The renovation juggernaut is officially returning in 2027, but behind the scenes, Channel Nine is preparing a major change to the format. Alongside five new teams, a group of familiar faces will be given a challenge of their own — while fresh questions emerge about how long the franchise can continue in its current form.
A SIXTH HOUSE THAT COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING
The Block is set to return for its 23rd season in 2027, but viewers can expect a very different competition from the one they have become accustomed to.
In a major twist, Channel Nine is expanding the franchise with a new spin-off, The Block: The House Next Door, which will premiere on Stan in 2027.
While five new teams compete in the main series, former contestants — described as fan-favourite All Stars — will take on a sixth renovation at a neighbouring property.
The two challenges will unfold side by side, creating a new dynamic for the franchise. However, Nine has yet to reveal which former Blockheads will be returning, leaving fans guessing about which familiar faces could be back in the spotlight.
The identities of the returning contestants, along with further details of the spin-off, remain under wraps.
SUNBURY: A RETURN TO THE SHOW’S ROOTS — BUT WITH A HISTORIC TWIST
The main series will move to Sunbury, in Melbourne’s north-west, for its 2027 season.
The location was officially revealed at Nine’s 2027 Upfront presentation in September. The network has secured three historic buildings at Jacksons Hill, a site with a history stretching back around 170 years.
Rather than another collection of sprawling modern properties, the challenge will involve transforming these heritage buildings into five family homes.
The move comes after years of increasingly ambitious locations and renovations, as well as criticism from some viewers over the escalating reserve prices and whether the homes have become too expensive for ordinary buyers.
According to New Idea, industry insiders believe the Sunbury setting reflects a desire to bring the show closer to the suburban atmosphere that helped make it popular in the first place.
“The thinking for next year is very much about getting The Block back to basics,” one source told the publication, suggesting that familiar streets, neighbours and contestants living close together could restore some of the show’s original appeal.
But this is not simply a return to ordinary renovations. The historic buildings at Jacksons Hill bring their own architectural and restoration challenges — potentially making the 2027 series one of the franchise’s most distinctive yet.
WHY PRODUCERS MAY BE LOOKING TO RESET THE FORMAT
The change in location and the introduction of a sixth renovation come after growing debate about the direction of The Block.
In recent seasons, the scale of the properties, ambitious designs and high auction reserves have increasingly become part of the conversation around the show.
The 2025 auction, for example, saw two properties fail to sell, while the final prices and reserves continued to attract scrutiny.
Against that backdrop, Sunbury could offer a different proposition: homes that feel more connected to everyday Australian living, rather than properties that appear increasingly out of reach for many viewers.
An industry source told New Idea that the show had spent years asking how it could become bigger, but the question now was whether making it smaller could actually make it better.
It is a significant shift in thinking for a franchise that has built much of its identity around bigger builds, more elaborate designs and increasingly spectacular locations.
IS 2027 REALLY THE LAST SEASON BEFORE A BREAK?
Perhaps the most intriguing claim in New Idea‘s report concerns the show’s longer-term future.
The publication’s unnamed insiders suggest there has been discussion about the possibility of The Block being rested after the 2027 season, giving Nine time to reconsider the format before bringing it back in a new form.
That does not mean the show has been cancelled.
There has been no official announcement from Nine that 2027 will be the final season, nor confirmation that the network intends to put the franchise on hiatus.
Instead, the suggestion remains an insider report — but it raises an interesting question about whether the changes planned for Sunbury are part of a much bigger rethink.
One source told New Idea that sometimes a format needs to be rested before audiences start missing it.
If the reported discussions do lead to a break, the 2027 season could take on a significance beyond its renovations and auction results.
For now, however, The Block’s return is confirmed. What happens after that remains uncertain.
WHO WILL BE BACK — AND WHEN DOES FILMING BEGIN?
The main series will feature five new teams, with applications open to Australians applying in pairs.
According to the official casting call, successful applicants must be available for a 12-week filming period beginning in February 2027. Contestants cannot continue their regular jobs during filming, and previous renovation experience is welcomed but not required from both members of a team.
Participants will receive a nominal weekly payment to help cover basic living costs and expenses.
The former contestants taking part in The House Next Door have not yet been named, and Nine has not announced a premiere date for either series.
With two renovation competitions unfolding at the same location, the 2027 season is already shaping up to be a major moment for the franchise.
And while the return of familiar faces may be the headline-grabbing twist, the bigger question could be what this new chapter means for the future of The Block itself.