The Amazing Race Season 39: Phil Keoghan’s $1M Challenge Across 5 Continents & First-Ever Albania Stop

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CBS has officially set the premiere for The Amazing Race Season 39 on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, and Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 9:30 pm ET/PT, returning with host Phil Keoghan. The new season kicks off in Vancouver, Canada, introducing a game-changing twist: 13 Express Passes distributed to every competing team, forcing strategic deployment by leg six across five continents.

Here is the kicker. Reality television longevity is notoriously difficult to maintain, yet CBS keeps finding fresh ways to tinker with a format that first hit screens back in 2001.

The Bottom Line

Premiere Schedule: Season 39 debuts with a special two-night premiere on Wednesday, September 30, and Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 9:30 pm ET/PT on CBS.

The Big Twist: For the first time in franchise history, 13 Express Passes are in play right from the start, with every team receiving one that must be used by the end of leg six.

The Route: Racers will cross five continents, nine countries, 13 cities, and more than 25,000 miles, including a historic first-ever franchise stop in Albania.

Decoding the 13 Express Pass Economy

When Phil Keoghan drops a twist at the start line, veterans and casual viewers alike sit up straight. According to details released by CBS, the Vancouver kickoff at BC Stadium immediately challenged the 13 competing teams by handing each of them an individual Express Pass. But there is a massive catch. Every team must burn their pass by the conclusion of leg six.

Now? It is a use-it-or-lose-it asset that forces aggressive gameplay through the early international legs in Morocco, Laos, and beyond.

Inside the Season 39 Cast Lineup

Casting remains the beating heart of any globe-trotting competition, and Season 39 leans heavily into high-achieving pairings and compelling family dynamics. Headlining the roster are two-time World Cup champion Ali Krieger and former women’s professional football player Joanna Lohman, bringing elite athletic discipline straight to the starting line.

As reported by Showbiz Junkies, the diverse lineup also features mother-daughter pairs, siblings, engineers, and educators stepping far outside their day-to-day comfort zones. Phil Keoghan noted via Showbiz Junkies that fans consistently tune in to watch everyday Americans tackle extraordinary challenges in unfamiliar territories.

Photo: showbizjunkies.com

Team Category	Contestants	Occupations & Hometowns
Pro Athletes	Ali Krieger & Joanna Lohman	Pro Athletes / Moms (Montclair, N.J. & Silver Spring, Md.)
Mother & Daughter	Ann-Marie Tejcek & Riley Tejcek	Healthcare Executive & Marine Officer (Carmel, Ind. & San Diego, Calif.)
Grandfather & Grandson	Doug Matter & Dylan Matter	Retired Fire Chief & College Student (San Diego, Calif.)
Married Couple	Erin Taylor & Javi Vintimilla	Head of HR & Pilot (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

From a 73-year-old retired fire chief racing alongside his college-student grandson to a mother-daughter duo pairing a healthcare executive with a Marine officer, the demographic spread ensures a fascinating clash of problem-solving styles. Viewers can track how these backgrounds translate when teams are forced to jump 200 feet off the catwalk of BC Stadium, walk alongside camels in Morocco, or navigate the skies of Laos via paramotor.

Navigating Five Continents and a Historic Stop

Spanning over 25,000 miles across five continents, nine countries, and 13 cities, Season 39 pushes its contestants through grueling physical environments. But the real headline for long-time geographic enthusiasts is the addition of Albania.

Reality television does not survive for nearly forty seasons on comfort alone.

How do you think the 13 Express Passes will change early-game alliances? Drop your predictions in the comments below.