Big Brother Australia has kicked off to a twisted start, with enough surprises to keep the housemates and audiences on their toes!
From an undercover brother to outside connections, this season has already promised to deliver, proving why Big Brother is so beloved and iconic.
With a cash prize of $100,000 on the line, the 2026 season has promised to be as chaotic as ever. After all, the first night literally ended with the housemates sleeping on the floor, so anything goes this year!
Before Mel Tracina welcomed the 14 new housemates to their new Bris-Vegas home, the cast spoke to WHO about what brought them to the show, their strategy, and what kind of housemate they hope to be.
Needless to say, they’re not holding back this year!
Meet the Big Brother 2026 Housemates (and their secrets)
Anita, 47, TAS
Travel advisor Anita is full of surprises, and one of her biggest surprises is her sister, two-time Big Brother winner Reggie Bird!
Whether she’s skateboarding, solo travelling, or taking a mannequin on a road trip across the country, Anita is all about authenticity and kindness, and has that signature lack of filter we know and love.
Anita told WHO that she’ll be a “bit of everything” as a housemate.
“I like to help people. I like to be a team player,” she said. “I will just want to check in on everyone. I think I’m just a bit of an all-rounder.
“I’ll be funny and I can be serious as well, but I like to have a joke, a banter. But also then I would sit and listen to someone and say, if you want to have a cry, I’m here for you, you know? Let’s just have a chat. Just a bit of everything.”
Relationship status: Single.
Open to meeting someone in the house? Yes, if they’re a nice, genuine, respectful person. I am a bit old school. I like chivalry and someone who just likes you for you. They’re not trying to change you, you know? They just accept you. I can go on all day about that stuff!
What do you hope to get out of the experience? I’m ready for a challenge and I just wanted to do it for me, time for me. I just really want to go in and have a fun experience.
Austin, 22, QLD
This 22-year-old chippy describes himself as “outgoing” and is keeping the family business thriving. He works every day alongside his dad and brother, and is hoping to bring that classic young tradie energy into the house. He also loves a surf with his mates and is hoping to keep everyone smiling in the house.
Austin told WHO that he’ll be the type of housemate who will have “a hell of a time”.
“Just being there and to run amok and just enjoy it,” he said. “Everyone’s best friend in the house. Then again, I think that’s impossible, you can’t be friends with everyone, so we’ll see what happens. But I think I’ll have a good time in the house.”
Relationship status: Single.
Open to meeting someone in the house? Yes I am single. I’m hoping Big Brother can hook me up!
What do you hope to get out of the experience? I hope that the person you are gets to be seen. I want to make good friends with the people in the house. That would be so cool if you get a lifelong friend from that. And also for everyone to see the kind of person you are. I reckon that’s pretty cool.
Is there anything you are going to keep secret from your fellow Housemates? No
How meaningful is your word? Are you willing to break friendships if it will get you further in the game? Yes!
Charity, 29, NSW
Charity describes herself as “fun” and “energetic”. Growing up as one of 13 siblings, it’s no doubt that living in the Big Brother house will be a breeze! She’s big on family, faith, and fun and believes she was born to be on TV.
Charity told WHO that she’ll be the “positive happy one” in the house, and “the one that’s always available to anybody”.
Relationship status: Single.
Open to meeting someone in the house? I’m open to meeting someone in the house! By the grace of God, if I’m going to find someone that goes by morals and standards in life! We’ll see what happens in the house.
What do you hope to get out of the experience? For people to just know that there’s more to the South Sudanese community. Coming from the hood, I want people to know that there are people like me who live there. There are some really good people in the hood. I want them to see that side. Because I’ve been there for like 11 years now, and I actually love it. It’s my community – we all know each other.
Is there anything you are going to keep secret from your fellow Housemates? Yes, other people’s secrets. If somebody told me something, I wouldn’t ever say what it is, and I wouldn’t even make a mental note of “such and such told me that”.
How meaningful is your word? Are you willing to break friendships if it will get you further in the game? No. It’s against my moral stance.
Ebony, 23, VIC
A self-made entrepreneur, Ebony describes herself as “cocky” and is a boss in every sense of the word. She has strong opinions and she’s not afraid to voice them. While other people might be in the house to find love, Ebony’s love language is money.
Ebony told WHO that she’ll be “a bit bitchy” and “very honest” in the house.
