‘Big Brother’ Season 28 Sets July Premiere Date and Somehow Finds Even More Ways to Keep Us Watching

Summer is officially booked. Big Brother is returning for Season 28 this July, and CBS is clearly leaning all the way into the franchise’s latest milestone. After 27 seasons of blindsides, alliances that last roughly six minutes, and people dramatically whispering in storage rooms like they’re in a spy thriller, the reality competition giant is gearing up for its biggest season yet.

CBS announced that Big Brother Season 28 premieres Thursday, July 9, with a supersized 90-minute episode. And because apparently one night of paranoia wasn’t enough, the network is also rolling out a packed weekly schedule that includes the return of Big Brother: Unlocked and the show’s historic 1,000th episode.

Yes, one thousand episodes. Somewhere, a veto competition is already being built out of cardboard and pool noodles in celebration.

The expanded schedule makes it clear CBS still sees Big Brother as one of its crown jewels of summer television. Following the July 9 premiere, fans can expect another 90-minute episode on Sunday, July 12, while the regular season lineup settles into Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday broadcasts. Thursday nights will continue featuring live evictions, which means viewers can once again watch contestants realize in real time that trusting the guy who said, “You’re totally safe this week,” may have been a terrible idea.

Host Julie Chen Moonves returns for Season 28, continuing her long-running role as the calm voice guiding viewers through increasingly questionable gameplay decisions. At this point, Julie announcing vote counts has become as much a summer tradition as people pretending they’re finally going to spend more time outside.

One of the bigger additions this season is the return of Big Brother: Unlocked, which premieres Friday, July 10. The companion series promises behind-the-scenes footage, exclusive interviews, surprise guest appearances, and insider commentary. More importantly, it will now feature a live studio audience for the first time, giving fans an opportunity to react in person to whatever absurd strategic disaster unfolds each week.

CBS is also continuing the franchise’s live feeds through Paramount+ and Pluto TV, because no modern Big Brother season is complete without viewers spending three hours dissecting an offhand kitchen conversation that may or may not matter six weeks later.

The network hasn’t revealed this season’s theme or cast yet, but expectations are already high after recent seasons leaned heavily into twists, surprise powers, and production gimmicks that occasionally felt designed by someone spinning a wheel labeled “What if we made this harder for everyone?” Whether those twists improve the game or send it spiraling into delightful nonsense usually depends on the week.

Still, the formula works. Big Brother remains one of the rare reality franchises that consistently generates conversation throughout the summer, largely because viewers love debating strategy almost as much as contestants love betraying their closest allies for absolutely no reason.

With a milestone season, expanded programming, and enough airtime to dominate summer schedules yet again, Big Brother Season 28 looks ready to remind audiences why the series continues to endure. And honestly, after nearly three decades of manipulation, alliances, and people crying over Have-Not rooms, quitting now would almost feel rude.

Below is how to catch up on previous seasons: