Everything We Know About 'The Amazing Race' Season 36 (Including Who Won!)

Last season, The Amazing Race saw a stark return to form, with 90-minute episodes supporting a record number of teams, as well as the returns of commercial travel, the U-Turn, and the Express Pass. But what will season 36 of the Emmy-winning travel competition show hold? Here's everything to know.

Who won The Amazing Race 36?

Ricky Rotandi and César Aldrete

As Phil Keoghan himself said, Ricky and César are the perfect demonstration of how you can't judge a book by its cover. While the boyfriends went on the race to satisfy César's longtime dream, they surprised everyone by turning in one of the most dominant performances in Amazing Race history. Their combination of navigation skills and experience with seemingly every task put them on top in the beginning, a position they never relinquished as they had six first-place finishes going into the finale. Though they had their weakest leg going into Philadelphia, they defaulted back to their normal race mode upon returning to the United States. As we saw throughout the season, the two got out in the lead and never looked back, netting their seventh (and most important) first place.

Who has been eliminated on The Amazing Race 36?

Week 1 Amazing Race elimination: Maya and Rohan Mody

Siblings Maya and Rohan have been huge fans of The Amazing Race, to the point where they purposely took different languages in high school in preparation for the show. But the students got schooled fairly quickly in their first (and only) leg as racers. Having to navigate without a map, the two spent most of the premiere lost in the streets of Puerto Vallarta. And though they were able to impressively catch up to some of the other struggling teams, much like their car at a certain point, they hit a dead end.

Week 2 Amazing Race elimination: Chris Foster and Mary Cardona-Foster

Chris and Mary are longtime Amazing Race fans who loved the chance to see the world from outside their one-bedroom apartment. Unfortunately, when they turned from viewers to racers, they found the world was not so kind. They scraped by with near-elimination on the first leg, getting lost majorly in Puerto Vallarta. And while the second leg saw their navigational woes solved, the physical toll already began amassing. The full day of running around Puerto Vallarta combined with the heat slowed them down majorly, but they finished with their heads held high (albeit very sweaty).

Week 3 Amazing Race elimination: Anthony and Bailey Smith

As twins, Anthony and Bailey Smith were the most alike out of anyone on the cast. Unfortunately, that meant they had some of the same weaknesses, including navigation, which put them in the back of the pack coming into this leg. That came into play again during the Detour, as the two lamented the difficulty of both decisions so much they switched back and forth an astounding three times. And though they tried their best to catch up once they stuck with an option, it was all in vain.

Week 4 Amazing Race elimination: Michelle and Sean Clark

After finishing in the top half of teams the first leg, Michelle and Sean Clark had been struggling since, barely avoiding elimination. Luckily, their Double Dutch experience got them in the middle of the pack going into the Roadblock. But it all came undone when Michelle struggled to find her perspective. They fell to the back once more, and unfortunately, the third was the charm for their brush with elimination.

Week 5 Amazing Race elimination: Kishori Turner and Karishma Cordero

Kishori Turner and Karishma Cordero came onto the race to fully embrace the attitude of living life to the fullest, after Karishma tragically lost both of her parents in the same year. The two were one of the most entertaining teams on the race, consistently in a state of panic as they navigated the back of the pack through a series of mistakes. Their last one came when a misread of the Roadblock prompt had Karishma struggling through a building challenge. Her issues put them in last place, something that was cemented further as Kishori struggled with a climb up a former cement structure.

Week 6 Amazing Race elimination: Derek and Shelisa Williams

Though the oldest cumulative team on the race, married couple Derek and Shelisa Williams also had the longest-lasting relationship. And that bore out when the finished in the top three the first three legs. Unfortunately, it was then when the high-speed chase of the former police officers slowed down, as they had made a series of mistakes that sent them to the back of the pack. The two started the Megaleg on the wrong foot, as their choice to switch Detours and Derek's struggle in the first Roadblock put them far behind. As much as they tried to catch up with the second set of tasks, it was too deep of a hole to climb out of, ending their time on the race.