“Assertive is probably the one word I’d put on it,” she added.
Relationship status: Single. I’ve never been in a relationship. Never been on a date, never been kissed, never done any of that.
Open to meeting someone in the house? I am. He has to be wealthy, and I was hoping for an American, but I’m open to an Aussie, so we’ll see who’s in there.
What do you hope to get out of the experience? I don’t think I’m going to win, so I’m hoping to at least make a friend or two if I can. Otherwise, just really enjoy my experience and, bring a little sense of humour to the house, a bit of cattiness, you know?
Is there anything you are going to keep secret from your fellow Housemates? Not really. I’m a pretty open book. I don’t really have a strategy. I think it’s just ‘be yourself’ and just ‘be brilliant’.
How meaningful is your word? Are you willing to break friendships if it will get you further in the game? Break friendships, no, but I am planning on stabbing some people in the back. Maybe all of them. I can throw people under the bus. I will do what I have to, to stay on top.
Harmon, 29, QLD
Harmon is a jack of all trades and describes himself as “relentless”. From mining crypto to podcasting, the IT salesman is also a professional pot-stirrer. Growing up in a strict immigrant household, this cheeky troublemaker has grown up fearless and has a secret love of pushing people’s buttons and is ready to cause some chaos!
Harmon told WHO that he’ll be the “fun”, “a little bit annoying”, and “resourceful” housemate.
“I love doing stuff. So I can get things done,” he said. “I’m sure they’ll try and take things away from us. I am a very lateral thinker, it’s natural, it just happens and comes.
“Unless I’m really tired, I just want to complain. But I don’t stop. That’s why I’m relentless. I keep going.”
Relationship status: I have got a partner, my girlfriend Sophia. I have known her for about a year and a half now. I met her at a bar in New Farm.
What do you hope to get out of the experience? Learn about myself. Well, I’m assuming Big Brother chooses big personalities, so I would like to be around that and see how I’m challenged, because everyone has a mask on at the end of the day, even me now. So I want to see when that comes off, how do I feel? Because it’s going to be 24/7, right? It’s not like I can switch off.
Is there anything you are going to keep secret from your fellow Housemates? No, I’ll be honest I’ve not thought about this whole thing at all, really. Other than getting my life sorted, logistically.
How meaningful is your word? Are you willing to break friendships if it will get you further in the game? I think that’s a tough one because personally I feel like my word’s very important. I think that’s what you really have when you meet people. But then you lie. It doesn’t feel nice. I’m not a natural liar.
Heath, 23, QLD
Heath describes himself as “happy” and while he may seem like a golden retriever in human form, he has a strategic mind under that charming smile. This engineering student is super social, always up for anything, knows how to read a room, and can turn even the politest small talk into a genuine connection.
Heath told WHO that he’s hoping to bring a bit of “harmony” to the house.
“If there’s too much fighting and commotion, that just hurts my heart,” he said. “I am a peacemaker.”
Relationship status: Single.
Open to meeting someone in the house? Yes, one hundred per cent. I love love. I love finding a human being you just click with, and I can ride off into the sun. It’s a good feeling. I really do think I have a wide range of human beings that I can hang with, but I think women who have a hobby and like a cool hobby, and they like the outdoors in the beach and if they have a fringe, or an accent…I go a little bit crazy…
What do you hope to get out of the experience? I mean it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, like how many people can say they got thrown into a house that’s 40 square feet or whatever and no contact for the outside world. All shapes, size and colours, whatever you throw in there, and that becomes your family for whatever time you’re in there.
Is there anything you are going to keep secret from your fellow Housemates? I’m still thinking about it. I don’t know yet. I don’t know whether to say that I work as an engineer. I hate jinxing myself, so I don’t want to say that I am an engineer yet. because I think they will assume intelligence and think I’m smart and a strategy and a game player.It’ll put a target on my back, I feel.
How meaningful is your word? Are you willing to break friendships if it will get you further in the game? Yeah, sorry. I love friendship, and I hate lying to my friends, but I think at the end of the day you’ve got to remember Big Brother is a game. There is a shitload of money on the line. A life-changing amount of money, and that’s my priority. I think at the end of the day, they can probably understand that it’s a game and we can still be friends afterwards. So I’m going to ask for forgiveness afterwards.
