The Amazing Race 35 is the thirty-fifth season of the American reality competition show The Amazing Race. Hosted by Phil Keoghan, it featured thirteen teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, competing in a race around the world to win US$1,000,000. This season visited three continents and nine countries and traveled over during twelve legs. Starting in Los Angeles, racers traveled through Thailand, Vietnam, India, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Sweden, and Ireland before returning to the United States and finishing in Greater Seattle. Elements of the show that returned for this season include the use of commercial flights, the Express Pass, and the U-Turn. In addition, the U-Turn Vote returned with a private vote rather than a public vote, and the U-Turn was a Blind U-Turn. Unlike past seasons, the 35th season featured 90-minute-long episodes. The season premiered on CBS on September 27, 2023, and concluded on December 13, 2023.
For the first time in the history of the American version of The Amazing Race, the final three teams consisted entirely of male teams. Brothers and computer scientists Greg and John Franklin were the winners of this season, while best friends Joel Strasser and Garrett Smith finished in second place, and father and son Rob and Corey McArthur finished in third place.
Production Development and filming
On February 21, 2023, two months after the 34th season finale, CBS announced that no season of The Amazing Race would air in the first half of 2023. Instead the next season would air during the 2023–24 television season. On May 10, 2023, CBS announced that season 35 would air 90-minute episodes following Survivor 45 due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike. CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach stated, "[The Amazing Race and Survivor] always have so much footage that we got left on the floor, and we felt like yes, it could potentially be great opportunity to be prepared in case of this strikes happening, but even more so to give the audience more of what they want — which is more 'Survivor,' more 'Race.' The producers loved the idea. It's given these shows the ability to work different things with the format, try new things."
Location scouting for this season occurred in March 2023. Filming began on June 13, 2023, in Los Angeles, California at the Hollywood Sign. From June 22 to 24, the show filmed in Jaipur and Amber, India. By June 30, the show was filming in Europe. This season included a first-time visit to Slovenia. This season also returned to using commercial flights instead of charter flights as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic on two previous seasons and season 36, which was the thirty-fifth season filmed in late 2022 and was pushed back following the decision to have 90-minute episodes. Filming concluded in early July after traveling over . Elements of the show that also returned this season include the Express Pass (last seen in season 29) and the U-Turn (last seen in season 32) in the form of a voting U-Turn, which was previously utilized as a one off-twist on season 31. The Scramble, which was introduced in the 34th season, also returned but was included in the final leg rather than the first leg.
Casting Casting for the season began on January 2, 2023. Casting closed on March 22, 2023, and the cast was finalized on April 21, 2023.
Release Broadcast On August 3, 2023, CBS announced that the season would premiere on September 27, 2023.
Marketing On September 23, 2023, CBS held a drone show over Los Angeles to promote the premieres of The Amazing Race 35 and Survivor 45.
Contestants This season features thirteen teams of two with the cast revealed on August 30, 2023. ContestantsAgeRelationshipHometownStatus 34Siblings & RoommatesChicago, IllinoisEliminated 1st(in Mueang Nonthaburi, Thailand) 29 52Mother & DaughterTampa, FloridaEliminated 2nd(in Sam Phran, Thailand) 27 49Married Entrepreneurs Albuquerque, New MexicoEliminated 3rd(in Cần Thơ, Vietnam) 49 35EngagedNew York City, New YorkEliminated 4th(in Jaipur, India) 40 23BrothersCheyenne, WyomingEliminated 5th(in Jaipur, India) 24San Marcos, Texas 44College FriendsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaEliminated 6th(in Cologne, Germany) 45 31SistersBrooklyn, New YorkEliminated 7th(in Ljubljana, Slovenia) 29Los Angeles, California 41Childhood FriendsKirkland, WashingtonEliminated 8th(in Socerb, Slovenia) 41Shoreline, Washington 38Married High School SweetheartsChino, CaliforniaEliminated 9th(in Stockholm, Sweden) 38 54Father & DaughterPetty, TexasEliminated 10th(in Dublin, Ireland) 28Royse City, Texas 48Father & SonRiverside, CaliforniaThird place 25New York City, New York 42Best FriendsKuna, IdahoRunners-up 43Meridian, Idaho 25Brothers & Computer ScientistsNew York City, New YorkWinners 27Mountain View, California Future appearances Anna Leigh Wilson competed on the third season of The Floor in 2025. Yeremi Hykel competed on The Challenge: Vets & New Threats in 2025. Wilson competed on The Challenge: Cutthroat in 2026.
