How to Watch The Amazing Race Season 39 on DIRECTV: Premiere Recap and Schedule
The Amazing Race Season 39 started with a two-night premiere on CBS. Episode 1 aired Wednesday, September 30, from 9:30 to 11 p.m. ET/PT, and Episode 2 airs tonight, Thursday, October 1, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. After that, the race moves to its regular Wednesday slot starting October 7.
On DIRECTV, the show is on your local CBS station, and it streams on Paramount+. Below is how to watch, a quick recap of the premiere (spoilers ahead) and the season schedule so far.
Quick answer
- Episode 1: aired Wednesday, September 30, 9:30-11 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
- Episode 2: tonight, Thursday, October 1, 9:30-11 p.m. ET/PT (8:30 p.m. CT) on CBS.
- Regular night: Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT, starting October 7.
- DIRECTV channel: your local CBS station. The number depends on your market.
- Streaming: Paramount+ Premium live and on demand. Paramount+ Essential on demand the next day.
The Amazing Race Season 39 schedule
| Episode | Air date | Time (ET/PT) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1: "Sorry Guys, We Used Our Express Pass" | Wed., Sept. 30 | 9:30-11 p.m. | Aired |
| Episode 2: "Are Tomatoes Good for Skin Care?" | Thu., Oct. 1 | 9:30-11 p.m. | Tonight |
| Episode 3 | Wed., Oct. 7 | 9:30-11 p.m. | Scheduled |
CBS sets the schedule and can change it, especially around live sports. Check your DIRECTV guide for your local airtime.
How to watch The Amazing Race on DIRECTV
The Amazing Race airs on CBS, which DIRECTV provides through your local CBS affiliate. Local channels come with DIRECTV's core packages where they're available, on both satellite and streaming. Because the channel number changes from market to market, the fastest way to find it is to search "CBS" in your guide or look up what channel CBS is in your area.
The easiest way to keep up is a series recording. Set it once on your DIRECTV DVR and it will pick up tonight's Episode 2 and the Wednesday episodes that follow.
Need CBS on DIRECTV at a new address? Call American TV at 1-855-690-9884 to check local channels and packages.
How to stream The Amazing Race on Paramount+
- Paramount+ Premium ($13.99 a month): stream episodes live through your local CBS feed and watch on demand afterward.
- Paramount+ Essential ($8.99 a month): no live CBS feed. Episodes are available on demand the day after they air.
DIRECTV customers can also add Paramount+ with SHOWTIME as a premium channel. DIRECTV lists it at $13.99 a month plus tax, the channels start at 545, and the subscription includes access to the Paramount+ Premium plan in the Paramount+ app with your DIRECTV login. It's already included in the PREMIER package. If the app isn't working the way you expect, see our guide to Paramount+ missing on DIRECTV.
What's new in Season 39
Host Phil Keoghan sends 13 teams of two after the $1 million prize. This season's route covers more than 25,000 miles across five continents, nine countries and 13 cities. CBS says it includes the show's first visit to Albania, plus stops where teams walk with camels in Morocco and fly a paramotor in Laos.
The big twist came at the starting line: every team gets an Express Pass, which lets a team skip a task. That's 13 passes in play, a first for the show, and each team has to use its pass by the end of Leg 6.
Episode 1 recap: who went home? (Spoilers)
The race started in Vancouver. The first Roadblock was at BC Place, where one teammate had to drop from the stadium rafters to grab a salmon. Married couple Erin Taylor and Javi Vintimilla used their Express Pass to skip it, jumped to the front and finished the leg in first place.
At the Vancouver Maritime Museum, teams chose a Detour: memorize and hoist a sequence of maritime flags, or paddle an outrigger canoe to a buoy. Only one team can use an Express Pass on each task, and that rule decided the leg. Brothers Zach and Nate Johnson of Dallas fell behind after getting lost and tried to use their pass on the canoe task, but another team had already used one there. They lost a paddling race to the finish and were the first team eliminated.
Three teams used their Express Passes in the first leg, so nine of the 12 remaining teams still have one to play.
Episode 2 preview: Madrid
Tonight's episode, "Are Tomatoes Good for Skin Care?", takes the 12 remaining teams from Vancouver to Madrid, Spain. CBS's preview says a new alliance forms and one team regrets how it played its Express Pass.
Season 39 teams
| Team | Relationship | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ali Krieger and Joanna Lohman | Former U.S. Women's National Team players | Racing |
| Ann-Marie and Riley Tejcek | Mother and daughter | Racing |
| Anuar Tager and Andrea Tager Ballesca | Father and daughter | Racing |
| Cody Langlois and Jaime Tribo | Siblings | Racing |
| Conner Wilson and Garrett McGuire | Childhood friends | Racing |
| Dafina and Saran Dunmore | Sisters | Racing |
| Daisha Wilks and Dalton Hamby | Dating | Racing |
| Doug and Dylan Matter | Grandfather and grandson | Racing |
| Erin Taylor and Javi Vintimilla | Married | Racing (won Leg 1) |
| Jody Rebhun and Jenn Naso | Best friends | Racing |
| Katie and Charlotte Schultz | Sisters | Racing |
| Michelle and Matthew Patterson | Married parents | Racing |
| Zach and Nate Johnson | Brothers | Eliminated in Leg 1 |
Watching all of CBS's fall lineup? Our NCIS: New York premiere guide covers CBS's new Tuesday night. To compare DIRECTV packages with local channels, call 1-855-690-9884.
Frequently asked questions
What time is The Amazing Race on tonight?
Episode 2 airs Thursday, October 1, from 9:30 to 11 p.m. ET/PT (8:30 p.m. CT) on CBS.
What channel is The Amazing Race on DIRECTV?
Your local CBS station. The number varies by market, so search "CBS" in your DIRECTV guide.
Can I watch the Season 39 premiere if I missed it?
Yes. Paramount+ Premium and Essential subscribers can watch Episode 1 on demand.
Who was eliminated first on The Amazing Race 39?
Brothers Zach and Nate Johnson from Dallas were eliminated at the end of Leg 1 in Vancouver.
What night is The Amazing Race on after the premiere?
Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on CBS, starting October 7.
Questions about CBS on DIRECTV? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Details reviewed October 1, 2026. Schedules are set by CBS and may change; check your on-screen guide for local times. Prices, packages and local channel availability vary by address and may change. CBS, The Amazing Race, Paramount+, DIRECTV and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.