Amazing Race 35 (2023) - News and Speculation

The Amazing Race 35 is the thirty-fifth season of the American reality competition show The Amazing Race. Hosted by Phil Keoghan, it features thirteen teams of two competing in a race around the world in order to win US$1,000,000. This season visited three continents and eight countries and traveled over 23,800 miles (38,300 km). Starting in Los Angeles, racers traveled through Thailand, Vietnam, India, Germany, Slovenia, Sweden, and Ireland before finishing in Washington. Elements of the show that returned for this season include the use of commercial flights, the Express Pass, and the U-Turn. In addition, the U-Turn Vote returned with a private vote rather than a public vote. Unlike past seasons, the 35th season features 90-minute-long episodes. The season airs on Wednesday nights on CBS beginning on September 27, 2023.[1][2]

On February 21, 2023, two months after the 34th season finale, CBS announced that no season of The Amazing Race would air in the first half of 2023. Instead the next season would air during the 2023–24 television season.[3] On May 10, 2023, CBS announced that season 35 would air 90-minute episodes following Survivor 45 due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.[1]

Location scouting for this season occurred in March 2023.[4] Filming began on June 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California at the Hollywood Sign.[5] From June 22 to 24, the show filmed in Jaipur and Amber, India.[6][7] By June 30, the show was filming in Europe.[8] This season included a first-time visit to Slovenia.[4][9] This season also returned to using commercial flights instead of charter flights as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic on two previous seasons and season 36,[10] which was filmed before this season in late 2022 and was pushed back following the decision to have 90-minute episodes.[4][11] Filming concluded in early July after traveling over 23,800 miles (38,300 km).[12][13] Elements of the show that also returned this season include the Express Pass, last seen in season 29, and the U-Turn (last seen in season 32), in the form of a voting U-Turn, which was previously utilized as a one off-twist on season 31.[14][15] Much like the 34th season, this season will also not have any non-elimination legs.[4]
Casting

Casting for the season began on January 2, 2023.[16] Casting closed on March 22, 2023,[17] and the cast was finalized on April 21, 2023.[18]