The Bachelor (American TV series) season 26
The twenty-sixth season of The Bachelor premiered on January 3, 2022, with Jesse Palmer as host. This season featured 28-year-old Clayton Echard, a medical sales representative from Eureka, Missouri.
Echard finished in eighth place on the eighteenth season of The Bachelorette featuring Michelle Young.
The season concluded on March 15, 2022, with Echard's final choice, 28-year-old wedding videographer Susie Evans, rejecting him. Evans was the first person in the show's history to reject the lead's proposal. However, during the live After the Final Rose special, it was revealed that they had since gotten back together, and they moved in together in Virginia Beach, Virginia in April 2022. They announced their breakup on September 23, 2022.
Production
Casting and contestants
In August 2021, it was reported that men from The Bachelorette who had been considered for the lead role were Tyler Cameron and Mike Johnson from season 15; Ben Smith from season 16; and Greg Grippo, Andrew Spencer and Michael Allio from season 17. Spencer and Allio eventually went on to compete in season 8 of Bachelor in Paradise.On September 15, 2021, media outlets reported that Clayton Echard was named the Bachelor. The next day, the production crew was reported in his hometown of Eureka, Missouri filming footage for this upcoming season, just one week after the filming of season 18 had concluded. Echard was officially announced as The Bachelor on November 30, 2021.
On September 28, 2021, it was announced that season five bachelor Jesse Palmer would host the season, replacing former host Chris Harrison. Harrison departed the franchise in June following backlash after his support for Rachael Kirkconnell, the winner of the previous season, whose photos resurfaced of her attending an Antebellum South-themed party.
Notable contestants include Hurricane Sandy survivor Daria Rose; Denver Broncos cheerleader Gabby Windey, who is the ex-girlfriend of The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise contestant Dean Unglert; Olympic sprinter Marlena Wesh, who represented Haiti at the 2012 Summer Olympics; Miss Virginia USA 2020 and Miss USA 2020 competitor Susie Evans; Miss South Carolina Teen 2015 and top 10 finalist at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2016 Sarah Hamrick; Miss Teen America 2013 Lindsay Dobbs; and Oppenheim Group realtor Kate Gallivan, who appeared in the series Selling Sunset.
Filming and development
Filming began on September 29, 2021, at The Bachelor mansion in Agoura Hills, California, marking the return to the mansion for the first time since the twenty-fourth season. Filming was reported in Houston, Texas at NRG Stadium; in October 2021 in Iceland in November 2021; at Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavík; and at Ingólfsskáli Viking Restaurant in Ölfus. Additionally, the season includes visits to Toronto, Ontario, Hvar, Croatia and Vienna, Austria. Croatia and Iceland were initially planned to visit in the sixteenth season of The Bachelorette, however, plans were cancelled at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic due to travel restrictions.Actresses Hilary Duff and Nicole Eggert, comedians Ziwe Fumudoh and Russell Peters, former Bachelorettes Kaitlyn Bristowe and Becca Kufrin, Houston Texans players Jonathan Greenard and Kamu Grugier-Hill, and musicians Restless Road and Chris de Burgh made guest appearances this season.
Contestants
33 potential contestants were revealed on September 25, 2021.The final cast of 31 women was announced on December 15, 2021.
However, one of the contestants, Salley Carson, a 26-year-old spine-surgery robot operator from Greenville, South Carolina, made the decision to drop out of the show just hours before the limo arrived. As a result, only 30 women participated in the show.
Future appearances
''The Bachelorette''
Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey were chosen as co-leads for season 19 of The Bachelorette.''Bachelor in Paradise''
Season 8Eliza Isichei, Ency Abedin, Genevieve Parisi, Hailey Malles, Hunter Haag, Jill Chin, Kate Gallivan, Kira Mengistu, Lyndsey Windham, Mara Agreat, Salley Carson, Sarah Hamrick, Serene Russell, Shanae Ankney, Sierra Jackson, and Teddi Wright returned for season 8 of Bachelor in Paradise. Hunter, Hailey, and Kira were eliminated in week 1. Teddi, Sierra, and Salley quit in week 2. Kira returned in week 2 and left in a relationship with Romeo Alexander later that day. Jill and Sarah quit in week 3, the latter had to leave due to the death of a family member. Ency, Lyndsey, and Mara quit in week 5. Eliza and Kate split from Rodney Mathews and Logan Palmer, respectively, in week 5. Shanae and Genevieve split from Joey Young and Aaron Clancy, respectively, in week 6. Serene got engaged to Brandon Jones in week 6.
Season 9
Eliza, Rachel, and Samantha Jeffries returned for season 9 of Bachelor in Paradise. Samantha was medically removed in week 2. Rachel quit in week 4. Eliza got engaged to Aaron Bryant in week 5.
Season 10
Jill and Susie Evans returned for season 10 of Bachelor in Paradise. Susie rejected a rose and left in week 2. Jill quit in week 4.
''Bachelor in Paradise Canada''
Season 2Rianna Hockaday and Tessa Tookes returned for the second season of Bachelor in Paradise Canada. Rianna was eliminated in week 1. Tessa got engaged to Joey Kirchner in week 6.