The Amazing Race 35

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 23,800 miles (38,300 km) 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 aired on Wednesday nights on CBS beginning on September 27, 2023, and concluding 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.
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 23,800 miles (38,300 km). 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 for the season began on January 2, 2023. Casting closed on March 22, 2023, and the cast was finalized on April 21, 2023.
On August 3, 2023, CBS announced that the season would premiere on September 27, 2023.
On September 23, 2023, CBS held a drone show over Los Angeles to promote the premieres of The Amazing Race 35 and Survivor 45.
This season features thirteen teams of two with the cast revealed on August 30, 2023.
Anna Leigh Wilson competed on the third season of The Floor in 2025.
The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg. Placements are listed in finishing order.
The Amazing Race 35 received positive reviews. Andy Dehnart of reality blurred wrote, "This season of The Amazing Race started slowly for me, with two episodes that couldn't really fill their 90 minutes. Starting with its legs in Vietnam, though, it recovered, finding its way not only into a better use of the 90 minutes, but back to its old self." Meghan Behnke of CinemaBlend was positive with the use of 90-minute episodes for both The Amazing Race 35 and Survivor 45. Amanda Gardner of Screen Rant wrote, "All the teams brought something unique throughout the race, making it an unforgettable season." In 2024, Rhenn Taguiam of Game Rant placed this season within the bottom 13 out of 36.