Everything We Know So Far About 'The Amazing Race 36'

Mike Bloom

Wed, February 21, 2024 at 7:04 PM UTC

6 min read

'The Amazing Race' Keoghan and a local greeter and the Pit Stop

Last season, The Amazing Race saw a stark return to form, with 90-minute episodes supporting a record number of teams, as well as the returns of commercial travel, the U-Turn, and the Express Pass. But what will season 46 of the Emmy-winning travel competition show hold? Here's everything to know.

When does The Amazing Race 36 premiere?

As announced by CBS, The Amazing Race 36 will premiere on Wednesday, March 13.

How long will episodes of The Amazing Race 36 be?

Luckily for fans of The Amazing Race, season 36 will air 90-minute episodes every week. This continues the historic shift that started last season, put in place by CBS partially due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Who is the cast for The Amazing Race 36?

The cast of The Amazing Race 36 was announced on February 21, 2024.

Amber Craven and Vinny Cagungun – Dating from Englewood, CO

Anthony Smith and Bailey Smith – Twin brothers from Clearwater, FL

Chris Foster and Mary Cardona-Foster – Father and daughter from Waltham, MA

Danny Butler and Angie Butler – Mother and son from San Diego, CA and Walla Walla, WA

Derek Williams and Shelisa Williams – Married from Alta Loma, CA

Juan Villa and Shane Bilek – Best friends from Spokane, WA and Marine City, MI

Kishori Turner and Karishma Cordero – Cousins from Gaithersburg, MD and Austin, TX

Maya Mody and Rohan Mody – Siblings from Monmouth Junction, NJ

Michelle Clark and Sean Clark – Married from East Point, GA

Ricky Rotandi and Cesar Aldrete – Dating from New York, NY

Rod Gardner and Leticia Gardner – Married from Lawrenceville, GA

Sunny Pulver and Bizzy Smith – Best friends from Edgerton, WI and New Berlin, WI

Yvonne Chavez and Melissa Main – Dating from San Diego, CA

When did The Amazing Race 36 film?

Eagle-eyed fans have tracked that season 35 started filming in late October 2022, and concluded in mid-November.

Notably, the season airing as 36 was actually the 35th season of The Amazing Race filmed. After the season was in the can, CBS had reached out to production to inform them of the upcoming shift to 90-minutes. As such, the producers planned a season around the new timeframe. That season was then bumped up to be the aired season 35, and this was swapped to become season 36.

Where will The Amazing Race travel in season 36?

The Amazing Race 36 will begin with a starting line in Mexico. The teams will then travel to Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Barbados, and the Dominican Republic before returning stateside to finish the race in Philadelphia. This marks the first visit the show has made to both the Dominican Republic and Barbados.

How will The Amazing Race season 36 handle filming during the pandemic?

Season 33 saw an unprecedented situation when filming took a hiatus for over a year from February 2020 to September 2021. When things unpaused, the race looked a little different. Not only did four teams have to drop out for various reasons, but the remaining teams were given a route that stayed entirely in Europe. They were also transported between legs by an official Amazing Race plane. Even then, there are cases that can still break through, as we saw on season 34 where one team tested positive for COVID and was forced to be removed from the race.

Season 35 notably lifted the COVID restrictions in play, most prominently in the return of commercial travel and the retirement of the charter plane. However, since season 36 technically filmed before that, it remains to be seen what protocols will still have an effect on the season.

What new changes are in The Amazing Race season 36?

The Amazing Race 35 brought in plenty of old to mix with the new. Teams now flew via commercial travel for the first time since the pandemic. The show also saw the returns of the U-Turn and Express Pass, two staples from the show's history. Additionally, for the second season in a row, there were no non-elimination legs. A record 13 teams were put on the season to supplement that.

It remains to be seen what season 36 will continue from season 35, especially since it technically filmed before it. However, one thing that remains consistent is the lack of non-elimination legs, supplemented by a record 13 teams participating.

Who is the host for Amazing Race season 36?

New Zealander and reality veteran Phil Keoghan will be returning for his 36th season as host. In addition to The Amazing Race, he hosts and executive produces fellow CBS reality series Tough as Nails, which throws the spotlight on real people who are real tough in real life as a result of their physically demanding everyday jobs and puts them through tests of strength, endurance, agility and mental toughness. Keoghan also hosts the interview podcast Buckit, which has had on guests like Alfred Molina, Bonnie Hunt, and Carmelita Jeter.

How do I get news about The Amazing Race?

Check back here for updates on The Amazing Race 36 as they develop.

What time does The Amazing Race come on?

The Amazing Race 36 will air at 9:30 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on Wednesdays on CBS.

What shows can I watch during The Amazing Race 36 hiatus?

There are several new reality shows you can watch in the meantime while you wait. Tough as Nails is CBS' new hit reality show, created, produced, and hosted by Amazing Race's Phil Keoghan. It currently has aired five seasons. Additionally, executive producers Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri have worked on the 2021 reality series Race to the Center of the Earth. The show has similarities and differences with The Amazing Race, with teams of three starting from different corners of the globe with the goal to be the first to cross the finish line in the middle of the world.

Do eliminated teams get to go home on The Amazing Race?

Nope! If folks showed up back at home a few days after they were eliminated, that would be a major spoiler. Instead, eliminated teams are sequestered at a resort until the end of filming.

How many miles has The Amazing Race traveled in its 36 seasons?

The Amazing Race celebrates traveling an amazing 1 million miles around the world when the 32nd race kicks off from the legendary Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on the season 32 premiere.

Has The Amazing Race won any awards?

The Amazing Race is nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Competition Program category, its 18th nomination. The series won the category in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014.

Next, check out our interview with Derek Xiao and Claire Rehfuss, the winners of The Amazing Race 34.

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