The Amazing Race 2026: Season 39 Premiere Brings a New Express Pass Twist
The Amazing Race 2026 is officially underway, with Season 39 launching a major change to one of the show’s most familiar advantages.
The CBS reality competition began its special two-night premiere on Wednesday, September 30, with the second half scheduled for Thursday, October 1. This season features 13 teams racing around the world for the $1 million prize, but the biggest change comes before the teams even settle into the competition: all 13 teams receive an Express Pass.
That makes Season 39’s opening strategy different from previous editions of The Amazing Race. Instead of only a small number of teams having access to the powerful advantage, every team starts with one.
The Amazing Race Season 39 premiere is a two-night event
The Season 39 premiere began Wednesday, September 30, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
Part two follows Thursday, October 1, also at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. CBS has scheduled the two-hour launch as a special event before the series moves into its regular Wednesday-night schedule beginning October 7.
The first episode began in Vancouver, Canada, where host Phil Keoghan introduced the racers to the season’s opening twist.
The teams will ultimately travel across five continents, nine countries and 13 cities, covering more than 25,000 miles during the season. The route also includes the show’s first visit to Albania.
Why the Express Pass twist changes the game
The Express Pass traditionally gives a team the ability to bypass a task, potentially saving valuable time during a difficult leg.
Season 39 changes how the advantage enters the competition.
For the first time in the show’s history, 13 Express Passes are in play at the same time, with one given to each of the 13 teams. CBS described the change as the first twist of the season during the opening episode.
There is also a deadline.
The passes are only available through Leg 6, meaning teams cannot simply carry the advantage throughout the entire race. That creates an unusual strategic decision: use the pass early to protect against a difficult challenge, or save it for a later leg when the team may be in greater danger.
Only one team can use an Express Pass on a particular task, according to the published explanation of the new rules, adding another layer to the timing of the advantage.
What happens in the second part of the premiere
CBS has confirmed that the second half of the premiere moves the racers to Madrid, Spain.
The network’s official episode description says a new alliance emerges during the Madrid leg. It also teases that one team’s Express Pass strategy comes with “instant regret.”
That detail is particularly important because it shows why the Express Pass twist is more than a cosmetic format change.
With every team holding the same advantage, the decision over when to use it becomes part of the competition itself. A team that burns its pass too early could lose a valuable safety net, while waiting too long could mean being eliminated without ever using it.
CBS has not indicated in its official preview which team makes that decision or what ultimately happens to them, so those details should not be treated as confirmed before the episode airs.
Where to watch The Amazing Race Season 39
U.S. viewers can watch The Amazing Race on CBS during its scheduled broadcasts.
The show is also streaming on Paramount+. Paramount+ Premium subscribers can watch episodes live through the service’s local CBS feed, while Paramount+ Essential subscribers receive episodes on demand the following day.
After the two-night premiere, new episodes are scheduled for Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.
Why The Amazing Race 2026 is trending now
The timing of the Google search spike is closely tied to the Season 39 launch.
The first episode aired September 30, while the second half arrives October 1, keeping the show in the spotlight across consecutive nights. At the same time, the all-team Express Pass twist gives longtime viewers a new rule to discuss as the opening leg unfolds.
The format change also creates an immediate question for the season: how aggressively should teams use an advantage that everyone has but that expires after Leg 6?
For The Amazing Race, that strategic uncertainty is now part of the race from the very beginning.
FAQ questions:
When does The Amazing Race Season 39 premiere?
Season 39 began Wednesday, September 30, 2026, with the second part of the two-night premiere airing Thursday, October 1.
What is the new Express Pass twist on The Amazing Race?
For the first time, all 13 teams begin the race with an Express Pass.
When does the Season 39 Express Pass expire?
The Express Passes must be used by the end of Leg 6.
Where does The Amazing Race Season 39 begin?
Season 39 begins in Vancouver, Canada.
Where can I watch The Amazing Race Season 39?
The series airs on CBS and streams through Paramount+, with live and on-demand availability depending on the Paramount+ plan.