Week 7 Amazing Race elimination: Sunny Pulver and Bizzy Smith

Best friends Sunny and Bizzy came onto The Amazing Race to show that they could be both hardworking firefighters and loving moms. And when it came to the tasks, the two really did seem to be able to do it all, pulling themselves from last place multiple times with excellent performances. Unfortunately, their blind spot throughout the race continued to be navigation, and that was no different in Uruguay. In a leg that had nearly every team getting lost, Sunny and Bizzy struggled the most, at one point jumping from plaza to plaza to find their next clue. So even if they used their welding and percussion experience to once again blaze through the tasks, it wasn't enough to not extinguish their race in the process.

Week 8 Amazing Race elimination: Angie and Danny Butler

As perhaps the biggest superfan to ever run The Amazing Race, Danny Butler and his mother Angie knew their limitations, namely in the physical department. But they made up for it in other ways, between using their brains, making alliances, and having excellent navigation skills. Going into Barbados, Angie and Danny were in second place, and looked poised to make the finale. But, stunningly, they were struck down by navigational issues. A key turn at a roundabout separated them from their crew members, a no-no on the show. They were forced to wait for their crew to arrive, dropping them from second down to fifth. Their race became like a fish in a pot: Trapped from moving forward.

Week 9 Amazing Race elimination: Yvonne Chavez and Melissa Main

Yvonne Chavez and Melissa Main admitted themselves in this episode that they were a more under the radar team compared to their competition. Regardless, the dating couple were incredibly consistent, never finishing in the bottom of the pack. Unfortunately, with so few teams left, one mistake is enough to send you there. And that's exactly what happened in the first Roadblock of this leg. Despite help from César, Melissa struggled sorting symbols, putting them in last place and a hole they couldn't dig themselves out. But Yvonne and Melissa left with an invigorated strength in their relationship, having moved in together and had a child since competing.

Week 10 Amazing Race elimination: Amber Craven and Vinny Cagungun

Dating for four years, Amber Craven and Vinny Cagungun wanted to learn more about each other through the race. And it's safe to say they had quite the trial by fire. Throughout their highs and lows in the race, conflict remained consistent, as Vinny's intensity and competitive drive worked against Amber's self-talk. Despite their myriad disagreements, the two would come together at the end of every leg to affirm their love for each other. And Amber got the ultimate affirmation when, after being eliminated in fourth place, Vinny proposed to her at the Pit Stop.

The Amazing Race 36 exit interviews

After every elimination, Parade.com will talk with the team most recently eliminated about their time on the race.
Episode 1 – Maya and Rohan Mody Reveal They Nearly Survived the First Elimination
Episode 2 – Chris Foster and Mary Cardona-Foster Break Down Their Mexican Medical Scare
Episode 3 – Anthony and Bailey Smith Talk Their Detour-Switching Disaster
Episode 4 – Michelle and Sean Clark Say The Amazing Race Got Them to Conquer Their Fears
Episode 5 – Kishori Turner and Karishma Cordero Reveal Unseen Alliances
Episode 6 – Derek and Shelisa Williams Say "Having Fun" Led to Their Elimination
Episode 7 – Sunny Pulver and Bizzy Smith Felt "Hurt and Outsmarted" By the Three-Team Alliance
Episode 8 – Angie and Danny Butler Reveal the Producers Nearly Saved Them from Elimination
Episode 9 – Yvonne Chavez and Melissa Main Say Unseen Injuries Led to Their Elimination
Finale – Winners Ricky Rotandi and César Aldrete Break Down Their Record-Breaking Run
–Juan Villa and Shane Bilek Talk the Out-of-State Blunder that Lost Them the Race
–Amber Craven and Vinny Cagungun Recap Their Pit Stop Proposal

When does The Amazing Race 36 premiere?

As announced by CBS, The Amazing Race 36 premiered on Wednesday, March 13.

When is The Amazing Race 36 finale?

CBS announced The Amazing Race 36 will air its finale on Wednesday, May 15.

How long will episodes of The Amazing Race 36 be?

Luckily for fans of The Amazing Race, season 36 will air 90-minute episodes every week. This continues the historic shift that started last season, put in place by CBS partially due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Who is the cast for The Amazing Race 36?

The cast of The Amazing Race 36 was announced on February 21, 2024.

