BBB 26 began with a major return this Monday, January 12, 2026. The 46-year-old actor from Rio de Janeiro, Babu Santana, is officially in the Veterans group of TV Globo’s reality show. His participation is a significant milestone, as he was the record holder for facing elimination in the 20th edition, the first to feature the Camarote format. This new season, therefore, innovates by bringing together three distinct groups: the anonymous Pipoca, the famous Camarote, and now the former participants, the Veterans, creating a completely new dynamic for the Brazilian audience.
The selection process to form the house followed a different path this year. While Veterans like Babu were directly invited, the members of the Pipoca group went through a public election. The audience chose the candidates through five Glass Houses spread across Brazil, each with four people. In this way, the voting defined one man and one woman from each house, totaling ten anonymous participants who are now competing for the million-dollar prize. The premiere, therefore, promises unprecedented conflicts with this mix of experiences.
Technical news for those following on screen
For fans who don’t miss a detail, Globoplay brings significant upgrades in 2026. Subscribers to the service will have access to no less than 12 simultaneous live streams, allowing them to follow every corner of the house. Furthermore, the BBB Mosaic feature has gained an essential tool: audio selection. Now, you can choose from which specific camera you want to hear the sound, fully customizing your viewing experience. This means total immersion in the confinement.
And the interactions don’t stop there. The house, responsible for historic moments, now has three Big Phones scattered around the common area. The major change is that the audience will have the power to decide which one will ring. Therefore, the brothers and sisters will hear messages chosen directly by the fans through votes. This novelty will undoubtedly generate explosive reactions and make the game even more unpredictable over the coming weeks. Thus, BBB 26 arrives promising to revolutionize the formula that has already won over Brazil.
