Who Claimed Victory in ‘Big Brother 26’? Did Chelsie, Cam, or Makensy Walk Away with the $750,000 Prize?

Chelsie Baham emerged as the champion of Big Brother 26 during the season finale on Sunday, October 13. The 27-year-old contestant triumphed over fellow finalists Makensy Manbeck and Cam Sullivan-Brown, who finished in second and third place, respectively. The trio had formed a close alliance during the latter part of the game, but Chelsie and 25-year-old Cam had supported each other since the start.

Before the finale, Chelsie secured victory in the first round of the final Head of Household competition, while 22-year-old Makensy claimed part two. The two then faced off in the live third round of the final HoH competition, where Makensy ultimately emerged victorious and chose to take Chelsie with her to the final two.

The final showdown involved seven jurors: Quinn Martin, T’kor Clottey, Leah Peters, Angela Murray, Kimo Apaka, Rubina Bernabe, and Cam. Chelsie won by a unanimous vote. Additionally, Tucker Des Lauriers was named America’s Favorite Houseguest during the finale.

Throughout the season, Chelsie wielded significant power in the house, winning four Head of Household competitions. After her alliance, The Pentagon, was exposed early in the game by Tucker, she adapted to the changing dynamics, even as her allies Cedric Hodges and Brooklyn Rivera were evicted. Chelsie built strong relationships with T’kor and Makensy, persuading Makensy to target Leah and Angela during her HoH week, which ultimately benefited Chelsie more than Makensy.

Big Brother 26 premiered on July 17, introducing the twist of the BB AI Arena, which required Head of Households to nominate three players for eviction instead of the usual two. The three nominees then competed live on eviction night, with the winner earning safety while the other two faced a vote for eviction.

This twist, which ended after week 7, complicated the decision-making process for houseguests, leading to more spontaneous vote flips. For instance, Makensy unexpectedly voted to evict Joseph Rodriguez instead of Kimo after his eviction speech. Host Julie Chen Moonves highlighted how the BB AI Arena forced contestants to make quick decisions without the benefit of group consensus, saying, “They had to think as individuals.”

The twist proved exciting for loyal live feed viewers, introducing an element of unpredictability to the game. Chen Moonves expressed satisfaction with the twist, suggesting it might return in future seasons.

Another notable aspect of Big Brother 26 was the record number of vetoes used; the power of veto was employed at every single veto meeting until week 11. In a surprising move, Tucker used the veto on Angela in week 3 while on the block himself and subsequently saved himself from eviction by winning in the AI Arena.