Shifting away from last season's reality-crossover lineup, The Amazing Race Season 39 returns to a fresh, everyday roster of 13 dynamic duos competing for the $1 million grand prize. Kicking off with a special two-night premiere on Wednesday, September 30, and Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on CBS, host Phil Keoghan drops a bombshell right at the Vancouver starting line: every single team is awarded an Express Pass, triggering a high-stakes strategic showdown across 25,000 miles and nine countries.
The Complete Roster of Teams
The Season 39 lineup features an eclectic mix of elite athletes, record-breaking family pairs, and lifelong friends spanning diverse occupations and age groups across the United States.
| Team | Notable Highlights |
|---|---|
Ali Krieger and Joanna LohmanPro Athletes and Moms | Montclair, NJ and Silver Spring, MD | Ali is a 2x USWNT World Cup champion; Joanna is a former USWNT star. |
Ann-Marie and Riley TejcekMother and Daughter | Carmel, IN and San Diego, CA | Riley serves as a U.S. Marine Officer and competitive bobsledder. |
Anuar Tager and Andrea Tager BallescaFather and Daughter | Houston, TX | Analytical father-daughter duo with medical and tech backgrounds. |
Cody Langlois and Jaime TriboSiblings | Los Angeles, CA and Tinley Park, IL | Coast-to-coast siblings leveraging engineering problem-solving. |
Conner Wilson and Garrett McGuireChildhood Friends | Loomis, CA and Rocklin, CA | Lifelong West Coast friends with technical and physical backgrounds. |
Dafina and Saran DunmoreSisters and Best Friends | Chicago, IL | Bond analyst/DJ and personal trainer combining endurance with strategy. |
Daisha Wilks and Dalton HambyDating | Flat Rock, AL and Jacksonville, AL | Creative Southern partners used to working under tight filming deadlines. |
Doug and Dylan MatterGrandfather and Grandson | San Diego, CA | At 73 and 19, the widest age gap in TAR history. |
Erin Taylor and Javi VintimillaMarried | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Javi aviation background gives an edge in airport navigation. |
Jody Rebhun and Jenn NasoBest Friends and Moms | Branford, CT and Larchmont, NY | History teacher and forensic scientist bringing analytical precision. |
Katie and Charlotte SchultzSisters | Murray, KY | Kentucky sisters relying on close communication and agility. |
Michelle and Matthew PattersonMarried Parents | Rutherford, NJ | Real estate agent and business director with negotiation skills. |
Zach and Nate JohnsonBrothers | Dallas, TX | High-energy Texas siblings and lifelong super-fans of the show. |
Strategic Shift | The All-Express Pass Twist
While the team backgrounds range from professional sports to higher education, all 13 duos face an identical starting-line challenge: managing their Express Pass. Because only one team can play an Express Pass per individual task, teams cannot simply hoard their passes. If two trailing teams arrive at a brutal Detour simultaneously, the duo that burns their pass first forces the second team to complete the challenge manually, creating an intense tactical bottleneck during the opening six legs.
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