Amber Craven and Vinny Cagungun – Dating from Englewood, CO

Anthony Smith and Bailey Smith – Twin brothers from Clearwater, FL

Chris Foster and Mary Cardona-Foster – Father and daughter from Waltham, MA

Danny Butler and Angie Butler – Mother and son from San Diego, CA and Walla Walla, WA

Derek Williams and Shelisa Williams – Married from Alta Loma, CA

Juan Villa and Shane Bilek – Best friends from Spokane, WA and Marine City, MI

Kishori Turner and Karishma Cordero – Cousins from Gaithersburg, MD and Austin, TX

Maya Mody and Rohan Mody – Siblings from Monmouth Junction, NJ

Michelle Clark and Sean Clark – Married from East Point, GA

Ricky Rotandi and Cesar Aldrete – Dating from New York, NY

Rod Gardner and Leticia Gardner – Married from Lawrenceville, GA

Sunny Pulver and Bizzy Smith – Best friends from Edgerton, WI and New Berlin, WI

Yvonne Chavez and Melissa Main – Dating from San Diego, CA

Related: Everything to Know About Survivor 46

When did The Amazing Race 36 film?

Eagle-eyed fans have tracked that season 35 started filming in late October 2022, and concluded in mid-November.

Notably, the season airing as 36 was actually the 35th season of The Amazing Race filmed. After the season was in the can, CBS had reached out to production to inform them of the upcoming shift to 90-minutes. As such, the producers planned a season around the new timeframe. That season was then bumped up to be the aired season 35, and this was swapped to become season 36.

Where will The Amazing Race travel in season 36?

The Amazing Race 36 will begin with a starting line in Mexico. The teams will then travel to Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Barbados, and the Dominican Republic before returning stateside to finish the race in Philadelphia. This marks the first visit the show has made to both the Dominican Republic and Barbados.

Related: The Amazing Race Producers Talk Filming Before and During the Pandemic

How will The Amazing Race season 36 handle filming during the pandemic?

Season 33 saw an unprecedented situation when filming took a hiatus for over a year from February 2020 to September 2021. When things unpaused, the race looked a little different. Not only did four teams have to drop out for various reasons, but the remaining teams were given a route that stayed entirely in Europe. They were also transported between legs by an official Amazing Race plane. Even then, there are cases that can still break through, as we saw on season 34 where one team tested positive for COVID and was forced to be removed from the race.

Season 35 notably lifted the COVID restrictions in play, most prominently in the return of commercial travel and the retirement of the charter plane. However, since season 36 technically filmed before that, the restricted route and travel from seasons 33 and 34 remained in play.

What new changes are in The Amazing Race season 36?

The Amazing Race 35 brought in plenty of old to mix with the new. Teams now flew via commercial travel for the first time since the pandemic. The show also saw the returns of the U-Turn and Express Pass, two staples from the show's history. Additionally, for the second season in a row, there were no non-elimination legs. A record 13 teams were put on the season to supplement that. Because Season 36 was filmed before Season 35 and contains traits of the other "COVID era" seasons, none of the things brought back last season will appear.

Who is the host for Amazing Race season 36?

New Zealander and reality veteran Phil Keoghan will be returning for his 36th season as host. In addition to The Amazing Race, he hosts and executive produces fellow CBS reality series Tough as Nails, which throws the spotlight on real people who are real tough in real life as a result of their physically demanding everyday jobs and puts them through tests of strength, endurance, agility and mental toughness. Keoghan also hosts the interview podcast Buckit, which has had on guests like Alfred Molina, Bonnie Hunt, and Carmelita Jeter.

Related: Everything To Know About Tough as Nails Season 5

How do I get news about The Amazing Race?

Check back here for updates on The Amazing Race 36 as they develop.

What time does The Amazing Race come on?

The Amazing Race 36 will air at 9:30 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on Wednesdays on CBS.

What shows can I watch during The Amazing Race 36 hiatus?

There are several new reality shows you can watch in the meantime while you wait. Tough as Nails is CBS' new hit reality show, created, produced, and hosted by Amazing Race's Phil Keoghan. It currently has aired five seasons. Additionally, executive producers Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri have worked on the 2021 reality series Race to the Center of the Earth. The show has similarities and differences with The Amazing Race, with teams of three starting from different corners of the globe with the goal to be the first to cross the finish line in the middle of the world.