Kyrah, 25, NSW
Kyrah knows how to command a room, and joked that “every time” she gets asked a question, she “monologues people”. In other words, she’s “energetic”. She’s a secondary Drama and English teacher who is academically razor-sharp and endlessly disorganised. Diagnosed with
ADHD and autism at 15, her twin brother Maxx also has autism with high support needs. While she may bring a chaotic energy to the house, she also has a brain filled with random facts that will be perfect for a Big Brother trivia night!
Kyrah told WHO that the other housemates will “never get bored” when she’s around.
“If you want some peace and quiet, I apologise in advance,” she joked. “I think the type of housemate I will be is that I will cook, I will clean, I won’t be the best at it, but I’ll do it. I think I’m easy to live with, but I’m also full-on, and I don’t realise how full-on I am.
“Like, I snore, I sleep-talk, I’m messy, but with my own stuff. I think I’m just, I’m a lot.”
Relationship status: Single. I was with my ex for five years. I was 19, he was 25, and we were living in Newcastle.
Open to meeting someone in the house? Yeah, totally. I mean, whatever happens, happens, really. I guess it’s the most single I’ve ever been. I think I’ve always been in a relationship, so I love being single, but I’ve noticed it’s mainly just to get my work done. I’ve got no time to date, especially during the school term. I like to cut everyone off. And then holidays are here, and I’m like, “Okay, I’m back for two weeks. I’m not tired.”
What do you hope to get out of the experience? Definitely just meeting people in the house. Just having that sense of, ‘We did this really cool thing together.’ If there are opportunities out there, of course, because I teach drama. I love to yap. I’d just love more opportunities like this.
Is there anything you are going to keep secret from your fellow Housemates? I have one probably big elephant in the room.I’ve done a bit of TV stuff back in the day.
How meaningful is your word? Are you willing to break friendships if it will get you further in the game? I think towards the end, yeah. Yeah, I think, depending. Again, it’s all circumstantial.
Marshy, 24, SA
Andrew, aka ‘Marshy’, describes himself as “goofy” and Italian Jason Momoa. He is Toyota’s current reigning forklift salesman in Australia. He hopes to charm the nation with his gift of the gab and his ever-growing collection of budgie smugglers.
Marshy told WHO that he’ll be the housemate who will “surprise you with some funny stuff”.
“I’ll do some rogue things and have a laugh and not take anything too seriously,” he said. “Like there are no rules. And the other thing with being competitive is that, with anything that Big Brother throws, task-wise, I will be giving it 110% – big efforts.”
Relationship status: Single.
Open to meeting someone in the house? Potentially. Let’s see what happens!
What do you hope to get out of the experience? Honestly – the friendships and it’s something that I can look back on and tell my kids! Also – I’m doing it to my nephews and nieces, they’re going to be watching it on the TV and say – that’s my uncle! It’s a bit of a proud moment that you’re doing something for someone, and obviously getting the experience for myself too.
Is there anything you are going to keep secret from your fellow Housemates? Probably not – they’re going to see every bit of me. There’s not much to keep secret, to be honest. I am just going to be me.
How meaningful is your word? Are you willing to break friendships if it will get you further in the game? It depends. Probably not. I value friendships quite highly. I just wouldn’t be able to feel good doing it.
Matthew, 37, VIC
Matthew’s ready to make his mark on the Big Brother house and describes himself as “unique” and a “chameleon”. He’s a successful property investor who believes he has “too much character for his industry” and is ready to put his huge personality to the test! He won’t stand for people telling him what to think and if things get too heated, Matthew can diffuse things with some of his breakdancing moves.
Matthew told WHO that he’ll be the “funny” housemate.
“Funny, funny, dry wit, I don’t know. I’d probably say easygoing as well,” he said.
Relationship status: Single.
Open to meeting someone in the house? Yes.
What do you hope to get out of the experience? I hope to get to know myself better and to experience something, hopefully, with ultimately nothing but positives, even if they don’t seem like it at the time.
Is there anything you are going to keep secret from your fellow Housemates? I like to think I’m pretty open.
How meaningful is your word? Are you willing to break friendships if it will get you further in the game? I can’t give a blanket rule on that. It depends on how significant the friendship is. If I see it as more of a light-hearted playing of the game, but if it’s legitimate, true trust and then I’m breaking it, then probably less likely. I’ll have to decide at the time. But I like to be honest. It’s a TV show. I’m getting evicted or staying in. It’s not like I’m going home with someone’s wife or something like that. It is what it is.
Matty, 39, WA
Matty describes himself as the “textbook Aussie bogan” and loves it when people underestimate his intelligence. With a Mining Engineering degree and an MBA, Matty is quick-witted, charming, and always down for a laugh.
Matty told WHO that he’ll be the “s–t stirrer” housemate.
“The s–t stirrer, the energetic, the mediator,” he said. “The good vibe housemate. But the outspoken one, a little bit.”
Relationship status: I’ve got a girlfriend. We have been together for one and a bit years. We met at a Kalgoorlie mining conference. She works in investor relations in the mining industry as well. It’s been a bit over a year. Very happy.
What do you hope to get out of the experience? Feeling the privilege of having an experience that not many people get to have.
Is there anything you are going to keep secret from your fellow Housemates? Maybe what I’m going to use the funds for.
How meaningful is your word? Are you willing to break friendships if it will get you further in the game? No. I’m there for the experience, not the money.
Pam, 62, SA
Pam describes herself as “passionate” and is this season’s oldest housemate. She is outspoken, full of life, and fiercely competitive. She also has the upper hand when it comes to strategy, as she’s the mum of former housemate Kieran Davidson, who received the most nominations in season 12.
Pam told WHO that she’ll be the “strategic” housemate.
“I’ll gather people around me that I’ll be friendly with,” she said. “But if there’s sort of these alpha people in there, I would probably have to speak my mind and say, ‘Now look, you just need to settle down.'”
Relationship status: I’ve got a husband whose name is Shane. I was Shane’s student teacher at the age of 19, but I always hasten to add that I got that degree on my own! Then, the following year we started dating and then five years later we got married. We’ve been married for 36 years on September 23rd so it’s been a beautiful and joyous marriage, we love one another dearly.
What do you hope to get out of the experience? I just hope to meet people and have a good time really. Because it’s something that’s outside of what I would normally do. My life has been: run the business, work, teach, raise my family, support my husband. It’ll be something that I’m doing for me that’s not anything to do with anyone else. And I think that’s what I’m going to really cherish.
Is there anything you are going to keep secret from your fellow Housemates? No, just going to be open and honest.
How meaningful is your word? Are you willing to break friendships if it will get you further in the game? Yes, absolutely. Because ultimately you enter these things knowing it is a game. So it’s all very well to be hands-on, you’re lovey-dovey with people, but ultimately you want to get to the end goal. So somewhere along there you’re going to probably have to have a few relationships fall by the wayside to get you there.
Pheobe, 26, QLD
Phoebe describes herself as “quirky” and is a natural performer, having spent 11 years working at Bunnings while keeping her musical theatre kid energy alive. A self-appointed court jester, she loves making people laugh, bursts into song and dance anywhere, anytime, and has zero patience for fakeness or people who take forever to get to the point. She’s also obsessed with ABBA and is hoping to find someone who’ll “match her freak”.
Phoebe told WHO she hopes to be the fun housemate who keeps everyone entertained, rather than the annoying one.
“I hope that there’s like an in between, where they go, ‘Oh no, we get her. She’s just silly. She’s just having fun’. So hopefully that’s how it comes across,” she said.
Relationship status: Single
Open to meeting someone in the house? I am open. I’m a little love bug and I love having crushes. So I’m sure that if there’s a cute boy in the house, I will have a crush on them from the get go and it will get me through.
What do you hope to get out of the experience? I just want to have fun. I just want to enjoy being myself and then I can watch it back as well. I think that’s really exciting. I’ll be able to come out and watch my episode and go, “Oh my god, look at me, I’m on the TV.”
Is there anything you are going to keep secret from your fellow Housemates? No. They’re going to read my face. They’re going to know exactly what I’m thinking. They’re going to ask me a question. If I don’t want to answer, I’ll be like… [shrugs] They’re going to know.
How meaningful is your word? Are you willing to break friendships if it will get you further in the game? No. If I’ve got someone by my side and I trust them and they trust me, I’m not going to break that. I don’t like liars and I don’t like people who break trust.
Ryan, 27, NSW
Ryan describes himself as “lovable” and is a chaotic garden centre manager with the mouth of a tradie and the heart of his Nonna.
