- The Amazing Race Season 39 start date: The season premiered on CBS as part of the 2025 fall broadcast cycle.
- Historic twist: For the first time, all 13 teams received an Express Pass at the start of the race.
- Pass deadline: Every team must use its Express Pass before the end of leg six.
- Notable cast: Includes former USWNT stars Ali Krieger and Johanna Lomax.
- Early destinations: Vancouver and Madrid, Spain, host the opening legs.
The Amazing Race Season 39 Start Date and Premiere Details
The Amazing Race Season 39 start date marks a milestone for the long-running CBS reality competition. After months of anticipation, the Emmy-winning series returned with its 39th edition, kicking off in fall 2025 and immediately shaking up the formula with the biggest rule change in the show's history: every single team started the race holding an Express Pass.
The premiere leg, fittingly titled "Sorry Guys, We're Using Our Express Pass," set the tone for a season defined by strategy. One team burned their pass right out of the gate — a decision that echoed into Episode 2 and beyond.
Video Highlights:
- All 13 teams receive an Express Pass for the first time in show history
- Episode 2 travels to Madrid, Spain, where a new alliance emerges
- One team's Express Pass strategy brings instant regret
- Teams include USWNT teammates Ali Krieger and Johanna Lomax
If you're catching up after the start date, watch Episode 1 first. The Express Pass decisions made in the premiere directly shape the alliances and regret that dominate the Madrid leg.
Season 39 Key Format Changes
The defining feature of Season 39 is the universal Express Pass. This changes the psychology of the race from the very first airport queue.
| Format Element | Details | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Express Pass | All 13 teams receive one at the start | Skips a single task, moves team ahead |
| Deadline | Must be used before end of leg six | Forces early risk-reward decisions |
| Team count | 13 teams of two | Larger pack, more alliance dynamics |
| Early destinations | Vancouver, then Madrid, Spain | International travel from the outset |
| Grand prize | $1 million | Standard series stakes |
Use Early
- Avoids elimination risk fast
- Loses insurance for later legs
- Episode 1 showed quick regret
Hold to Leg Six
- Maximum flexibility
- Risk of never using it
- Deadline pressure builds
Mid-Race Timing
- Saves it for a feared Detour
- Balances risk and reward
- Often the sweet spot
An unused Express Pass expires worthless after leg six. Teams that hoard it too long can lose the single biggest advantage of Season 39.
Meet the Season 39 Teams
Season 39 features a diverse 13-team field, with several fan-favorite pairings generating buzz from the premiere onward.
| Team | Relationship | Why Fans Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Ali Krieger & Johanna Lomax | Former USWNT teammates | Elite athletes with competitive fire |
| Michelle & Matthew | Married parents | Steady underdog energy |
| Doug & Dylan | Grandfather-grandson | Multi-generational dynamics |
| Remaining 10 teams | Various pairs | Alliances form and fracture early |
The Madrid leg reveals that a new alliance emerges among the teams, creating power blocs that shift the traditional two-team-only dynamic of the race.
Alliances in The Amazing Race can share information and navigate together — but they also paint a target on your back. Season 39's Madrid alliance already creates tension among the outsiders.
How to Follow the Season From the Start Date
Confirm the Broadcast Schedule
Check CBS's official schedule and Paramount+ for episode air dates following the premiere, since reality slots occasionally shift for live events.
Watch the Premiere First
Episode 1 establishes the Express Pass twist and shows which team played their pass immediately — essential context for every later episode.
Track Express Pass Usage
Keep a running tally of which teams still hold their pass as leg six approaches; it's the season's central strategic storyline.
Follow Alliance Shifts
Note which teams join or break from the Madrid alliance as the race progresses through new countries.
Paramount+ subscribers can stream episodes on demand after each broadcast, so latecomers can binge from the start date without spoilers.
Season 39 Viewer Checklist
Essential Season 39 Milestones to Track:
- Watch the premiere and note who used their Express Pass first
- Track the Madrid alliance membership each episode
- Count remaining Express Passes as leg six approaches
- Follow Ali Krieger and Johanna Lomax's athletic run
- Identify the eliminated teams each leg
| Episode | Destination | Key Storyline |
|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | Vancouver | Express Pass twist begins; instant use |
| Episode 2 | Madrid, Spain | New alliance; Express Pass regret |
Season 39 episode titles like "Are Tomatoes Good for Skin Care?" often reference Detour or Roadblock tasks — pay attention for spoiler-free hints about upcoming challenges.
FAQ
Q: What was The Amazing Race Season 39 start date?
Season 39 premiered on CBS in fall 2025, launching the 13-team race for the $1 million prize with the historic all-Express Pass twist active from leg one.
Q: What makes Season 39 different from previous seasons?
For the first time in the show's history, all 13 teams received an Express Pass at the start of the race, and every team must use it before the end of leg six.
Q: Which teams are competing in The Amazing Race Season 39?
The 13-team cast includes former USWNT teammates Ali Krieger and Johanna Lomax, married parents Michelle and Matthew, and grandfather-grandson duo Doug and Dylan.
Q: Where do the early legs of Season 39 take place?
The race begins in Vancouver before traveling to Madrid, Spain, in Episode 2, where a new alliance emerges and one team regrets its Express Pass strategy.