Results The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg. Placements are listed in finishing order. A placement with a dagger () indicates that the team was eliminated. A indicates that the team used an Express Pass on that leg to bypass one of their tasks. An italicized and underlined placement indicates that the team was the last to arrive at a Pit Stop, but there was no rest period at the Pit Stop and all teams were instructed to continue racing. A indicates the team on the receiving end of a U-Turn. +Team placement (by leg) Team123456789101112Greg & John3rd3rd8th8th2nd1st1st1st1st2nd2nd1stJoel & Garrett7th9th2nd9th3rd3rd7th4th2nd1st3rd2ndRob & Corey2nd2nd3rd5th6th2nd4th3rd4th3rd1st3rdSteve & Anna Leigh6th6th1st2nd1st7th5th6th3rd4th Todd & Ashlie5th5th4th3rd5th5th3rd2nd5th Robbin & Chelsea11th11th5th1st7th8th2nd5th Morgan & Lena4th4th6th10th9th4th6th Andrea & Malaina10th10th9th7th4th6th Liam & Yeremi8th8th11th6th8thJoe & Ian9th7th7th4thJocelyn & Victor1st1st10thElizabeth & Iliana12th Alexandra & Sheridan Notes
Race summary
Leg 1 (United States → Thailand)
Episode 1: "The Amazing Race Is Back!" (September 27, 2023) Prize: Cashback rewards for a trip for two to Patagonia, Chile (awarded to Jocelyn & Victor) Eliminated: Alexandra & Sheridan Locations Los Angeles, California (Griffith Park – Hollywood Sign) (Starting Line) Los Angeles (Millennium Biltmore Hotel) Los Angeles → Bangkok, Thailand Bangkok (Wat Paknam) Bangkok (Wat Suthat) Bangkok (Saranrom Park Putthinan Thai Massage) Mueang Nonthaburi (Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat Worawihan) Episode summary Teams began the race beneath the Hollywood Sign, drove to the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, and found their next clue. In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to walk across a tightrope strung between the Millennium Biltmore Hotel and unscramble a word puzzle – CITY OF ANGELS – to receive their next clue from season 34 winners Derek Xiao and Claire Rehfuss. After the Roadblock, teams had to drive to the airport and obtain tickets for one of two flights to Bangkok, Thailand. Six teams were booked on the first flight, which departed 90 minutes earlier than the second flight with the remaining seven teams. Once there, teams had to travel to Wat Paknam, which had their next clue. One team had the option of winning an Express Pass if both team members could eat a plate of fried insects. Morgan & Lena won the Express Pass. From Wat Paknam, teams had to travel by long-tail boat and tuk-tuk to Wat Suthat, which had their next clue. This season's first Detour was a choice between Sword Play or Spa Day. In Sword Play, both team members had to learn a 30-second daab routine to receive their next clue. In Spa Day, both team members had to endure a painful 30-minute Thai massage to receive their next clue. If either team member asked to stop the massage, the team had to go to the end of the line and restart the massage from the beginning. After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat Worawihan in Mueang Nonthaburi.
Leg 2 (Thailand)
Episode 2: "You Don't See That At Home" (October 4, 2023) Prize: US$2,000 each (awarded to Jocelyn & Victor) Eliminated: Elizabeth & Iliana Locations Mueang Nonthaburi (Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat Worawihan) Salaya (Wat Suwannaram) Rai Khing (Wat Rai Khing) Sam Phran (Don Wai Market Ton Som O Farm 3) Sam Phran (Suan Sampran) Episode summary At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel to Wat Suwannaram in Salaya to find their next clue. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to harvest 20 lotus flower bulbs from a muddy pond. Racers then had to make two bundles arranged in a specific pattern and wrapped with leaves and bamboo ties to receive their next clue. After the Roadblock, teams had to travel to Wat Rai Khing, place a coin in a marked elephant, and walk under the elephant three times to receive their next clue. This leg's Detour was a choice between Stock Up or Scoop Up. In Stock Up, teams had to purchase eight food items of specified quantities at Don Wai Market using only a phonetically-spelled shopping list to receive their next clue. In Scoop Up, teams had to load a boat with pomelos from canals and then unload them at a dock until they filled five baskets to receive their next clue. After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: Suan Sampran.
Leg 3 (Thailand → Vietnam)
Episode 3: "No Sleep and a Million Dollar Dream" (October 11, 2023) Locations Bangkok (Santichaiprakarn Park) Bangkok (Thailand Tour & Travel) Bangkok → Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City → Cần Thơ (Ninh Kiều Wharf) Cần Thơ (Cái Răng Floating Market) Cần Thơ (Pier 20) Cần Thơ (Sáu Hoài Thanh Vân) Cần Thơ (Trúc Lâm Phương Nam Zen Monastery) Episode summary At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with teams required to book their flight at Thailand Tour & Travel. Once there, teams had to travel by bus to Ninh Kiều Wharf in Cần Thơ and choose one of three departure times for the morning, when they received their next clue. Teams then boarded a sampan and had to deliver baskets of fruit – dragonfruit, tangerines, and golden melons – to three marked boats. With each delivery, teams received a third of a photograph that, when combined, revealed the location of their next clue: Pier 20. Morgan & Lena used their Express Pass to bypass this task. This leg's Detour was a choice between Paper or Plastic. In Paper, teams had to make twelve sheets of edible rice paper to receive their next clue. In Plastic, teams had to apply vinyl onto a motorcycle part to receive their next clue. After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: Trúc Lâm Phương Nam Zen Monastery. Additional note There was no elimination at the end of this leg; all teams were instead instructed to continue racing.
Leg 4 (Vietnam)
Episode 4: "The Day Keeps Rockin' Here In Vietnam" (October 18, 2023) Prize: Cashback rewards for a trip for two to Madrid, Spain (awarded to Robbin & Chelsea) Eliminated: Jocelyn & Victor Locations Cần Thơ (Cafe Tư Điếc) Cần Thơ (Chợ Tân An Nhà Hàng Riverside & West Hotel) Cần Thơ (Ong Pagoda) Cần Thơ (Hùng King Temple) Episode summary At the start of this leg, teams had to travel by taxi to Cafe Tư Điếc and ask a barista for their next clue. This leg's Detour was a choice between Stand or Deliver. In Stand, teams had to carry seafood through a market to a stall and set up the stall so that it matched a vendor's to receive their next clue. In Deliver, teams had to carry four mattresses to a hotel to receive their next clue. After the Detour, teams had to travel to the Ong Pagoda and write a wish on a card before receiving their next clue, which directed them to travel by taxi to the Hùng King Temple.