Big Brother Season 26 now has a winner, officially putting one of its most chaotic seasons in the books. Three months of constant video surveillance, in-your-face competitions, and loads of twists have had both the cast and viewers of this season on the edge of their seats.
The Final: A Night of Surprises
The highly anticipated 2-hour finale aired Sunday night, as the final three houseguests: Chelsie Baham, Makensy Manbeck, and Cam Sullivan-Brown. In a unanimous vote, the jury crowned Chelsie, a 27-year-old non-profit director, as the “Big Brother” Season 26 winner, taking home a grand total of $750,000. Makensy earned the second-prize winnings of $75,000, and Cam came in third.
In a playful turn of events, the audience also had a say in the outcome. America voted Tucker Des Lauriers, a 30-year-old marketing and sales executive, as America’s favorite houseguest, awarding him an extra $50,000. This interplay between the jury and viewers has been a theme throughout “Big Brother” Season 26 that has set this season apart.
A Season of Unpredictability
Big Brother Season 26 has prided itself off of its unpredictability from the get-go. The season kicked off on July 17-18 and brought in 16 houseguests who are monitored by 90+ cameras and 100+ microphones. With eviction ceremonies each week, houseguests contended with competition, leading to strategic gameplay and alliances that kept the audience in suspense.
This season also had a special moment when Julie Chen Moonves had to be absent from a live eviction due to COVID-19. Jerry O’Connell filled in as host for that night and showed how the show can switch gears last minute.
Notable Appearances and Twists
Aside from the cast members’ drama, Big Brother Season 26 also included special guest appearances leaving a lasting effect on the finale. Taylor Hale, winner of Season 24, took over the jury roundtable in place of long-time host Dr. Will Kirby. Derrick Levasseur, Season 16 winner, was on set for a brief moment helping to give a retrospective look back into the season.
The mix of past winners, new twists to the house including some AI-themed challenges have made Big Brother Season 26 one of the most trending shows of the summer. The season has been deemed by fans to be a whirlwind of thrilling storylines and competitive gameplay that has formed an eye-catching viewing experience for all.
Conclusion: Streaming Now on Paramount+
Big Brother Season 26 has taken competition mixed with real-time viewer engagement to the next level. And for those who may have missed their chance to watch, Big Brother Season 26 is now available on Paramount+ to watch whenever for those wanting to relive this incredible season.