What time is Big Brother on tonight? CBS schedule and length
Big Brother Season 28 Episode 26 airs Sunday, August 30, at 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT) on CBS—one hour later than usual. If you're wondering how long Big Brother runs tonight, expect the standard one-hour Sunday slot. CBS pushed the start back for Remembering Dolly: A Rhinestone Life, honoring Dolly Parton after her Aug. 25 death at age 80.
Week 8 opens with fallout from Mallory's eviction and a medieval "Time Trip" twist Julie Chen Moonves teased on the show's 1,000th episode. Ten houseguests entered the twist; production kept live feeds dark for days to protect the surprise format.
Key Takeaways
- Big Brother starts at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT on Sunday, Aug. 30—not the usual 8 p.m. ET slot.
- Tonight's episode runs one hour, the regular length for Sunday installments.
- Watch live on CBS or stream on Paramount+ (premium required for live viewing; next-day streaming also available).
- CBS scheduled a Dolly Parton tribute in Big Brother's normal hour, delaying the reality show.
- Episode 26 covers the medieval twist with no HOH, veto, or BB Blockbuster this week.
Why is Big Brother airing one hour later tonight?
CBS reserved the 8 p.m. hour for Remembering Dolly: A Rhinestone Life, a tribute to country music icon Dolly Parton. Parton died Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 80 after a brief battle with cancer, prompting the network to celebrate her life in prime time.
With that special occupying Big Brother's typical slot, Season 28 Episode 26 shifts to 9 p.m. ET. Central Time viewers should tune in at 8 p.m. CT instead of the usual 7 p.m. start.
How long is Big Brother tonight?
Despite the delayed start, tonight's Big Brother runs for one hour—the same length as a standard Sunday episode. The show is not extended to make up for the schedule change.
After Big Brother, CBS continues with Marshals at 9:01 p.m. CT and local news at 10 p.m. CT, according to the network's Sunday lineup. For viewers tracking streaming and broadcast schedules in the Future Tech & AI Wonders hub, delayed sports and tribute specials reshuffling prime time have become a recurring pattern across major networks.
Where can you watch Big Brother Season 28 Episode 26?
Big Brother airs on CBS and streams on Paramount+. Live viewing on Paramount+ requires a premium plan, currently priced at $13.99 per month. Episodes also become available to stream the day after they broadcast for subscribers.
Live feeds—which let fans watch house activity around the clock—were shut off after Thursday's eviction and remained dark through Sunday's episode. Feeds unexpectedly returned Saturday evening, though host Julie Chen Moonves had said they would stay off until after the Sunday broadcast.
What happens on Big Brother tonight?
Episode 26 picks up after Mallory Aurichio's 6-2 eviction in Week 7. Julie announced there will be no Head of Household competition, no Power of Veto, and no BB Blockbuster this week—yet someone still exits before the next live eviction.
Houseguests are transported to a medieval setting set in the year 1000. Nine contestants remain in the house after the twist plays out. For full schedule details and spoilers, see coverage from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Alliance lines are sharper than ever: the Crossovers hold Icon power, Barrett and Melody drift toward Yash's side, and Rick Devens sits atop recent power rankings heading into the most unpredictable week of Season 28.