Channel Nine
The Block 2026 new rule makes this year’s renovation competition one of the toughest in the show’s history. With strict council restrictions limiting how long contestants can work each day, every hour on site will count.
Unlike previous seasons, where late-night renovations often became the norm, strict local council regulations now limit teams renovating the Mount Eliza homes to working between 7am and 6pm on weekdays, and 9am to 3pm on Saturdays, leaving far less time to complete each room.
And if anyone understands just how much pressure the new rule creates, it’s 2025 contestants Emma and Ben. Speaking about the new restrictions, Ben admitted he doesn’t envy this year’s teams.
“Our season, we were chasing every hour in the day. I couldn’t imagine having even less time to get the rooms completed. Good luck to them; every second will count.”
Working smarter, not harder
While the new rule reducing construction hours will test every team’s time management, Emma believes success won’t simply come down to speed. Instead, she says contestants will need to play to the strengths of their individual homes.
With some properties enjoying sweeping bay views while established trees screen others, Emma believes clever design choices will become even more important this season.
“It’s all about playing to your strengths,” she explained, encouraging contestants to embrace flexibility and trust their instincts while remaining open to feedback from the judges.
A familiar home for this year’s contestants
Emma and Ben haven’t completely left The Block behind. The couple turned their Mount Eliza home into the contestants’ share house for the duration of filming, giving them a unique behind-the-scenes perspective on the 2026 season.
After producers inspected the property, they chose it as the perfect base for all 10 contestants, who have been living together while renovating nearby homes. The shared accommodation marks another major twist this year, replacing the traditional setup where teams lived inside the houses they were renovating.
Ben joked the contestants were “great tenants”, while Emma said it had been fascinating seeing the enormous amount of work that goes into producing the hit renovation series.
Could this be the hardest season yet?
Between tighter council restrictions, shorter workdays and the pressure of living alongside competing teams, The Block 2026 is shaping up to be one of the show’s most demanding seasons.
For viewers, however, that could make for even more dramatic television—and perhaps some of the most creative renovations yet.
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