Big Brother 20 is the 20th season of the American reality television series Big Brother. It is based upon the Dutch series of the same name.

It was renewed in August 2016 as part of a double renewal for seasons 19 and 20. Julie Chen, credited as Julie Chen Moonves from episode 35 onwards, returned as host.

Sixteen new competitors, known as HouseGuests, were announced to be competing and their identities were released in June 2018. Each week in the game, HouseGuests compete in a series of competitions to win power and safety, they then vote to eliminate, or "evict", one of their own until there are only two remaining. In the finale episode, previous House Guests vote on who they think they should win the game, with the House Guest who receives the most votes being declared the winner.

The season featured a technology theme. It premiered on June 27, 2018 on CBS in the United States and concluded on September 26, 2018. The season also received many controversies and criticisms throughout the season, but received mostly positive viewing figures. Despite an uncertain future for the show, CBS began accepting applications for a future season in September 2018.

After 99 days in the Big Brother House, Kaycee Clark became the winner of Big Brother in a 5–4 vote over Tyler Crispen. Crispen was also named America's Favorite HouseGuest.

Format Big Brother follows a group of contestants, known as HouseGuests, who live inside a custom-built house outfitted with cameras and microphones recording their every move 24 hours a day. The HouseGuests are sequestered with no contact with the outside world. During their stay, the HouseGuests share their thoughts on their day-to-day lives inside the house in a private room known as the Diary Room.

Each week, the HouseGuests compete in competitions in order to win power and safety inside the house. At the start of each week, the HouseGuests compete in a Head of Household (abbreviated as "HOH") competition. The winner of the HoH competition is immune from eviction and selects two HouseGuests to be nominated for eviction. Six HouseGuests are then selected to compete in the Power of Veto (abbreviated as "PoV") competition: the reigning HoH, the nominees, and three other HouseGuests chosen by random draw. The winner of the PoV competition has the right to either revoke the nomination of one of the nominated HouseGuests or leave them as is. If the veto winner uses this power, the HoH must immediately nominate another HouseGuest for eviction. The PoV winner is also immune from being named as the replacement nominee.

On eviction night, all HouseGuests vote to evict one of the nominees, though the Head of Household and the nominees are not allowed to vote. This vote is conducted in the privacy of the Diary Room. In the event of a tie, the Head of Household casts the tie-breaking vote. The nominee with the most votes is evicted from the house.

The last nine evicted HouseGuests comprise the Jury and are sequestered in a separate location following their eviction and ultimately decide the winner of the season. The Jury is only allowed to see the competitions and ceremonies that include all of the remaining HouseGuests; they are not shown any interviews or other footage that might include strategy or details regarding nominations.

The viewing public is able to award an additional prize of by choosing "America's Favorite HouseGuest". All evicted HouseGuests are eligible to win this award except for those who either voluntarily leave or are forcibly removed for rule violations.

Format changes and additions This season's main format and changes centered on technology. BB did something similar in season 26 when the twist was forced on ai

BB App Store For the first three weeks, viewers were asked a series of questions about their opinions on the remaining House Guests. The House Guest who was named in the most overall answers was deemed the "top trending" House Guest of the week and earned a "Power App", which would give them an advantage in the game, while the House Guest who was answered the least was deemed "least trending" was given a "Crap App", which gave them a punishment. Once HouseGuests received an app, they were no longer eligible to receive one in the future.

Week Top trending Power App Status Least trending Crap App 1 Sam Bonus LifeTo be used immediately after a HouseGuest is evicted from the house, this power gave that HouseGuest a chance to return to the game via a competition. This power had to be used in the first three evictions, or else the fourth evicted HouseGuest would automatically be given the chance to return.Used Fessy HamazonThe HouseGuest was routinely given packages of ham, which they had to consume. (As Faysal was Muslim, a vegetarian ham substitute was used.) 2 Tyler The CloudThe HouseGuest had the power to make themselves immune from nomination during one Nomination or Veto Ceremony of their choice.Not used Rachel Yell!For 24 hours, an angry reviewer was unleashed into the house at random times to loudly give the HouseGuest feedback on their existence. 3 Bayleigh Identity TheftThe HouseGuest could secretly replace the HoH's nominations with two of their own. The HoH still had power over the replacement nominations.Not used(Evicted) Haleigh Read It!Throughout the week, the HouseGuest had to wear a costume and read Hamlet in a Shakespearean accent. This punishment continued until the entire play had been read.

