Episode 1 Description: In Vancouver, host Phil Keoghan surprises racers with the first twist of the season — for the first time in the show’s history there are 13 Express Passes in play.
Episode Airdate: Wednesday, September 30th, 2026 on CBS
The Amazing Race is back, and team will visit nine countries around the world throughout Season 39! Teams arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA to picturesque views in the sky and on the water thanks to Harbour Air Seaplanes. The thirteen teams were welcomed to Canada by Squamish Nation people singing and playing drums. For the first time in Amazing Race history, each team was treated to an Express Pass that they can use within one of six legs (episodes). With an Express Pass, they can skip a challenge if they are spending too much time on a task or want to move on and save time before starting a task. We were introduced to this season’s teams:
● Ali and Joanna, pro soccer teammate moms (both formerly on the U.S. women's national soccer team)
● Andrea (daughter) and Anuar (dad)
● Ann-Marie (mom) and Riley (daughter)
● Charlotte and Katie, sisters
● Cody and Jaime, siblings
● Conner and Garrett, childhood friends
● Dafina and Saran, sisters
● Daisha and Dalton, dating
● Doug (grandpa) and Dylan (grandson)
● Erin and Javi, couple
● Jenn and Jody, moms
● Matt and Michelle, parents
● Nate and Zach, brothers
Teams were instructed to go to BC Place, a stadium where one member of each team bungee jumped 300 feet from a top balcony while wearing big bear claws to catch a big polyester salmon. Erin and Javi chose to use their Express Pass before beginning this challenge. Erin mentioned how it took some time for teams to get geared up, while Javi added that teams had to wait since the challenge could only be completed one team at a time. This wasn't the first time Ali visited BC Place. She and her teammates on the UNITED STATES national soccer team won the 2015 Women's World Cup on July 5th in which they defeated JAPAN 5 to 2. Joanna was on the soccer team in earlier years and not in 2015.
Next up on the itinerary was a visit to the Plaza of Nations; teams then hopped on an aquabus travelling to the Vancouver Maritime Museum. Here they encountered the “Run It Up” or “Paddle It Out” Detour. In “Run It Up,” teams memorized various maritime flags and their meanings. They then listened to a captain who called out some of these flags in a particular order, so teams hoisted the flags accordingly and were handed the Pit Stop clue if correct. Dafin and Saran used their Express Pass at the “Run It Up” detour. In “Paddle It Out,” teams arrived at Teetotaler Beach and paddled in an outrigger canoe to reach a yellow tetrahedron-shaped buoy for the Pit Stop clue. Doug and Dylan used their Express Pass at the “Paddle It Out” detour.
Teams finalized their first episode Amazing Race journey with a Pit Stop at the beautiful VanDusen Botanical Garden which features a serene waterfall as depicted in this wonderful photo by Richard Wong (↗). Erin and Javi using their Express Pass in the beginning worked out well for them — they stepped on the Pit Stop mat in first place!
Season 39, Episode 1 Results
1st — Erin and Javi
1st place prize — vacation to TÜRKIYE
- Istanbul
- cave and underground cities of Cappadocia exploration
- hot air balloon rides over the mesmerizing Fairy Chimneys
2nd — Conner and Garrett
3rd — Matt and Michelle
4th — Doug and Dylan
5th — Charlotte and Katie
6th — Anuar and Andrea
7th — Anne-Marie and Riley
8th — Jenn and Jody
9th — Dafina and Saran
10th — Ali and Joanna
11th — Cody and Jaime
12th — Daisha and Dalton
13th — Nate and Zach
Eliminated from the competition
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