Big Brother 26 premiered Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. The premiere was a two-night event, with part two airing Thursday, July 18, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. The season later settled into a revised schedule of Sundays at 9:00 p.m. and Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Because Big Brother 26 is a completed 2024 season, the schedule below is a historical broadcast guide rather than a current upcoming-TV listing. It includes all 39 episodes, the schedule changes, special-length episodes, and the October 13 finale.
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Big Brother 26 premiere date and time
The first episode of Big Brother 26 aired on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. CBS presented the launch as a special two-night premiere event:
- Premiere, part 1: Wednesday, July 17, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT
- Premiere, part 2: Thursday, July 18, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT
The opening episodes introduced the new houseguests, the technology-themed Tech-tacular Twist, upgrade powers, the first Head of Household competition, and A.I.N.S.L.E.Y.’s season announcement. CBS’s official episode guide lists the two premiere broadcasts as episodes 1 and 2.
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What time did Big Brother 26 air?
The originally announced schedule was Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. CBS revised that schedule during the opening week:
| Night | Regular time after the change | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | 9:00 p.m. ET/PT | The Sunday time remained at 9:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 8:00 p.m. ET/PT | The move began Wednesday, July 31. The July 24 episode still aired at 9:00 p.m. |
| Thursday | 8:00 p.m. ET/PT | The move began Thursday, July 25. Thursday episodes generally featured live evictions. |
That means 9:00 p.m. was not the permanent time for every episode. The first regular Sunday episode aired July 21 at 9:00 p.m.; the first regular Wednesday episode aired July 24 at 9:00 p.m.; and the first Thursday episode under the revised schedule aired July 25 at 8:00 p.m.
Times above are listed in Eastern Time first, with CBS’s schedule also using Pacific Time. Central and Mountain viewers should check their local CBS affiliate, especially when sports, breaking news, or other network programming affects the local schedule.
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Complete Big Brother 26 episode schedule
CBS’s season-26 episode guide lists 39 episodes, airing from July 17 through the October 13 finale. The table preserves the official episode dates and highlights the major format or scheduling notes.
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| Episode | Air date | Time or format note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wednesday, July 17, 2024 | 9:00 p.m.; two-night premiere, part 1 |
| 2 | Thursday, July 18, 2024 | 9:00 p.m.; two-night premiere, part 2 |
| 3 | Sunday, July 21, 2024 | 9:00 p.m. Sunday slot |
| 4 | Wednesday, July 24, 2024 | 9:00 p.m.; final Wednesday episode before the time change |
| 5 | Thursday, July 25, 2024 | 8:00 p.m.; first Thursday episode at the revised time |
| 6 | Sunday, July 28, 2024 | 9:00 p.m. Sunday slot |
| 7 | Wednesday, July 31, 2024 | 8:00 p.m.; first Wednesday episode at the revised time |
| 8 | Thursday, August 1, 2024 | 8:00 p.m. Thursday slot |
| 9 | Sunday, August 4, 2024 | 9:00 p.m. Sunday slot |
| 10 | Wednesday, August 7, 2024 | 8:00 p.m. Wednesday slot |
| 11 | Thursday, August 8, 2024 | 8:00 p.m. Thursday slot |
| 12 | Sunday, August 11, 2024 | 9:00 p.m. Sunday slot |
| 13 | Tuesday, August 13, 2024 | Special episode; check local listings |
| 14 | Wednesday, August 14, 2024 | Wednesday schedule; check local listings |
| 15 | Thursday, August 15, 2024 | Thursday schedule; check local listings |
| 16 | Sunday, August 18, 2024 | 9:00 p.m. Sunday slot |
| 17 | Wednesday, August 21, 2024 | 8:00 p.m. Wednesday slot |
| 18 | Thursday, August 22, 2024 | 8:00 p.m. Thursday slot |
| 19 | Sunday, August 25, 2024 | 9:00 p.m. Sunday slot |
| 20 | Wednesday, August 28, 2024 | 8:00 p.m. Wednesday slot |
| 21 | Thursday, August 29, 2024 | 8:00 p.m. Thursday slot |
| 22 | Sunday, September 1, 2024 | 9:00 p.m. Sunday slot |
| 23 | Wednesday, September 4, 2024 | 8:00 p.m. Wednesday slot |
| 24 | Thursday, September 5, 2024 | 8:00 p.m. Thursday slot |
| 25 | Sunday, September 8, 2024 | 9:00 p.m. Sunday slot |
| 26 | Wednesday, September 11, 2024 | 8:00 p.m. Wednesday slot |
| 27 | Thursday, September 12, 2024 | 8:00 p.m.; guest-hosted eviction episode |
| 28 | Sunday, September 15, 2024 | 9:00 p.m. Sunday slot |
| 29 | Wednesday, September 18, 2024 | 8:00 p.m. Wednesday slot |
| 30 | Thursday, September 19, 2024 | 8:00 p.m. Thursday slot |
| 31 | Sunday, September 22, 2024 | 9:00 p.m. Sunday slot |
| 32 | Wednesday, September 25, 2024 | Special 90-minute episode |
| 33 | Thursday, September 26, 2024 | Double-eviction night |
| 34 | Sunday, September 29, 2024 | 9:00 p.m. Sunday slot |
| 35 | Thursday, October 3, 2024 | Two-hour live-eviction episode |
| 36 | Sunday, October 6, 2024 | Special late slot following CBS programming; verify local listing |
| 37 | Thursday, October 10, 2024 | Final-three episode |
| 38 | Friday, October 11, 2024 | Special episode before the finale |
| 39 | Sunday, October 13, 2024 | Two-hour season finale |
Big Brother 26’s late-season schedule changes
The final weeks did not follow the usual Sunday-Wednesday-Thursday pattern. Viewers should pay particular attention to these exceptions:
- Wednesday, September 25: a special 90-minute episode.
