MultiChoice Nigeria has announced that the 11th season of the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality television show will premiere on Sunday, July 26, 2026, with the winner set to receive a record-breaking grand prize of N160 million, the highest since the programme began in 2006.
The announcement was made on Wednesday during a press briefing, where organisers unveiled plans for the new season and confirmed that this year’s winner will take home the largest prize package in the history of the reality television franchise.
According to the organisers, preparations for the new edition commenced earlier this year with physical auditions held from May 22 to May 24 in Lagos, Abuja and Enugu after applicants were shortlisted through an online screening process.
Participation in the audition exercise was free, while eligibility was restricted to Nigerians aged 21 years and above who presented valid means of identification.
The organisers said the audition process was designed to identify contestants capable of delivering another entertaining and competitive season for viewers across Africa.
The forthcoming edition follows the successful conclusion of the previous season, which ended on October 5, 2025, with Opeyemi Ayanwale, popularly known as Imisi, emerging as the winner.
Imisi defeated 28 other housemates to claim a prize package valued at N150 million, consisting of N80 million in cash and a brand-new SUV, making him one of the show’s biggest winners at the time.
The increase in the grand prize to N160 million reflects the organisers’ continued efforts to raise the stakes and sustain the show’s position as one of Africa’s biggest entertainment platforms.
Since its debut in 2006, Big Brother Naija has evolved into one of Nigeria’s most watched reality television programmes, producing several entertainment stars while attracting millions of viewers across the continent.
The new season is expected to feature a fresh lineup of contestants competing for the coveted prize through a series of tasks, challenges and public votes over several weeks of televised entertainment.