H@cker Competition On Day 44, following Rachel's eviction, a new twist was unleashed on the HouseGuests called the "H@cker Competition". It lets one HouseGuest hack the game for a week. After the nominations, all of the HouseGuests compete in a competition at the same time in different rooms, making the winner anonymous to the other HouseGuests. The winner of the competition is able to "hack" the game in three different ways: First, they can replace one of the Head of Household's nominations and change it to someone of their choosing. Second, they get to select one of the three participants chosen for the Power of Veto competition. Finally, they can nullify one vote at the live eviction. Week H@cker Nominations Veto Player Nullified Eviction Vote Saved Nominated 6 Haleigh Scottie Tyler Kaycee Tyler 7 Kaycee Kaycee Rockstar Tyler Fessy

Jury Battleback The first four Jury members had the opportunity to battle each other for a chance to return to the game. The competition between Bayleigh, Rockstar, Scottie, and Fessy aired on August 30, 2018 in episode 29 following the live eviction. Scottie was the winner and returned to the game.

HouseGuests

The HouseGuests were announced on Monday, June 18 at 7 AM PDT through the CBS website. Among the HouseGuests was Miss Missouri USA 2017 Bayleigh Dayton. Name Age Occupation Residence Dayentered Result 30 Pro football player Tempe, Arizona1 WinnerDay 99 23 Lifeguard Hilton Head, South Carolina Day 99 28 Professional dancer West Hollywood, California 26 Fitness model Playa Vista, California 27 Welder Stuarts Draft, Virginia 25 Cybersecurity engineer 21 College student College Station, Texas 26 Shipping manager Chicago, Illinois 72 1 26 Substitute teacher Orlando, Florida 34 Stay-at-home mom Columbia, Maryland 25 Flight attendant Atlanta, Georgia 29 Vegas entertainer Las Vegas, Nevada 24 Life coach Encino, California 28 Medical sales rep Bowling Green, Kentucky 23 Day trader Bridgeport, Connecticut 40 Wanaque, New Jersey

Other appearances

All evicted HouseGuests appeared on the Facebook Watch exclusive Off the Block with Ross and Marissa for an extended interview following their evictions. Tyler Crispen appeared on the second episode of TKO: Total Knock Out as a contestant.

In 2019, Kaycee Clark, Tyler Crispen, Bayleigh Dayton, Kaitlyn Herman, and Swaggy C Williams all appeared on Big Brother 21 to host separate Head of Household and Power of Veto competitions. Clark and Crispen appeared alongside JC Mounduix in the penultimate episode of Big Brother 21 to give their thoughts on the season and who they thought would win. In 2020, both Crispen and Dayton returned to compete on Big Brother: All-Stars.

Swaggy C Williams, Bayleigh Dayton, Winston Hines, and Brett Robinson all filmed a promotional video for Love Island, which aired during Big Brother 21. Hines then appeared as a contestant on the first season.

In 2020, Kaycee Clark, Fessy Shafaat, Bayleigh Dayton, and Swaggy C Williams appeared on The Challenge: Total Madness. Clark and Shafaat returned for The Challenge: Double Agents, The Challenge: Spies, Lies & Allies and The Challenge: Ride or Dies. In 2024, Clark returned for the milestone 40th season, The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras.

In 2022, Angela Rummans appeared on the first season of The Challenge: USA. In 2023, Faysal Shafaat and Tyler Crispen appeared on the second season. Also in 2023, Kaycee Clark competed on The Challenge: World Championship. In 2025, Shafaat competed on the fifth season of The Challenge: All Stars.

In 2020, Bayleigh Dayton and Swaggy C Williams appeared on the TLC reality TV show Say Yes to the Dress.

In 2022, Brett Robinson competed on the fifth season of the Netflix reality competition series The Circle.

In 2025, Clark made a surprise appearance on Big Brother 27 as part of a twist to compete in the Week 2 Power of Veto competition on behalf of houseguest Keanu Soto. Tyler Crispen appeared later in the season to host the White Locust competition.

In 2026, Shafaat appeared as "Mayhem" on American Gladiators.

Episodes

Voting history Color key: