The Block 2026: Meet the Mount Eliza Teams
The Block is returning in 2026 with five new teams, five luxury homes and a very different property market.
This season moves to Mount Eliza on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula. The homes will offer water views and target buyers at the premium end of the market.
That shift immediately raises the stakes.
The contestants are not simply renovating homes for weekly judging. They need to create properties that real buyers will value on auction day.
Having purchased House 1 on The Block in 2021, I know how different the television competition can look from the buyer’s side.
The rooms might win praise each week. However, buyers assess the complete property.
They consider the floor plan, land, orientation, privacy, location, construction quality and long-term resale appeal. Styling creates interest, but the fundamentals determine value.
Meet The Block 2026 contestants.
The five teams come from across Australia. Several bring serious construction or design experience.
Adam and Jolene
The married couple from South Australia manage a cattle station. Adam is also a carpenter by trade, giving the team practical building experience.
Jolene brings the styling ideas, while Adam understands how a building site operates. Their challenge will be translating their rural experience into a luxury Mount Eliza home.
Chantel and Wyatt
The Gold Coast couple combines building knowledge with a competitive mindset.
Chantel has worked across more than 100 new builds. She also holds qualifications in building and construction. Wyatt is a personal trainer and business owner.
They should understand construction pressures better than most contestants.
Lisa and Rosco
The Western Australian couple enters with less renovation experience.
Lisa works as a paramedic, while Rosco works in a fly-in, fly-out role. Their ability to make fast decisions and manage pressure could become important.
However, limited building experience may expose them when budgets tighten.
Rick and Tayla
This Victorian father-and-daughter team brings significant trade experience.
Rick is an experienced builder who has worked across more than 100 residential properties. Tayla is a personal trainer and business owner with a strong interest in property and styling.
Their local knowledge and practical experience could give them an early advantage.
Courtney and Sev
The Brisbane best friends appear particularly strong on paper.
Courtney works as a construction site manager. Sev is a commercial interior designer. They have also completed renovation projects together.
Their biggest task may be balancing design ambition with broad buyer appeal.
The shared-house twist
For the first time, all five teams will live together in one nearby house.
That means the contestants cannot retreat to their own properties after work. They will share their living space with the same people they compete against each day.
The arrangement should create plenty of television. It could also affect decision-making on-site.
Renovations already place enormous pressure on relationships. Fatigue, budgets and tight deadlines can quickly turn minor disagreements into expensive mistakes.
Why Mount Eliza changes the game.
Mount Eliza is an established lifestyle market, not simply a holiday destination. We have bought many family homes in this suburb for our clients, and they all love living here. It’s a safe, family-friendly environment.
Buyers are attracted to its village, schools, beaches, larger landholdings and access to Melbourne. However, they remain very selective at the premium end.
A multimillion-dollar buyer expects more than an impressive kitchen. They want natural light, functional & multiple living areas, privacy and strong connections to the garden. They also want enough storage, sensible bedroom separation and practical parking.
Water views will help. They will not fix a weak floor plan.
The homes must also compete with established Mount Eliza properties offering mature gardens, swimming pools and proven streetscapes. The Mt Eliza 2026 homes are sitting on a recent subdivision and 3 out of the 5 offer bay and city views. We expect the three with views to have higher reserve prices than the two houses on the lower side.
It’s not confirmed, but with softer Melbourne market conditions, I expect reserve prices to be in the 4M range. They may be lower if Channel 9 want them to sell under the hammer.
Auction day will reveal the real winner.
The judges decide which rooms win during the season. Buyers decide which homes succeed at auction. A home can receive strong scores while still carrying compromises. Another may divide the judges but appeal strongly to one determined buyer.
Auction order, reserve prices and the depth of the buyer pool will also influence the final results. We will know more about the prices as we approach Auction Day.
At this price level, there may only be a small group of genuine buyers. Each property must give those buyers a clear reason to compete. The strongest home will not necessarily have the boldest design.
It will be the property with the best combination of location, floor plan, construction quality and emotional appeal.
I’m Andrew Date, the founder and Senior Advisor at Industry Insider Property, Toorak. Industry Insider Property acts exclusively for buyers, advisors and sellers in Melbourne’s prestige and luxury residential market.
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