Dust off your punishment costumes and whip up a batch of slop: Big Brother 27 is on the way.
While the new season is sure to be filled with the traditions we love and the twists we love to hate, there’s a lot to unpack before we meet the cast whose every move we will watch on TV and the live feeds.
The basic format of the season will stay the same with the houseguests voting each other out until one winner claims the $750,000 grand prize. But as they say on Big Brother, expect the unexpected, and there are already a few new wrinkles added to the mix.
So will we see the next Dan Gheesling come into their own in the Big Brother house? Who will be the most sick-nasty houseguest who looks really cool in yellow? And, most importantly, are we finally done with Jankie World?
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As host Julie Chen-Moonves would say, we’ll find out soon enough. But first, keep scrolling for everything there is to know about Big Brother 27.
When Does ‘Big Brother 27’ Premiere?
Big Brother 27 will premiere Thursday, July 10, with a 90-minute episode. The second episode, airing the following Sunday, will also be 90 minutes.
What Nights Will Big Brother Air?
Big Brother will stick to its usual Sunday-Wednesday-Thursday format, but with a twist. Wednesday episodes, traditionally reserved for the Golden Power of Veto competition and meeting, will now be 90 minutes long.
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What Is Big Brother: Unlocked?
Starting July 25, Big Brother will add a Friday night show, airing every other week, under the moniker Big Brother: Unlocked.
“Three BB All-Stars offer never-before-seen broadcast footage from the house, exclusive interviews, surprise guest appearances and unprecedented behind-the-scenes access,” CBS teased in a press release. “Former houseguests share firsthand insight and expertise as they analyze gameplay, assess the competition and give their insider’s perspective.”
We don’t know who those All-Stars will be — and the show has always played it fast-and-loose with the term — but it’s a welcome addition nonetheless for those who love talking BB strategy.
Will Big Brother 27 Feature Any Returning Houseguests?
Not as part of the game. Fans will still see some old favorites during Big Brother: Unlocked, and BB24 winner Taylor Hale is expected to return to moderate the jury roundtable at the end of the season.
CBS also teased “a masked visitor” and “secret accomplice” who will play a role in the season. Either, or both, could be returning houseguests. It also teased a mystery houseguest, but CBS has already said these will be all-new players, so don’t expect them to be a Big Brother alum.
This will be the fifth straight season to not feature returning houseguests, marking the longest stretch of all-new players since the show’s first six seasons.
What Is the ‘Big Brother 27’ Theme?
This year, it’s a Summer of Mysteries. Every season has its own theme with an accompanying house aesthetic and game twists to match. CBS showed a mystery-themed house design on Wednesday, July 2, complete with a secret wine cellar, murder mystery-themed bedrooms and hidden passageways.
“The keys to unlocking unexpected mysteries in the Big Brother house are right in front of you!” Chen Moonves told Entertainment Weekly in a story published on June 16. “Don’t be left in the dark this summer. Be sure to tune in!”
The story came with a photo of Chen Moonves seated at a desk with a wall of oversized keys behind her. Coupled with the frequent videos that Big Brother has been posting via Instagram of past players whispering to each other, and the hints haven’t exactly been subtle.
“The key to a perfect summer is no mystery,” executive producers Rich Meehan and Allison Grodner said in a statement to EW. “Get ready to unlock the most unexpected season of Big Brother yet!”
Will Fans Have Night 1 Feeds?
Sadly, no. Unlike in previous seasons, the feeds won’t turn on until after the second episode airs on Sunday, July 13. The feeds will be available on Paramount+* and Pluto TV.
