With just weeks to go until the cameras start rolling, excitement around the 2026 season of The Block is reaching fever pitch.
This year, the renovation juggernaut will set up shop in Mount Eliza – a coastal enclave on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula – and locals have reportedly been keeping a very close eye on the production.
As anticipation around the 2026 season grows, locals have reportedly been turning up every day to watch the site evolve, with one enormous structure in particular sparking wild speculation.
A large shed-like build on the site has become the talk of the town, and some are convinced it could be a game-changer.
Rumours are apparently swirling among locals that it may house the contestants’ very own Bunnings Warehouse on site for the first time.
'It’s a huge set piece,' one local told Daily Mail.
With just weeks to go until the cameras start rolling, excitement around the 2026 season of The Block is reaching fever pitch
'Everyone’s trying to guess what it could be.'
The iconic Australian hardware chain is as famous for its charity sausage sizzles as it is for its tools.
In 2025, Bunnings signed on as the official DIY and hardware partner for The Block, replacing long-time sponsor Mitre 10.
The hardware chain set up a mini-store and a nursery on the Daylesford site.
'When we were presented with the opportunity to partner with The Block, we jumped at the chance to provide 2025 contestants with everything they need from the front gate to the back fence,' Bunnings managing director Mike Schneider said at the time.
Insiders have told Daily Mail that while construction is nearing completion, and curiosity is growing by the day, this year's crop of Block stars are still a few weeks away from officially stepping on site.
'There’s still a few weeks to go,' the source said.
'When they do arrive, there’ll be the usual photoshoot straight away. That’s already pre-planned. Everyone’s been notified and they’re incredibly excited.'
Locals have reportedly been keeping a very close eye on the production. A large shed-like build on the site has become the talk of the town, and some are convinced it could be a game-changer
Rumours are apparently swirling among locals that it may house the contestants’ very own Bunnings on site for the first time
While this year's cast has yet to be revealed, insiders said that the 2026 Blockheads have been finalised over the past two months.
Channel Nine and Cavalier Productions – the production company behind The Block – are reportedly 'very happy' with the team responsible for assembling the cast – the same team behind the 2025 cast.
One source told Daily Mail that nailing the right mix of contestants was one of the biggest hurdles of the entire production.
'It's not about finding one or two breakout personalities,' the source said. 'You're casting for chemistry and sometimes for conflict.'
'You need people who will naturally interact well, or very much not.'
The new season won’t hit screens until later in the year, airing in its traditional timeslot but expectations among contestants are already high. Especially after last year’s controversial finale.
Several hopefuls are said to view last season as a 'factory reset', with many contestants walking away disappointed by their final earnings.
'They’re coming in with far more realistic expectations this time,' the insider explained. 'They all want a fairer shot and a stronger finish.'
'It’s a huge set piece,' one local told Daily Mail. 'Everyone’s trying to guess what it could be'
In 2025, Bunnings signed on as the official DIY and hardware partner for The Block, replacing long-time sponsor Mitre 10. The hardware chain set up a mini-store and a nursery on the Daylesford site
The new season won’t hit screens until later in the year, airing in its traditional timeslot but expectations among contestants are already high. Especially after last year’s controversial finale
Production logistics are also locked in, with Scott Cam already sorted locally for filming, while judges Shaynna Blaze and Marty Fox will drive in daily for shoots.
Meanwhile, Shelley Craft and Darren Palmer are set to continue their FIFO roles, with Shelley flying in from the Northern Rivers and Darren travelling from Bondi Beach.
With casting complete, sets nearly finished and mystery builds fueling speculation, it’s only a matter of time before the next chapter of The Block officially begins.
And if the early signs are anything to go by, 2026 could be shaping up to be one of the show’s most talked-about seasons yet.
Located 62 km from Melbourne, the sleepy small town of Mount Eliza, with its secluded beaches and bushland surroundings, is known as a prized getaway.
The site, purchased from former racing driver and Porsche collector Rusty French, spans 1.35 hectares and is subdivided into 10 premium lots.
Six lots have been secured for The Block's 2026 season, while the remaining four are either on the market or available for short-term lease.
Long-time Block building partners Nine in Six were spotted in branded gear at a local café before the deal was finalised, sparking rumours weeks before confirmation.
'They’re coming in with far more realistic expectations this time,' the insider explained. 'They all want a fairer shot and a stronger finish.'
Back in October, host Scott Cam took to social media to give fans a glimpse of the 2026 site. 'Mount Eliza, here we come!' Scott gushed on Instagram. 'Next year we’re hitting the coast for another landmark build!'
Aerial photos of the Mount Arthur site show construction is well and truly underway for the next crop of Block houses
Back in October, host Scott Cam took to social media to give fans a glimpse of the 2026 site.
'Mount Eliza, here we come!' Scott gushed in his Instagram post, adding: 'Next year we’re hitting the coast for another landmark build!'
He included a photo of himself posing alongside co-host Shelley Craft and a beautiful picture of the coastline, peppered with homes on leafy streets.
In a cheeky gesture, the celebrity tradie created an emoji 'pin' indicating the exact position where the new Blockheads will be building their homes in 2026.
Nine also announced in October that five teams of Blockheads will build five $5 million homes on a block on Old Mornington Road, a high spot on the peninsula that boasts stunning water views.
According to sources close to the production, Nine snapped up the patch for just under $11 million after weeks of negotiations.
