- The Amazing Race Season 39 locations kick off with a landmark leg in Vancouver, Canada.
- 13 Express Passes: every team holds one, a first in show history.
- Vancouver was fan-driven: Canadian viewers campaigned for Phil Keoghan to race north.
- First leg eliminations hit hard — teams can be cut within hours of the start.
- Weather matters: Vancouver's rain-fed greenery made for a spectacular leg day.
Season 39 Locations: The Route Begins in Vancouver
The Amazing Race Season 39 locations begin with a milestone: for the first time under this format, the race travels to Vancouver, Canada, for a full leg. Host Phil Keoghan confirmed in the official "Unpacked" aftershow that the Canadian stop was a direct response to years of fan requests, with viewers of the Canadian version of the show repeatedly asking when the American race would cross the border.
Vancouver delivered a stunning backdrop. As Phil described it, the city "can be either quite wet" — but when the sun came out during filming, "it was showing off." The rain-soaked landscape keeps everything "very, very green," giving the leg a visual identity distinct from typical Season 39 locations.
Video Highlights:
- Phil Keoghan breaks down why Vancouver earned a Season 39 leg
- The historic 13-Express-Pass twist explained by the host himself
- The emotional first-elimination of brothers Zach and Nate
- How Canada's fan campaign brought the race north
| Location | Role in Season 39 | Notable Details |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver, Canada | First international-feel leg | Fan-requested destination; sunny filming day |
| Vancouver city streets | Racing and task arena | Teams "raced out across the city" on leg one |
| Pit Stop (Leg 1) | First elimination point | Zach and Nate eliminated |
The Vancouver leg is more than scenery — it marks the first time Canadian fans got the leg they campaigned for. Phil personally thanked viewers: "There you go Canadian fans. You got what you wanted."
The 13 Express Passes Twist and How It Shaped the Locations
Season 39 introduced a game-changing rule that affected how every location played out: for the first time in the show's history, all 13 teams received an Express Pass at the start of the race. Each team chooses when to deploy it — skip a challenge early for safety, or hold it as insurance for a later leg.
Phil noted that this twist changed the entire dynamic of the route. Strong teams could no longer predict how mid-pack racers would approach tasks, and weaker teams gained a mechanism to claw back positions at any Season 39 location.
| Express Pass Strategy | When to Use It | Risk Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early burn | Leg 1 to avoid elimination | Low | Cautious or weaker teams |
| Mid-race hold | Legs 2–5 for position swings | Medium | Balanced teams |
| Deep insurance | Hold as long as possible | High | Confident front-runners |
| Surprise play | Deploy unexpectedly at a Roadblock | Medium | Strategic teams |
Each team gets exactly one Express Pass for the entire race. Once it is played, there is no safety net — the last team to check in at a Pit Stop can still be eliminated within hours of the race starting.
Leg 1 Breakdown: What Happened at the Opening Locations
The first leg set the tone for Season 39. Thirteen teams — many of whom had applied multiple times, some "seven or eight times" — launched into a frantic opening sprint where "every time they rip and read an envelope, there's a surprise."
The Start Line
Phil greets 13 teams, each already holding an Express Pass. Casting directors selected the lineup from thousands of applicants across multiple casting calls.
The Vancouver Sprint
Teams race across Vancouver on a spectacular filming day, hunting for clue envelopes and their next captain or task location.
The Express Pass Decisions
Teams choose whether to play their pass on the opening challenges — footage shows teams declaring "We'd like to use our Express Pass" mid-task.
The First Pit Stop
Phil delivers the season's first elimination. Brothers Zach and Nate finished last and were cut "literally hours after the start."
Phil admitted he hates delivering first-leg eliminations: "It's emotional, it's tough." He reminds teams that simply making the cast means beating out thousands of applicants — "you've already won."
How Locations Were Chosen: Behind the Scenes
The Season 39 locations reflect a mix of fan demand, production logistics, and storytelling. The Vancouver leg is the clearest example: the success of the Canadian version of the race, plus direct outreach from Canadian viewers, convinced producers to dedicate a leg there.
Fan Demand
- Canadian viewers lobbied Phil directly
- Canadian version's success proved appetite
- Result: a full Vancouver leg
Casting First
- 13 teams from thousands of applicants
- Some teams applied 7–8 times
- Season goal: first mother-daughter winners
Twist-Driven Route
- 13 Express Passes reshuffled leg outcomes
- Mid-pack teams could catch up anywhere
- Strong teams second-guessed every leg
Beyond the Vancouver location, Season 39 features two historic firsts: the largest number of Express Passes ever in play at once (13), and a stated push toward crowning the first mother-daughter winning team in 39 seasons.
Viewer Checklist: Track the Season 39 Locations
Follow the Race Like a Pro:
- Note each leg's starting location and Pit Stop country
- Track which teams still hold their Express Pass
- Watch for weather-driven location drama like Vancouver's sunshine
- Log first-visit destinations and historic show firsts
- Compare elimination order against first-leg performance trends
| Tracking Item | Why It Matters | Where to Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Express Pass usage | Reveals team strategy and confidence | Each episode's task segments |
| First-visit locations | Historic milestones like Vancouver | Phil's host segments |
| Elimination timing | First legs cut teams within hours | Pit Stop mat scenes |
| Casting backstory | Some teams applied 7–8 times | Unpacked aftershow |
For host commentary on each location and elimination, watch the official "Unpacked" aftershow episodes on CBS's YouTube channel, where Phil and eliminated teams break down every leg.
Season 39 Locations FAQ
Q: Where did The Amazing Race Season 39 locations begin?
Season 39 featured a landmark leg in Vancouver, Canada — a destination added after years of campaigning by Canadian fans of the show. Phil Keoghan confirmed the leg during the official Unpacked aftershow and thanked Canadian viewers directly.
Q: What is the 13 Express Passes twist in Season 39?
For the first time in show history, all 13 teams received an Express Pass at the start of the race. Each team decides when to use it — early for safety, or later as insurance. Phil called it a genuine game changer that reshuffled the order of every leg.
Q: Who was eliminated first in Season 39?
Brothers Zach and Nate were the first team eliminated, cut just hours after the race began. Phil described first-leg eliminations as the hardest part of hosting, noting teams have already beaten thousands of applicants just by making the cast.
Q: Why was Vancouver chosen as a Season 39 location?
The Canadian version of The Amazing Race has performed well, and Canadian fans repeatedly asked Phil Keoghan to bring the American race north. Vancouver's mix of greenery, city racing space, and visual appeal made it the ideal choice when production committed.