3 Theories About the Big Bachelor Nation Announcement That Is Set for the ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Finale
Bachelor Nation fans have a big finale to sink their teeth into tonight. For the first time ever, viewers will watch a Bachelor in Paradise couple potentially walk away with a massive cash prize. That’s not the only big thing happening tonight, though. According to a recently launched Instagram countdown, a major announcement is on the way for Bachelor Nation fans, too. Although we don’t have the details yet, several theories are circulating. We’ve collected them for your consideration.
Theory #1: The ‘Bachelor Nation’ announcement will reveal that a show will be filmed ‘at sea’
On August 30, a countdown clock appeared on the Bachelor Nation Instagram account. The background, an ocean with rose petals floating in it, didn’t reveal much information, but fans were quick to notice that the countdown clock expired at the very start of the Bachelor in Paradise finale. This suggests that the announcement will be made during the show. Theories began to roll in quickly.
Many fans assume the Bachelor Nation announcement will be for a new show, or, at the very least, a season of one of the franchise’s staple competitions in a new location. Because of the background of the countdown, some fans think a Bachelor in Paradise “at sea” season could be in the works. Instead of a resort, the entire season would be filmed on a cruise to different locations. The “at sea” element could also work for The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, or even The Golden Bachelorette. We think it would work best with multiple couples involved, though.
Theory #2: The big announcement is just the reveal of the next lead of ‘The Bachelor’
Several fans and gossip sites have suggested that ABC will be using the season finale of Bachelor in Paradise to announce the next The Bachelor lead. While the announcement’s imagery lends itself better to a “Bachelor at Sea” concept, it’s possible that the water is directly connected to the next lead. While it’s typical for the production team to pull a bachelor from the previous season of The Bachelorette, that’s not possible this time around.
Since the network opted to pause The Bachelorette after Jenn Tran’s disastrous season, filled with subpar men, several of whom found their way to paradise, they could go in a new direction. It’s possible viewers will get a Bachelor Nation unknown as their next leading man. If that’s the case, we expect him to have some connection to the water. The lead could be a professional swimmer, a diver, or even a boat captain, if the Bachelor Nation announcement is actually about the next season. Whoever the next lead is, regardless of when they’re announced, we hope the network vets them well.
While it’s not traditional for the next lead to be revealed during Bachelor in Paradise, the normal schedule for the franchise’s shows has been altered to accommodate the skipped The Bachelorette season. Technically, a lead reveal would be just about on schedule.
Theory #3: A special franchise-themed cruise is in the works
A less popular theory that is floating around has nothing to do with a TV show at all. Some fans theorize that a fan cruise themed around the franchise will be announced during the finale. The poster suggests that we can expect a water-themed announcement. There is already a Bachelor Nation cruising experience available through City Experiences. If interest is high, we could see the franchise trying to capitalize on a longer event.
If stars are already attached to a dinner cruise, would it really be far-fetched for some of the franchise’s contestants to sign up to rub elbows with fans for a few days on a cruise ship? It’s not an unheard-of event. Several Teen Mom cast members are slated to spend several days with fans on a cruise in April 2026. We just don’t think this one is the one, though. Another, less exciting, and less popular theory is that the network will announce the Bachelor in Paradise reunion special. That would be pretty anticlimactic. The cast members already pretty much announced it.
The finale of Bachelor in Paradise season 10 airs on ABC on Sept. 2, 2025, at 8 PM.
