The Bachelor (American TV series) season 26

*The Bachelor*
The Bachelor
Season 26
	Promotional poster
Starring	Clayton Echard
Presented by	Jesse Palmer
No. of contestants	30 (31 initially)
Winner	Susie Evans
Runners-up	Gabby Windey; Rachel Recchia
No. of episodes	12
Release
Original network	ABC
Original release	January 3 –; March 15, 2022
Additional information
Filming dates	September 29 –; November 21, 2021
Season chronology
	← Previous; Season 25 Next →; Season 27
	List of episodes

The twenty-sixth season of The Bachelor premiered on January 3, 2022, with Jesse Palmer as host.^[1] This season featured 28-year-old Clayton Echard, a medical sales representative from Eureka, Missouri.^[2]

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.^[3] They announced their breakup on September 23, 2022.^[4]

^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (September 28, 2021). "Jesse Palmer Named New Host of 'The Bachelor'". Variety. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (November 30, 2021). "It's Official: ABC Names Clayton Echard Next Star of 'The Bachelor'". Variety. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
^ Gelhoren, Giovana (June 3, 2022). "The Bachelor's Clayton Echard and Susie Evans Joke They 'Barely Knew Each Other' When They Moved In". People. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
^ Wynne, Kelly (September 23, 2022). "The Bachelor's Clayton Echard and Susie Evans Announce Split: 'Not an Easy Time for Either of Us'". People. Retrieved September 24, 2022.

[Jesse-1] Wagmeister, Elizabeth (September 28, 2021). "Jesse Palmer Named New Host of 'The Bachelor'". Variety. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022.

[official-2] Wagmeister, Elizabeth (November 30, 2021). "It's Official: ABC Names Clayton Echard Next Star of 'The Bachelor'". Variety. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.

[3] Gelhoren, Giovana (June 3, 2022). "The Bachelor's Clayton Echard and Susie Evans Joke They 'Barely Knew Each Other' When They Moved In". People. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2022.

[4] Wynne, Kelly (September 23, 2022). "The Bachelor's Clayton Echard and Susie Evans Announce Split: 'Not an Easy Time for Either of Us'". People. Retrieved September 24, 2022.

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