Proudly gay and Australian Italian, he has a larger-than-life personality, loves making customers laugh by serving them in a wig, calls everyone “darl” and has an unapologetic obsession with Susan Boyle, his “65-year-old God”.
He’s also Tahlia’s big brother, so there’s already a family connection in the house!
Ryan told WHO he’ll be the chatterbox of the house, bringing plenty of energy and fun while making sure everyone feels comfortable and supported.
“I’ll become best friends with everyone,” he said. “I’m just going to have fun with being a Fruit Loop.”
Relationship status: Single
Open to meeting someone in the house? Oh, there won’t be a gay person in there! But if there was – you know what, yes I would be. But you’ll see how I’m so open and I’m very flirtatious and when I’ve spoken to people in the past, I have to say, oh, I’m not looking for anything, but I’m still very much like, this is my energy, I’m open, I can’t be faking tone it down, so then it makes it seem like we’re more of a thing, so it would cause problems! But yes, if I was, then yeah, I’d be open to it.
What do you hope to get out of the experience? I know in there, a mirror is kind of put up to your face about certain habits, about certain attitudes and behaviours, so I’m excited to see that and go, oh, maybe I do need to let that person finish their sentence before I jump in. I don’t think I need a full wake up call. If I do, that’s great, but I’m excited to see myself in the mirror and how I interact around other people and see how I go with different people and different ages.
Is there anything you are going to keep secret from your fellow Housemates? Well there’s a big one that I’m going to try, and that’s my sister. My sister’s coming in with me and we have to pretend that we aren’t siblings. I do I think I’m gonna struggle in there when it comes to like voting people up, especially when I become darls with them. I’ll probably tell them I voted them, and I’ll feel very bad and I’m very honest. My strategy is just to be me and you know, make connections with everyone as much as possible. As soon as they know that I’ve got a sibling there, they’re gonna think, oh, there’s two of them, get them up for eviction. But I’m not that type of person and I don’t know how to play your strategy. I’m just me.
How meaningful is your word? Are you willing to break friendships if it will get you further in the game? Well, if it gets me further in the game and knowing that one step to helping someone else for a good cause, you’ll see me communicate and decide about it a lot with Big Brother, but I guess I’ll have to, yes. But it’s not in my morals.
Tahlia, 25, VIC
Tahlia describes herself as “optimistic” and is entering the Big Brother house alongside her older brother, Ryan. Working in horticulture, gardening and support work, she’s used to connecting with people from all walks of life. With a dry sense of humour and a knack for finding herself in wild situations, she’s hoping to make friends quickly, although she’ll be missing her partner, Charlotte.
Tahlia told WHO she hopes to be someone her fellow housemates can lean on, offering a listening ear, advice and a bit of encouragement when they need it.
“I really enjoy talking to people about their life and being there and giving advice when it’s needed,” she said. “I will also be there to listen and hype them up or ground them if they need it. I hope that I stay grounded.”
Relationship status: I have a partner Charlotte.. We actually met on sail Croatia in 2023, a party boat. She was on there with her friends and I was on there with a few of mine and we just instantly clicked and we were hanging out for the week and we just stayed in contact. We really developed this instant attraction and love for each other. And then I flew to Melbourne, she flew to Sydney, we were visiting each other. But we found the distance and buying a plane ticket all the time so annoying. Then she said why don’t you just move to Melbourne? And I was said yes.
What do you hope to get out of the experience? Hopefully it brings opportunities after, but I hope to enjoy the experience, just to have a good time and really appreciate that I’m in this rare situation. Just really have fun!
Is there anything you are going to keep secret from your fellow Housemates? Probably just the fact that Ryan is my brother and we have to keep it a secret.
How meaningful is your word? Are you willing to break friendships if it will get you further in the game? I didn’t think about this. I actually haven’t thought about the high possibility of me being in a situation where I have to save myself or someone else. That is a hard one. I mean, it depends. If I knew that it meant more to them than it did to me, then I would sacrifice myself.
How to watch Big Brother Australia 2026
Big Brother Australia airs on Channel 10 Monday to Friday at 7.30pm and Sundays at 7pm.
And if one episode a night simply isn’t enough, the 24/7 live stream is available on 10 Play, giving fans the chance to check in on the housemates around the clock. Because apparently, there’s no such thing as too much Big Brother drama.
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