How to watch 'Big Brother' 26 online: Start date, time, cast and more

Big Brother U.S. season 26 will be hosted once again by Julie Chen Moonves
(Image credit: CBS)

Big Brother 26 starts tonight on CBS. But after 25 seasons, how do you keep the reality show format fresh? CBS thinks it has the answer: introducing Big Brother Artificial Intelligence ('BB AI') and, for the first time ever, permitting the sixteen housemates to vote in a seventeenth cast member. Here's your guide on how to watch "Big Brother" 26 live streams online and from anywhere...

'Big Brother' U.S. 2024 streaming details

The "Big Brother" 26 special two-night premiere event airs on CBS network on Weds, July 17 and Thurs, July 18 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (2 a.m. BST / 11 a.m. AEST Thurs/ Fri). Episodes will also stream live and on demand on Paramount+ with Showtime.
  U.S. — CBS (via Fubo) / Paramount Plus
  CANParamount Plus (7-day free trial)
•  Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk-free

“From summer camp, to tech, to the multiverse, 'Big Brother' loves to put a twist on topical and pop culture themes,” executive producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan said about their new innovation. Fingers crossed this summer’s ‘BB AI’ theme brings the drama to Big Brother 2024. 

Thriving and surviving or struggling to keep ahead of the game will be an ex-marine and a former undercover cop plus a celebrity chef, a VIP cocktail server and a crochet business owner (see below for full list of housemates, where they come from and what they do). But who will take the $750,000 prize? Will it be the mystery late arrival? 

Stay tuned to find out by watching "Big Brother" 26 online in the U.S., U.K. and anywhere in the world you are.

How to watch 'Big Brother' 26 online in the U.S.

US flag

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

The "Big Brother" season 26 special two-night premiere event airs on the CBS network on Wednesday, July 17 and Thursday, July 18 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (2 a.m. BST / 11 a.m. AEST Thurs/ Fri). It will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

New episodes will subsequently air on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, featuring live evictions.

You'll need the Paramount+ with Showtime plan to watch live, which costs $11.99/month after its 7-day free Paramount Plus trial. Or, if you don't mind watching on catch up. you can opt for the more affordable Essential tier that starts from $5.99/month (again with a free one-week trial).

If you're a cord cutter, Fubo is another option, with plans starting from $79.99/month for 150+ channels. Plus, if you haven't used it before, you can take advantage of the 7-day free Fubo trial.

If you're outside of the U.S. and have one of these subscriptions, you can watch the "Big Brother" 26 live stream by using a VPN.

Paramount Plus

Paramount Plus is CBS's dedicated streaming service, which means it gives you access to a whole host of great live sports and shows such as "Survivor", "Star Trek: Picard", "The Good Fight" and much, much more.

Fubo

Fubo is a comprehensive cable alternative. It's got a 7-day free trial so you don't need to pay up front and has dozens of sports and other premium channels.

How to watch 'Big Brother' U.S. 2024 live stream from anywhere

Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching "Big Brother" 26 on your usual subscription?

You can still watch the action live thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are, making it ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It's the best on the market:

Image
Exclusive deal

There's a good reason you've heard of NordVPN. We specialize in testing and reviewing VPN services and NordVPN is the one we rate best. It's outstanding at unblocking streaming services, it's fast and it has top-level security features too. With over 6,000 servers, across 111 countries, and at a great price too, it's easy to recommend.

Get over 70% off NordVPN with this deal

How to watch 'Big Brother' 26 in Canada

Canada flag

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Just like south of the border, Canadians can watch "Big Brother" U.S. streams with a Paramount Plus subscription.

With coverage starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, prices for the service start at $6.99 CAD a month after you've enjoyed your first 7 days free.

How can I watch 'Big Brother' U.S. in the U.K?

British flag

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

It's bad news for Brits, even though Paramount Plus is available in the U.K. it will not be showing "Big Brother" U.S. 2024 and it also doesn't look like it will be available on any other channels.

However, if you're traveling to the U.K. and wish to watch your domestic streams of season 26 of the hit reality show then you can use a VPN to do exactly that and avoid geo-restrictions. Full details above.

How to watch 'Big Brother' U.S. season 26 online in Australia

Australia flag

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

As with the U.K., even though Paramount Plus is available in Australia it will not be showing "Big Brother" 26 and it also doesn't look like it will be available on any other channels.

