-Punjabi team to win The Amazing Race, a historic and celebrated victory.
• Runner-Up Teams: The final leg was fiercely contested by dating couple Kyland Young and Taylor Hale, and brothers Joseph and Adam Abdin.
• Major Twist: The entire cast was composed of former reality television contestants, creating a 'reality star' edition of the race.

The Bains brothers, who were consistent frontrunners throughout the competition, secured the $1 million grand prize by navigating the final challenges with precision and speed, proving their strategic use of the Express Pass and careful planning paid off.

Season 37 Recap: The Global Itinerary and Twists

To fully appreciate the show's current trajectory, it is helpful to look at the season immediately preceding the latest one. The Amazing Race 37, which aired in the spring of 2025, featured a traditional cast and a return to extensive international travel after earlier seasons were restricted by global events.

A Journey Across Nine Countries

Season 37 was a true globe-trotting adventure, showcasing a wide array of cultures and challenging environments for the teams to manage their Leg Money and navigate complex tasks.

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The race started in Los Angeles and took teams through nine unique countries:

• Hong Kong (China)
• Osaka (Japan)
• Indonesia
• United Arab Emirates (Dubai)
• Bulgaria
• Italy
• Germany
• France
• Portugal

This itinerary reaffirmed the show's commitment to its core identity: a high-stakes, around-the-world competition. The teams had to contend with classic reality competition elements like the Yield and the ever-present threat of a Non-Elimination Leg, which could save them from an early exit but often came with a major penalty. The sheer number of countries visited in TAR 37 set a high bar for the subsequent seasons, including the upcoming TAR 39.

The Essential Amazing Race Terminology (Topical Authority)

Understanding the show's mechanics is key to predicting how teams—and future seasons—will perform. The following entities are the cornerstones of the competition, and their inclusion is vital for any comprehensive discussion of The Amazing Race.

Core Race Entities (LSI Keywords)

To truly master the race, contestants must understand these fundamental elements:

• Route Marker: The distinct yellow and red flags that mark the location of the next clue.
• Clue: An envelope containing instructions for the next task or destination.
• Roadblock: A task that only one team member is permitted to complete. Strategic use of this element is often the difference between first and last place.
• Detour: A choice between two tasks, each with its own pros and cons (e.g., "Physical" vs. "Mental").
• Pit Stop: The final destination for each leg, where teams are greeted by Phil Keoghan. The last team to arrive is usually eliminated.
• Leg: A segment of the race, typically ending at a Pit Stop.

Strategic Twists and Advantages

Over nearly 40 seasons, the show has introduced various twists to keep the competition dynamic, including:

• Express Pass: An advantage that allows a team to skip any one task in the race (either a Roadblock or a Detour).
• U-Turn: A mechanism allowing one team to force another team to complete both options of a Detour. This is a massive strategic move.
• Yield: A twist that forces a team to stop racing for a set period, usually 30 minutes, effectively stalling their progress.
• Head-to-Head: A direct competition between two teams, with the loser facing a severe penalty or elimination.
• The Megaleg: A recent twist that combines the challenges and distance of two standard legs into a single, grueling, super-sized leg.
• The Final Leg: The last stage of the race, typically held in the United States, where the remaining teams compete for the $1 million grand prize.

As The Amazing Race 39 approaches its anticipated premiere in Fall 2026, fans can expect host Phil Keoghan to introduce new, game-changing elements, continuing the show's tradition of combining intense physical and mental challenges with strategic gameplay.