July 9, 2026
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Big Brother is back — the long-running series kicks off with a 90-minute episode on July 9, with Julie Chen Moonves returning to host the often-chaotic CBS reality TV show. The 28th season will feature contestants ranging from an MMA fighter to a rocket scientist to a Drag Race All-Star, crammed in a house and competing in mental and physical challenges. This season’s theme is “Time Trip,” with rooms styled after different decades
At a Glance: How to Watch Big Brother 28
- Channel: CBS
- Streaming: Paramount+, DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV
- Date, Time: July 9, 8 p.m. ET/PT (Premiere)
The name, of course, refers to the fact that the housemates are under constant surveillance, with numerous cameras and live streams that fans can tune into (maybe a more quaint concept in the pre-Patriot Act days of the show’s first season, which premiered in 2000)
The show will then return to its regular schedule, with episodes on Wednesdays and Thursdays, followed by the eviction episode on Sundays, all at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The July 9 season premiere will be followed the next day by Big Brother: Unlocked, hosted by Jerry O’Connell
How to Watch Big Brother Season 28
If you’re looking to stream the series live but don’t have cable or an antenna, you can catch it with a Paramount+ premium subscription, which includes live access to CBS. You can also stream it with a live-TV streaming service like DirecTV or Hulu + Live TV
These are some options for streaming the series live
Paramount+
➤ $13.99/mo➤ Live CBS access (with Premium)➤ Live Sports
Paramount+ includes live access to CBS through the Premium plan, and you can also use Paramount+ to catch up on previous seasons of the series. The Premium plan costs $12.99, but there is no free trial option
DirecTV
➤ $44.99/month (best plan)➤ Five-day free trial➤ Up to 185+ channels
DirecTV is available with a five-day free trial, and you can get live access to CBS across the streaming services through various packages. The MyNews plan, which starts at $45/mo, includes CBS and other local channels
Hulu + Live TV
➤ $89.99/month➤ Three-day free trial➤ 100+ channels
Hulu + Live TV is another option; it includes CBS, and the plan starts at $89.99 after a three-day free trial. You also get access to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN content
Big Brother Schedule
The 28th season airs on CBS, with episodes on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The first episode airs on Thursday, July 9, at 8 p.m. and will be followed by Big Brother: Unlocked on Friday, July 10
