First Look at ‘Big Brother’ Season 26: Tour the Living Room and Lounge Areas
Season 26 of Big Brother is just around the corner, and fans are buzzing with excitement as they get their first glimpse of the newly designed Big Brother house. This season, the show is diving headfirst into the technological revolution with a theme centered around artificial intelligence, introducing the first-ever “BB AI.” This AI will take over the house, adding an element of unpredictability and intrigue for the houseguests.
ET has provided an exclusive first look at two stunning and distinctly different rooms in the Big Brother house: the living room and the lounge. The living room exudes an uncanny outdoor vibe, featuring sleek neo-modern furniture set against images of nature and decor crafted from natural elements. The centerpiece of this lavish space is a striking white-and-orange marble wall, complemented by an awe-inspiring 8-foot wide root ball coffee table situated in the middle of circular white couches.
The living room’s nature theme is further enhanced by foliage cascading from the ceiling and a wall adorned with a life-size image of trees and an idyllic lake in the background. This setup creates a cozy, cool atmosphere that will make the houseguests feel right at home throughout the season.
In stark contrast, the lounge offers a completely different vibe. It features math-themed wallpaper, neon lighting, and sci-fi tech, all topped off with an inset fish tank in the back wall. The lounge also boasts a futuristic minimalist chess set, high-tech decorations, and sci-fi-themed props, perfectly aligning with the season’s AI theme.
Executive producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan shared their excitement in a press release, stating, “From summer camp, to tech, to the multiverse, Big Brother loves to put a twist on topical and pop culture themes. This summer’s ‘BB AI’ theme promises to bring the fun, the comedy, and the unexpected gameplay that is a hallmark of Big Brother.”
Big Brother Season 26, hosted by Julie Chen, will kick off with a special two-night premiere on July 17 and 18 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. Fans can also stream the show live and on-demand on Paramount+.
The show’s official logline reads: “Big Brother follows a group of people living together in a house outfitted with 94 HD cameras and 113 microphones, recording their every move 24 hours a day. Each week, someone will be voted out of the house, with the last remaining Houseguest receiving the grand prize of $750,000.”
Last season, ET reported that Matt, Jag, and Bowie Jane entered the finale night, all vying for the grand prize. After 100 days inside the house, the three contestants participated in a three-section final Head of Household competition. The endurance challenge involved sitting on big bubbles, being thrown against a haunted house, being dipped in scrambled eggs, and being shot with paint.
Bowie Jane was the first to drop out. Matt and Jag then decided who would drop next with a game of paper, rock, scissors. Matt won and secured part 1 of the final HOH. Jag and Bowie Jane faced off in part 2, where they had to put all the competitions from the season in the correct order. Jag emerged victorious.
In the final part, Matt and Jag had to separate fact from fiction in statements about their housemates. The competition came down to a tiebreaker question, and Jag won. He chose to bring Matt with him to the finale, where Jag was ultimately voted the winner by his outcasted housemates from The Jury.
As fans eagerly await the new season, questions abound about who will be the new houseguests and how AI will play a part in the game. All will be revealed when Julie Chen hosts the premiere of Big Brother Season 26 on July 17 and 18 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. The show will also be available for live streaming and on-demand viewing on Paramount+.