The Amazing Race Season 39 Set for Two-Night Premiere

CBS scheduled The Amazing Race’s 39th season to open with a two-night premiere, beginning Wednesday, September 30, at 9:30 p.m. ET. A second episode was set for Thursday, October 1, with the show’s regular Wednesday schedule due to begin October 7. The supplied reports provide advance schedules, not confirmation that the broadcasts took place. The new season is described as featuring 13 teams racing across five continents, nine countries and 13 cities. The route is estimated in one preview to cover more than 25,000 miles. The competition’s format sends pairs through challenges at destinations around the world; teams that fall behind are eliminated as the race progresses. The season’s winner is slated to receive $1 million. Season 39 is scheduled to begin in Vancouver, where host Phil Keoghan introduces a change to the competition: each of the 13 teams receives an Express Pass. The pass can be used to bypass a challenge, according to the season preview, but teams must use it by the end of Leg 6. The reports describe the rule but do not provide results from the race or say whether any team has used a pass.