Thirteen teams of famous faces are preparing to ditch the red carpets, green rooms and studio sets for tuk-tuks, taxi queues and foreign-language clue cards, as The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition returns tonight with a brand-new season set across six countries and featuring a new strategic twist.
The adventure kicks off in dramatic style at the Himalayas, dubbed the “roof of the world”, before heading through Nepal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, the Indonesian island of Java, and — for the first time in the Australian series — Uzbekistan. Over the course of the journey, teams will face a series of physical, mental and cultural challenges, designed to test relationships, resolve, and resourcefulness under pressure.
Returning to oversee the globe-trotting chaos is Beau Ryan, who will guide the celebrity competitors — each racing with a close friend or family member — through a race filled with Pit Stops, Roadblocks, and Detours, alongside the debut of a new challenge format known as The Face Off.
In this new addition, two teams go head-to-head in a high-pressure battle. The winner continues racing immediately, while the loser must wait for the next team to arrive and attempt the challenge again. Once all teams have completed the Face Off, the final losing team receives a time penalty before they can rejoin the race — a strategic layer likely to heighten tensions and shift alliances.
Spanning entertainers, elite athletes, social media stars, reality TV alumni, and household names from Australian television, this season’s lineup brings together a wide cross-section of personalities — each competing for a $100,000 prize to be donated to their chosen charity.
Aesha Scott & Scott Dobson — Engaged
Charity: Peace Of Mind Foundation
Aesha Scott, best known as a Chief Stew on Below Deck, placed third on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Australia in 2023. She teams with fiancé Scott Dobson. The pair emphasise strong communication and a shared enthusiasm for travel as they transition from life at sea and on television to a multi-country race environment.
Ant Middleton & Dan Middleton — Brothers
Charity: Not listed
Ant Middleton, a former UK Special Forces soldier and host of SAS Australia, partners with his older brother Dan Middleton, a building conservationist. Ant’s background in endurance and leadership sits alongside Dan’s trade skills, with the siblings looking to apply a practical approach throughout the high-pressure stages of the contest.
Bronte Campbell OAM & Benfield Lainchbury — Engaged
Charity: Carers Australia
Four-time Olympian and triple Olympic gold medallist Bronte Campbell (recipient of the OAM) competes with fiancé Benfield Lainchbury, a musician. Campbell is credited with returning to the pool and winning gold as part of the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team at the Paris Olympics, with Benfield Lainchbury identified as a key support in that comeback. The couple bring a balance of competitive focus and calm temperament.
Brendan Fevola & Leni Fevola — Father & Daughter
Charity: Small Steps 4 Hannah
Former AFL player Brendan Fevola has since worked extensively in media, with television appearances on The Footy Show and The Masked Singer Australia. He won I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Australia in 2015. He teams with his 18-year-old daughter Leni Fevola. According to program materials, becoming a parent is among his proudest career highlights, and the pair will combine lived experience and a first major TV outing for Leni across unfamiliar destinations.
Dom ‘Tomato’ Di Tommaso & Marx Marsters — Mates
Charity: National Breast Cancer Foundation
Global parkour athlete Dominic “Dom Tomato” Di Tommaso is a Red Bull professional and member of Team Faran, performing freerunning stunts at well-known locations worldwide. He races with best friend Marx Marsters, a garbo and DJ. Their entry brings agility and spatial problem-solving to tasks that reward fast decision-making as well as endurance.
Ed Kavalee & Tiffiny Hall — Married
Charity: Learning For Life Autism Centre
Comedian and actor Ed Kavalee, a mainstay on Have You Been Paying Attention?, partners with Tiffiny Hall, a fitness and health expert with over 20 years of training experience. Hall is a former The Biggest Loser trainer and has authored more than 11 books; the couple have also co-authored books together. Kavalee’s quick thinking and Hall’s conditioning background underpin their approach.
Gretel Killeen & Epiphany — Mother & Daughter
Charity: Hunter Medical Research Institute Women’s Health Program
Gretel Killeen—writer, broadcaster and original host of Big Brother Australia—competes with her daughter Epiphany, a filmmaker who holds a Guinness World Record for the most short films produced by a filmmaker. (One source names her as Epiphany Morgan; another names her as Epiphany Mason.) The team pairs television experience with a creative production background.
Lindy Klim & Stella Klim — Mother & Daughter
Charity: Good Shepherd Australia/New Zealand
Model, socialite and Indonesian princess Lindy Klim is joined by her daughter Stella Klim, a model and social media figure. The duo shifts from fashion and digital work to an itinerary that prioritises strategy, logistics and physical tasks across multiple countries.
Luke O’Halloran & ‘Sassy’ Scott O’Halloran — Brothers
Charity: Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal
Social media creators Luke O’Halloran and ‘Sassy’ Scott O’Halloran began posting videos during COVID-19, growing a following of more than five million across platforms. Their audience includes Selena Gomez, Kyle and Jackie O, Meghan Trainor, Rita Ora and Taika Waititi. Alongside humour, the brothers note a competitive edge as they attempt to translate online timing and chemistry to real-world challenges.
Melissa Leong & Leah Wilson — Besties
Charity: Orygen
Melissa Leong—TV presenter, food writer, podcast host, cookbook editor, radio broadcaster and former MasterChef Australia judge—teams with long-term friend Leah Wilson. Leong shifts from adjudicating televised competitions to competing in one, with Wilson as a trusted partner over a route that demands composure and planning.
Rob Mills & Georgie Tunny — Engaged
Charity: The Australian Children’s Music Foundation
Singer and actor Rob “Millsy” Mills was a finalist on Australian Idol in 2003 and has since appeared on stage in Wicked, &Juliet and Grease: The Musical, with television credits including Neighbours. He partners with fiancée Georgie Tunny, a journalist who served as sports host on ABC News Breakfast for several years before becoming a regular host on The Project. The pair emphasise complementary creative and analytical skills.
Steph Tisdell & Ben Tisdell — Siblings
Charity: Bridgit Water Foundation
Comedian and actor Steph Tisdell, winner of the 2014 Deadly Funny National Grand Final, has appeared in Bump, The Deb and Total Control, and written on Fisk and Rosehaven. She races with her brother Ben Tisdell, an emergency room doctor. Steph has described Ben as her “metaphorical personal trainer” as she prepares for the 2026 Boston Marathon. The siblings aim to keep spirits high while managing time-critical tasks.
Stephen Curry & Bernard Curry — Brothers
Charity: One in Five
Actors Stephen Curry and Bernard Curry have worked across Australian film and television since the 1990s. Stephen is known for The Castle and The King, for which he won AFI and Silver Logie awards. Bernard has held roles in Home & Away, Neighbours and Wentworth, among others. The brothers claim they have not argued since 1984, a streak the competition may test.
