The long-running reality series Big Brother returns to CBS this summer, premiering Thursday, July 9 at 8 p.m. ET. Season 28 arrives with two notable milestones: the franchise will reach the 1,000-episode mark for a primetime program, and — when its companion show is counted — the season will deliver the most hours of programming in the show’s history.
CBS confirmed the schedule Wednesday, laying out a compact weekly lineup that mixes extended episodes, live evictions and the revived companion series that offers extra footage and interviews from outside the house.
When to tune in
After a 90-minute opener on July 9, the series follows with another expanded episode three days later and then settles into a multi-night rhythm. Episodes air on network television at 8 p.m. ET.
- July 9: Season premiere — 90 minutes
- July 12: Sunday episode — 90 minutes
- Weekly schedule: Wednesdays — 90 minutes; Thursdays — live eviction episodes (60 minutes); Sundays — 60 minutes
- Big Brother: Unlocked: Returns Friday, July 10 at 8 p.m., now filmed with a live studio audience and featuring behind-the-scenes content and interviews
Longtime host Julie Chen Moonves will return to guide the season’s weekly evictions and live moments. The companion series, billed as a source of extra context and unseen footage, resumes its Friday slot and is expected to deepen fans’ view of the house dynamics.
Why this season matters
The 1,000-episode threshold is a rare achievement for any primetime program, underscoring the series’ durability and CBS’s continued investment in appointment television during the summer months. For viewers, the packed weekly schedule means more live events and opportunities to follow shifting alliances in real time.
For the network and producers, the expanded episode count and the return of the studio-format companion show represent a strategy to maximize viewer engagement across multiple nights — a valuable asset in an increasingly fragmented TV landscape.
Will you be following Season 28 live this summer? The calendar and the longer weekly windows give fans plenty of chances to keep up as the game unfolds.
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Hello, I’m Beckett. I cover series and show news for you to make your evenings more captivating.