Channel 10 has abruptly pulled the brakes on The Amazing Race Australia for 2026, reversing earlier commitments that had positioned the long-running reality franchise as a key part of the network’s upcoming slate.
The decision marks a significant backflip from messaging delivered to advertisers and media just months earlier, when Paramount Australia executives publicly confirmed the program would return with another celebrity focused season in 2026.
A Network 10 spokesperson confirmed the surprise decision today stating that the series will not proceed as previously planned, citing production challenges.
“We’ve been working on another brilliant new season of The Amazing Race Australia,
but due to several factors, including travel logistics,
it will not be part of our 2026 program schedule.”
The spokesperson stressed the show had not been cancelled outright, describing the move as a temporary pause. The network also confirmed host Beau Ryan would remain part of the Network 10 on-air family.
The announcement has surprised industry observers given the confidence previously expressed at the Paramount Australia 2026 Upfronts, held in November 2025 at Dreamworld. At that event, executives framed The Amazing Race as an important part of the broadcaster’s forward strategy.
Tamara Simoneau, Vice President of Content at Paramount Australia, categorised the franchise as one of the network’s “returning comfort shows”, telling attendees it was central to a “heavy reality fix” designed to anchor primetime across a 50 week broadcast schedule.
Appearing alongside executives at the event, Ryan indicated production was imminent, telling the room he was “itching to top up those frequent flyer points” and would soon be heading overseas with a new cast of celebrity racers.
That optimism now stands in contrast to the network’s revised position. Sources have claimed casting preparations for the 2026 season were already underway when production was halted, intensifying questions about the timing of the decision.
Speaking today with the Daily Mail Australia, Ryan acknowledged the scale and complexity of the program, suggesting the pause was necessary to protect its quality.
“It’s a job that I’ve loved since the first day in the role,
and it’s something that I get really excited about,
but if it means we have to push it back to get the product right in terms of number of eps, correct countries, correct casting, then, so be it.”
“I love it at 10,
and I love my role
and, hopefully, it just means it goes bigger, better and longer.”
Ryan has since expanded on those comments, telling listeners on Beau, Cat & Woodsy on Triple M Sydney on Friday morning that the decision was driven by timing rather than uncertainty around the show’s future.
Speaking on air, Ryan revealed filming had been pencilled in to begin as early as March, leaving limited time to finalise visas, casting and travel logistics for the large-scale international production.
“I had a meeting with Paramount the other day. About a week ago, they said, ‘We’re going to go at the start of March.’ It was only five or six weeks away and it was happening very quickly,” Ryan said.
“It’s a big show with a lot of moving parts. It takes six to 12 months to plan and prepare for.”
Ryan said while production was initially pushed back to later in the year, the longer post-production timeline ultimately led Paramount to delay the broadcast window.
“The later you go, the longer it takes to edit it and put it all together. Paramount made the decision that we won’t air it this year,” he said.
“It gives us more time to do it right — get all the planning, visas and casting done correctly.”
Importantly, Ryan confirmed the franchise is expected to return in 2027 and may still film later this year.
“It turned into big news, but it doesn’t mean that it’s not being filmed this year,” he said.
“The Amazing Race is coming back in 2027. We just don’t know when we’re going to film it.”
Ryan also joked on air that co-hosts Cat Lynch and Aaron ‘Woodsy’ Woods should join the cast of a future season.
The reversal has also sparked speculation about how Network 10 may fill the unexpected gap in its 2026 schedule. Industry chatter suggests the broadcaster could look to commission an additional season of Australian Survivor or returning franchise The Traitors which has become hugely successful internationally.
While Network 10 has emphasised that The Amazing Race has merely been “rested”, the sudden shift from its earlier Upfronts messaging highlights the tightening budget pressures and increasingly uncertain nature of commercial free-to-air television scheduling — even for programs presented as locked into future line-ups.
Additional reporting by Kyle Laidlaw.
Disappointing!
Leanne Stephens it will be back in 2027 its ok
Oh no it was a good show
Viv Stenner yeah I agree
Because Aussies don’t like Australian versions of these international shows.
No it’s called Channel 10 is the 3rd channel in the commercial networks , and the fact , most Aussies don’t waste there time watching commercial TV anymore
Tony Paul Fra we do actually and the Aussie version of survivor is way more harsh and stronger with better challenges then the American one
Tony Paul Fra It’s only for 2026
No way
First it was Roger and the Traitors. Then it was JLP and now Beau Ryan and Amazing Race Come Channel 10 what are you doing??
Wendy Ballinger it’s as though they’ve taken out a life insurance policy against the network and they fully intend to collect.
Wendy Ballinger cost cutting thats what
Michael Mainke I think you are right. They have cut back on I’m a Celebrity big time.
Jenny Williams I never watched it
Wendy Ballinger traitors is back
Rory Whinn but not with Roger.
Wendy Ballinger but with the old legend host of big brother tho
Now JLP is gone Survivor will be next.
Jennie N Steve Jones no it’s not a new season is coming in a few weeks
Rory Whinn no, what i mean is that Survivor is no longer Survivor without JLP, that Genat driven crap is well, crap and no I don’t need to ‘give it a chance’ I know Genat is a twat, always was, always will be.
Jennie N Steve Jones he isn’t tho he’s not a rude and horrible person at all the first time he he played he did very well and when ye came back a second time he hid in the shadows and slowly took our big numbers in all stars and won and show how smart he even was on deal or no deal island which is an American show which had some reality stars on the season he won
Rory Whinn gee you’re funny, that’s not what we watched. He’s a twat.
Non-celebrity racers might make it cheaper!
Not good news for fans of The Amazing Race Australia 😔 TV Blackbox
Channel 10 are awful
Wait Didn’t A Blue Heelers Actor Host This Show Grant Somebody
Thomas Alexander Mylott Grant Bowler yes long time ago. He also hosted The Mole
Thomas Grant Bowler was the host when it aired on Seven.
another one fav show’s
This day has been full of major surprises in the Australian media industry.
Nine selling NBN to WIN.
WIN being a buyer and not a seller.
Arthur Laundy buying Nine Radio.
NOVA shaking up some of its major presenting teams.
And now this.
I hope this isn’t a sign of how the rest of the year is going to go. This is already more than enough turmoil for one year.
As for Ten changing course on The Amazing Race, I’d love to know more regarding the specifics of why it has become too problematic to air this year. Was there a place or two they wanted to go but couldn’t? Were the celebrity contestants seeking more compensation then Ten had budgeted for? Have labor costs risen too much? Or is it something else entirely? I hope Ten will choose to open up a bit more about the factors that led to this very abrupt decision.
They need more money to be able to pay for ’10 News+’?! 😉
Totally disappointing
channel ten’s move to prerecord i’m a celebrity and air three versions of the finale was an indicator of cost cutting.this is indeed bad news.
Why not do a version set in Aus?
Mark Allen they did through covid
That was great to watch
Another good show but channel 10 can’t see it but stupid move 
Because no one wants to watch big brother contestants race around the world
Would rather watch this than have to change channels when big brother is on.
Get rid of news plus and keep The Race