- Thursday, September 26: a double-eviction episode.
- Thursday, October 3: a two-hour live-eviction broadcast.
- Sunday, October 6: the episode aired in a later-than-usual Sunday slot because of CBS programming, including the American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special.
- Friday, October 11: a special episode aired before finale weekend.
- Sunday, October 13: the two-hour finale revealed the final Head of Household result, featured the Jury Roundtable, announced the winner, and named America’s Favorite Houseguest.
CBS announced these changes in its late-season programming advisory and listed the corresponding dates in its official episode guide.
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Where to watch Big Brother 26
CBS
The original broadcasts aired on the CBS broadcast network. Whether CBS is available without a pay-TV subscription depends on the viewer’s location and local affiliate. An indoor TV antenna may be an option for viewers within reception range of their local CBS station, but performance depends on address, distance from the transmitter, building materials, terrain, and antenna placement. Check local channel availability before buying one.
Paramount+
Episodes of Big Brother 26 were also available through Paramount+. CBS’s summer announcement distinguished between plan features: subscribers to Paramount+ with SHOWTIME had access to the live stream of their local CBS affiliate, while Paramount+ Essential subscribers received episodes on demand the day after broadcast.
Plan names, live-channel availability, and on-demand terms can change, so viewers should verify the current Paramount+ plan details and local CBS availability before subscribing. The practical rule is: use CBS for the live broadcast where available, or use Paramount+ for on-demand access and eligible live CBS streaming.
Streaming-device compatibility
If a television does not support the Paramount+ app, viewers may use a compatible streaming device, such as a Roku device, provided the current Paramount+ app and device requirements support it. Buying a particular device is not necessary for every viewer, and the research does not establish that any specific model is required.
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Time-zone and local-listing guidance
CBS expressed the schedule in Eastern and Pacific time, with Pacific broadcasts delayed from the live East Coast airing for the regular episodes. Central and Mountain viewers should consult their local CBS listing rather than automatically converting the Eastern time. Local sports, news, network programming, and affiliate decisions can change the clock time or cause an episode to begin later than scheduled.
For a missed broadcast, check the CBS listing and the Paramount+ episode page. On-demand release timing can depend on the subscription plan and the platform’s current availability rules.
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When did Big Brother 26 premiere?
Big Brother 26 premiered Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. The second half of the two-night premiere aired Thursday, July 18, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
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What was the regular Big Brother 26 schedule?
After CBS changed the schedule, Sunday episodes aired at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT, while Wednesday and Thursday episodes generally aired at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. The Wednesday change began July 31, and the Thursday change began July 25.
How many episodes were in Big Brother 26?
CBS’s official season guide listed 39 episodes, including the two-night premiere and the October 13, 2024, finale.
Where could viewers watch Big Brother 26?
Viewers could watch the season on CBS where their local affiliate was available or stream episodes through Paramount+. Live CBS access and on-demand timing depended on the viewer’s market and Paramount+ subscription plan.
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When was the Big Brother 26 finale?
The two-hour Big Brother 26 finale aired Sunday, October 13, 2024.
The Bottom Line
The key dates were July 17, 2024, for the premiere and October 13, 2024, for the finale. The season began at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS, then generally moved to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays while Sundays stayed at 9:00 p.m. Special late-season broadcasts made local listings especially important.
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