CBS has announced the premiere date for Big Brother 28, along with the fate of its companion show, Big Brother: Unlocked.Big Brother 28 will follow in the footsteps of Big Brother 27, which crowned Ashley Hollis as the winner. Vince Panaro was the runner-up, while Keanu Soto was voted America’s Favorite Houseguest. Hosted by Julie Chen Moonves, the season also included the return of Big Brother legend and season 13 winner Rachel Reilly. Big Brother 27 featured a mystery theme, with the houseguests taking up residence at the secret-filled Hotel Mystère.

Tragically, Big Brother 27 houseguest, Mickey Lee, passed away on December 25, 2025, at the age of 35, after a series of cardiac arrests due to complications from the flu. Mickey was a vivacious and skilled Big Brother player, who’ll always be remembered for her strategic gameplay and big heart.

Big Brother 27 alsointroduced a new companion series, Big Brother: Unlocked, which aired every other Friday night throughout the season. Hosted by Big Brother winners Derrick Levasseur (season 16) and Taylor Hale (season 24), the show featured behind-the-scenes information, exclusive interviews, and expert commentary.

Big Brother: Unlocked also included a Fantasy Big Brother draft, with Taylor, Derrick, and Big Brother 26 winner Chelsie Baham choosing teams. Alumni appeared, including Nicole Franzel, Jag Bains, Jessie Godderz, and Britney Haynes, as well as guest panelists Bobby Moynihan, Jerry O’Connell, Rob Mariano, Lance Bass, and James Gunn. Now, CBS has revealed when Big Brother 28 will premiere, and if Big Brother: Unlocked will return.

Big Brother 28 Premieres In July

In a Big Brother Instagram post, CBS announced that Big Brother 28 will premiere on Thursday, July 9, 2026. Julie will return as the host. According to EW, the Big Brother 28 premiere will be 90 minutes long, beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Premiere week will also include a 90-minute episode, airing on Sunday, July 12.

EW also reported that CBS stated that Big Brother is “the first primetime series to hit 1,000 original episodes.” The beloved reality competition series premiered on July 5, 2000, and is still going strong 26 years later. In addition, a CBS press release revealed that Big Brother 28 will have the “most programming hours ever.”

Big Brother: Unlocked Will Return

EW also shared that, in addition to the regular season of Big Brother 28, CBS is bringing back Big Brother: Unlocked. The first episode will air on Friday, July 10, with a major change: a live studio audience. The hosts have not yet been announced, so it’s uncertain if Derrick and Taylor will be returning to the show. However, they did a fantastic job with their first run, so it would be fun to have them come back again.

Big Brother is one of the most popular and successful reality TV shows in history. Fans tune in every summer to watch not only the CBS episodes, but also the live feeds, which give them access to the houseguests 24/7. There’s simply nothing else like it. With its unique format and thrilling twists, Big Brother has captivated audiences for over two decades. Big Brother 28 is certain to continue the tradition, and bring fans an epic season. Everyone should be ready to “expect the unexpected.”