Big Brother season 26: release date, cast and everything we know about the reality series
Big Brother is back for another summer of twists and turns.
![Promo image of Big Brother 26 featuring Julie Chen Moonves](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FQWRtiTMWQzJynxXdnDbAS-320-80.jpg)
It's not the summer without 24/7 live feeds and HOH competitions. That's right, it's time for Big Brother 26, and this time around AI is taking over. After celebrating 25 seasons with Big Brother season 25 last summer, it's time to turn up the heat with one of the most imaginative seasons ever.
This summer, the look for the Big Brother house has been created by AI prompts. The Head of Household room was designed based on a prompt to "create a refreshing retreat" while the bedrooms were designed with prompts for "a sci-fi rocky planet setting," "a fantasy fairy garden" and a "futuristic bedroom for the year 2500."
Here's what we know about Big Brother season 26.
Next episode of Big Brother season 26
Big Brother season 26 airs Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 9 pm ET/PT. The Thursday eviction show will be live for East Coast viewers and delayed for the West Coast.
The next new episode airs July 31.
Big Brother season 26 premiered over the course of two nights beginning Wednesday, July 17, and Thursday, July 18, at 9 pm ET/PT on CBS.
Big Brother season 26 will air live on CBS. Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers will be able to live stream the show via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on-demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the episode airs.
If you’ve cut the cord, you can also watch CBS shows live via streaming platforms like FuboTV, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream.
Previous seasons of Big Brother are available to stream on Paramount Plus, and Paramount Plus subscribers will also have access to the 24/7 Live Feeds once the season begins.
Big Brother season 26 host
Julie Chen Moonves returns as the host of Big Brother season 26. Chen Moonves has been with the series since its inception.
Chen Moonves was a member of The Early Show on CBS before moving to The Talk in 2010. Now, she's best known for her work on Big Brother and her famed catchphrase, "but first."
Big Brother season 26 cast
Take a look at the cast of Big Brother season 26 below:
- Angela Murray, 50, real estate agent
- Brooklyn Rivera, 34, business administrator
- Cam Sullivan-Brown, 25, physical therapist
- Cedric Hodges, 21, former Marine
- Chelsie Baham, 27, nonprofit director
- Joseph Rodriguez, 30, video store clerk
- Kenney Kelley, 52, former undercover cop
- Kimo Apaka, 35, mattress sales rep
- Leah Peters, 26, VIP cocktail server
- Lisa Weintraub, 33, celebrity chef
- Makensy Manbeck, 22, construction project manager
- Matt Hardeman, 25, tech sales rep
- Quinn Martin, 25, nurse recruiter
- Rubina Bernabe, 35, event bartender
- T'kor Clottey, 23, crochet business owner
- Tucker Des Lauriers, 30, marketing and sales executive
Big Brother season 26 plot
Here's what CBS has to say about Big Brother season 26:
"Big Brother Artificial Intelligence, known as BB AI, is taking over the House and the theme will deliver the most unpredictable season for Houseguests."
Big Brother features a group of people who are sequestered inside the famed Big Brother House for months on end, competing against each other for prizes, cash and even food. A Head of Household is determined each week, and part of their duty is to select which houseguests will be up for eviction. However, the Golden Power of Veto can save one of the houseguests from being on the block.
Big Brother season 26 trailer
There's no trailer for Big Brother season 26 just yet, but you can check out the bold new look in this year's Big Brother House below:
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Sarabeth joined the What to Watch team in May 2022. An avid TV and movie fan, her perennial favorites are The Walking Dead, American Horror Story, true crime documentaries on Netflix and anything from Passionflix. You’ve Got Mail, Ocean's Eleven and Signs are movies that she can watch all day long. She's also a huge baseball fan, and hockey is a new favorite.
When she's not working, Sarabeth hosts the My Nights Are Booked Podcast and a blog dedicated to books and interviews with authors and actors. She also published her first novel, Once Upon an Interview, in 2022.