“Big Brother” Season 28 is about to make television history. And yep, CBS is going all out for the occasion.
On Thursday, August 27, the reality TV competition is marking a huge milestone for the long-running CBS series. The special episode will feature former Houseguests, fan voting, memorable moments from the show’s history, the BB Blockbuster, and a live eviction.
The 1,000th episode will celebrate the show’s lengthy run while still moving the current Season 28 game forward, according to a CBS press release. This is “the first time a primetime television series has reached this milestone.”
But honestly, that isn’t even the biggest reason fans should be tuning in.
What We Know About the 1,000th Episode Twist & More
Honestly, not much; CBS is being tight-lipped about it all.
In that same press release, the network has promised that the historic episode will also kick off “the biggest twist of the summer.” And while they confirmed that something major is coming, the actual details are still being kept under wraps.
So, let’s be real… there is a lot of room for speculation right now.
The special episode will also bring some familiar faces back into the “Big Brother” world, but fans will have a say in exactly who appears.
“The historic night will feature surprise appearances from former Houseguests determined by interactive fan votes and kick off the biggest twist of the summer.”
The interactive voting gives viewers another reason to pay attention to the milestone episode, especially with former Houseguests being part of the celebration.
The episode won’t simply focus on the show’s past, either. The current Houseguests will still have plenty of game to play.
“The episode will look back at some of the most memorable moments from the show’s historic 26-year run and shift into overdrive with the BB Blockbuster and a live eviction. Details to be announced in the coming weeks.”
That means the 1,000th episode is still very much part of the Season 28 game, even with all of the special programming surrounding it.
What the ‘Big Brother’ Producers & Host Had to Say
ParamountCBS has not revealed exactly what the summer’s biggest twist will involve, though, leaving fans to come up with their own theories (me included).
Executive producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan also took the opportunity to recognize the people who helped the show reach this point.
“This achievement belongs to them, the hundreds of brave houseguests who have walked through the front door, our iconic host, Julie Chen Moonves, and of course, our passionate fans.”
It is hard to imagine “Big Brother” reaching such a massive milestone without all of the Houseguests and fans who have kept the series going for more than two decades.
Julie Chen Moonves also shared her hopes for the show’s future.
“May God allow BIG BROTHER to continue for at least another 1,000 original episodes, with more Zings, new Houseguests, and countless HOH competitions still to come!”
With so much attention surrounding the milestone, it makes sense that CBS would use the occasion to introduce something that could shake up the current season.
Theory #1: A ‘Survivor’-Style Immunity Idol Hidden in the BB House
ParamountOne possibility is a twist that borrows from another CBS reality competition, “Survivor.”
On “Survivor,” players can find hidden immunity idols that can be played when they are facing elimination. If “Big Brother” introduced something similar, a Houseguest could potentially discover an advantage hidden somewhere inside the house and use it when their game is on the line.
And since two former players from “Survivor,” Dee Valladares and Rick Devens are two of our reality TV icons this season on “Big Brother,” tying the two shows together even more seems like something the network might do.
Of course, this is only a theory. CBS has not announced that an immunity idol-style advantage is coming to “Big Brother,” but it would certainly be a major departure from the traditional format.
And if the show wanted to make its 1,000th episode especially memorable, giving Houseguests a completely new type of power could certainly do that.
Theory #2: A ‘Back in Time’ Week
ParamountThis one might be even more interesting because of Season 28’s “Time Trip” theme.
“Big Brother Canada” Season 5 previously experimented with a “Backwards Week,” per Fandom, which switched around the usual order of the game. The nominees were determined first, followed by the Power of Veto competition, and then the Head of Household competition. The eventual HOH had the sole power to decide which nominee would be evicted.
A similar concept could work incredibly well for “Big Brother” Season 28.
Instead of the HOH immediately deciding who goes on the block, the Houseguests (or America) could potentially vote on three nominees first. The veto could happen next, followed by a BB Blockbuster, then an HOH competition, with the winner ultimately deciding who leaves.
It seems like exactly the kind of chaotic change that could fit into a season built around traveling through different eras of “Big Brother.”
However, just like the immunity idol theory, this has not been confirmed by CBS. At this point, fans will have to wait and see whether the actual twist resembles either of these ideas or goes in a completely different direction.
When Does the 1,000th Episode Air?
So, what are your theories? We won’t have to wait long to find out what the twist actually is.
The “Big Brother” 1,000th episode airs live Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 8:00pm ET (Delayed PT) on CBS. The milestone episode will feature the BB Blockbuster and a live eviction while introducing whatever CBS has planned as the show’s biggest twist of the summer.
Yep, after 1,000 original episodes, “Big Brother” has certainly earned the opportunity to celebrate in a big way. And honestly, seeing the show honor its history while continuing the Season 28 game should make this a night longtime fans won’t want to miss.
And as Julie always says: “expect the unexpected.”