But, if you're traveling Down Under and wish to watch your domestic streams of season 26 of the hit reality show then you can use a VPN to do exactly that and avoid geo-restrictions.

'Big Brother' season 26 housemates (2024)

  • Angela Murray
  • Brooklyn Rivera
  • Cam Sullivan-Brown
  • Cedric Hodges
  • Chelsie Baham
  • Joseph Rodriguez
  • Kenney Kelley
  • Kimo Apaka
  • Leah Peters
  • Lisa Weintraub
  • Makensy Manbeck
  • Matt Hardeman
  • Quinn Martin
  • Rubina Bernabe
  • T'Kor Clottey
  • Tucker Des Lauriers

What has Julie Chen Moonves said about Big Brother 2024?

While noting that, "AI can be good. AI can be evil" she has predicted that she will be getting involved in the game like never before - and when you think she has presented the show since its debut in July 2000, that might prove to be very interesting. "You're going to see a whole new side to the Chenbot," she has promised, embracing the cruel nickname that early appearances earned her for a perceived robotic style of presenting as she tried to adapt from a news environment to a reality show.


More from Tom's Guide

TOPICS
Bill Borrows

Bill Borrows is an award-winning journalist, feature writer and columnist (Times Magazine/ Guardian/ Telegraph/ Daily Mirror/ Mail On Sunday/ Radio Times), former editor-at-large at Loaded magazine, author (The Hurricane: The Turbulent Life and Times of Alex Higgins) and book editor. A frequent contributor on talkSPORT and talkRADIO, his areas of specialisation include sport, history, politics, TV and film. He doesn’t get much free time but does admit to an addiction to true crime podcasts, following Man City home and away, and a weakness for milk chocolate cookies.

Read more
Host Jeff Probst greets the latest castaways in "Survivor" season 48
How to watch ‘Survivor' season 48 – stream latest episodes of castaway competition
The 2025 contestants wait on the start line as host Phil Keoghan prepares to start "The Amazing Race" season 37
How to watch ‘The Amazing Race' season 37 online – stream return of epic reality competition
Host Maya Jama poses poolside with the islanders of "Love Island All Stars" season 2
How to watch 'Love Island All Stars' season 2 online — live stream tonight's episode of dating show from anywhere, channel, cast, couples
Just some of the contestants ready for "Married At First Sight" season 12 - Australia's favourite reality dating show
How to watch 'Married At First Sight Australia' season 12 online and for free
And "the Masked Singer" s13 panelists are... Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Nick Cannon, Rita Ora, and Robin Thicke
How to watch 'The Masked Singer' U.S. season 13 online and from anywhere
Alan Cumming in "The Traitors US" season 3
How to watch 'The Traitors' U.S. season 3 online – stream finale and reunion special from anywhere
Latest in Paramount Plus
Igor
The Roku Channel is streaming one of my favorite kids' movies for free
Fletcher Loyer (cropped out of the shot) fouls Zakai Zeigler while battling for control of a loose ball during the Elite Eight round of the 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament in March 2024
How to watch March Madness tournament on Paramount Plus
Eddie Horniman (Theo James) sits in a red armchair, with a glass of red wine in hand in Netflix's "The Gentlemen"
Love 'The Gentlemen'? Guy Ritchie's next crime drama is streaming soon — but not on Netflix
Paramount Plus on a TV screen with a bowl of popcorn
New on Paramount Plus in March 2025 — all the movies and shows to watch
Host Jeff Probst greets the latest castaways in "Survivor" season 48
How to watch ‘Survivor' season 48 – stream latest episodes of castaway competition
The 2025 contestants wait on the start line as host Phil Keoghan prepares to start "The Amazing Race" season 37
How to watch ‘The Amazing Race' season 37 online – stream return of epic reality competition
Latest in News
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Tuesday, March 25 (#653)
A first look at Amazon's Fallout TV series coming to Prime Video
‘Fallout’ season 3 plans are reportedly being made — while season 2 is still filming
Surface Laptop 7 from the front
Amazon just gave Surface Laptop 7 a 'frequently returned' label — here's what's going on
New emojis with iOS 18.4 beta release.
iOS 18.4 beta brings 8 new emoji to your iPhone — here's all the new options
23andME box
23andMe has declared bankruptcy — here's how to delete your data now
half-life alyx
Latest Half-Life 3 rumors point to a 2025 release — and maybe pigs will fly