- The Amazing Race Season 39 schedule airs weekly on CBS, with episodes streaming on Paramount+ the day after broadcast.
- Season 39 features 13 teams competing across a brand-new race course, including a stop in Vancouver, Canada.
- The season introduces a historic twist: 13 Express Passes are in play at once, one per team.
- Episodes run 90 minutes for the premiere before settling into a standard one-hour slot.
- Check your local listings, as special events can occasionally shift air dates.
Season 39 Broadcast Schedule Overview
The Amazing Race Season 39 schedule follows the show's traditional weekly release pattern on CBS. The season premiered in fall 2023 with a special 90-minute opener, then moved to its regular Wednesday night slot. If you are planning your viewing week by week, the table below summarizes the core scheduling facts every fan should know.
| Schedule Item | Details | | Network | CBS (broadcast), Paramount+ (streaming) | | Premiere date | Fall 2023, with an extended 90-minute first episode | | Regular timeslot | Weekly one-hour episodes, Wednesday nights | | Streaming window | Episodes available on Paramount+ after broadcast | | Season length | 13 teams competing over a full multi-leg race | | Host | Phil Keoghan |
The premiere set the tone immediately, as Phil Keoghan revealed the season's biggest structural change before the teams even left the starting line.
Video Highlights:
- Phil Keoghan breaks down the historic 13 Express Pass twist
- A behind-the-scenes look at the casting of the 13 teams
- The first leg's dramatic conclusion in Vancouver, Canada
- Host insight on why the first elimination is the hardest
If you miss the live broadcast, Paramount+ uploads each episode shortly after it airs on CBS. Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers can also watch live feeds of their local CBS station in supported markets.
How the 13 Express Pass Twist Shapes the Weekly Race
Season 39 changed the strategic rhythm of the show more than any recent edition. For the first time in the show's history, every single team received an Express Pass at the start of the race, putting 13 Express Passes in play at once.
Play It Early
- Use the pass on Leg 1 to avoid an early elimination
- Bank momentum for the legs ahead
- Best for teams unsure of their challenge strength
Hold It Long
- Treat the pass as an insurance card
- Save it for a difficult Roadblock or Detour
- Risky if you fall behind before using it
Read the Field
- Strong teams must second-guess mid-pack strategy
- Passes let weaker early teams claw back time
- Leg order gets shuffled in unpredictable ways
This twist matters for schedule watchers because it made each weekly episode less predictable. As Phil Keoghan noted, teams that typically dominate Leg 1 tend to stay strong, but with everyone holding a secret weapon, the arrival order at the Pit Stop changed dramatically from leg to leg.
| Express Pass Strategy | Best For | Main Risk | | Burn it on Leg 1 | Cautious teams, weak challenge performers | No safety net later | | Hold as insurance | Confident, well-rounded teams | Eliminated before you use it | | Reactive use | Teams reading rivals closely | Forced use under pressure |
The producers confirmed the twist was designed to keep every team alive deep into the season, which means the weekly elimination suspense stays high through the back half of the schedule.
Race Route Highlights on the Season 39 Schedule
The route is the backbone of any season schedule, and Season 39 delivered a mix of new destinations and fan-requested stops. The most notable addition came from years of viewer demand: an official race leg in Canada.
| Route Stop | Highlight | Why Fans Remember It | | Vancouver, Canada | First Canadian leg after years of fan requests | Phil answered Canadian viewers directly; the city showed off rare sunshine between its famous rain | | Leg 1 destination | Opening city sprint | Two teams, Zach and Nate, raced across the city but became the first team eliminated | | Season start line | Phil's opening address | 13 teams rip their first envelopes with no idea what lies ahead |
The Vancouver leg deserves special mention. The Amazing Race Canada had run successfully for years, and Canadian fans repeatedly asked Phil Keoghan to bring the American version north. Season 39 finally delivered, and the production timed it on a spectacular clear day, showing off the city's famously green, rain-fed landscape under bright skies.
The Canadian leg was filmed to showcase Vancouver at its best, and Phil made a point of thanking Canadian fans on camera for their persistence in requesting the stop.
Step-by-Step: How to Follow the Season Week by Week
Keep up with every leg of Season 39 without missing an elimination. Follow this simple weekly routine.
Check the CBS Weekly Slot
Confirm the episode time in your local listings, since special programming can shift the regular Wednesday slot or extend episodes.
Watch Live or Set Your DVR
Watch the broadcast on CBS, or record it. Live viewing lets you avoid spoilers from social media, which is critical for elimination-heavy episodes.
Catch Up on Paramount+
If you miss the broadcast, stream the episode on Paramount+ the day it becomes available in your region.
Review the Post-Episode Breakdown
Watch companion content like the official "Unpacked" aftershow segments, where Phil and the teams break down each leg's biggest moments.
Track Express Pass Usage
Note which teams have burned their Express Pass each week, since remaining passes heavily influence late-season strategy.
Your Weekly Episode Checklist:
- Confirm the air date and episode length for this week
- Watch or record the CBS broadcast
- Stream the episode on Paramount+ if missed
- Watch the official Unpacked breakdown segment
- Update your Express Pass tracker for all 13 teams
- Log each eliminated team in order
The Amazing Race elimination results leak onto social media quickly after each broadcast. If you plan to stream later, mute fan accounts and avoid search results until you have watched.
Season 39 Format and Elimination Structure
Understanding the format helps you read the schedule intelligently. Thirteen teams started the race, each having survived multiple casting calls and beaten thousands of other applicants, as Phil reminds every cast at the start line.
| Format Element | Season 39 Detail | | Team count | 13 teams at the starting line | | Express Passes | 13 in play simultaneously, one per team | | Host | Phil Keoghan, continuing his run since Season 1 | | Eliminations | One team per elimination leg, starting with Leg 1 | | Premiere length | Extended 90-minute opening episode | | Notable firsts | Vancouver leg; 13-pass twist |
The first elimination landed hard. Zach and Nate pushed through a demanding opening city sprint but arrived last at the Pit Stop, and Phil delivered the news hours after the race began. Phil has been open about how much he dislikes eliminating the first team, given the anticipation teams build over multiple casting attempts, some applicants try seven or eight times before landing a spot.
Phil Keoghan highlighted that after 39 seasons, this edition produced the first mother-daughter winners in the show's history, a landmark moment for longtime fans tracking the series.
Schedule FAQ
Q: When did The Amazing Race Season 39 air on the schedule?
The Amazing Race Season 39 schedule ran weekly on CBS beginning in fall 2023, launching with an extended 90-minute premiere before settling into regular one-hour episodes. Full episodes are also available to stream on Paramount+.
Q: What was the biggest new twist in Season 39?
For the first time in show history, all 13 teams received an Express Pass at the start of the race, putting 13 Express Passes in play at once. Teams chose to burn them early for safety or hold them as insurance, and the twist repeatedly shuffled arrival orders.
Q: Did Season 39 visit Canada?
Yes. After years of Canadian fans asking Phil Keoghan to bring the race north, Season 39 included a leg in Vancouver, filmed on a rare spectacular sunny day that showcased the city's green landscape.
Q: How can I avoid spoilers while following the weekly schedule?
Watch the CBS broadcast live or record it, then stream on Paramount+ if you miss it. Mute fan accounts and avoid searching episode titles until you have watched, since eliminations spread quickly on social media after each airing.