Who Do You Think You Are? returns to SBS and SBS On Demand on Tuesday 12 May 2026 with eight new prominent Australians embarking on deeply personal journeys into their family history, uncovering stories of love, loss, resilience and long held secrets that continue to shape who they are today.
Leading this year’s new stories are Guy Sebastian, Rosie Batty, Curtis Stone and Matt Day, joining previously announced participants Bruce McAvaney, Essie Davis, Aaron Pedersen and Chrissie Swan.
Across eight episodes, the series delivers some of its most emotional and visually rich storytelling to date, from long-lost family legacies and migration stories, to confronting generational trauma and moments of profound personal connection.
Here are the eight familiar faces embarking on a genealogical journey in the brand-new season:
Bruce McAvaney
“I didn’t expect to feel so emotional, but walking in their footsteps and understanding what they went through… it’s brought me closer to my parents in a way I didn’t anticipate.” – Bruce McAvaney
In an emotional opening episode, legendary broadcaster Bruce McAvaney traces his family’s history in South Australia, uncovering stories of early settlement, land ownership and personal tragedy. Walking the land once owned by his ancestors, Bruce is visibly moved as he connects more deeply to his late parents, reflecting on both the successes and hardships that shaped his family’s legacy.
Guy Sebastian
“This is a big moment for me. Being here in India and learning about my family, I feel really connected to it in a way I never have before. It’s been a very spiritual experience, and I’ve learned so much about where I come from. I can’t wait to take that back and share it with my family.” – Guy Sebastian
Renowned singer-songwriter Guy Sebastian travels across India and Sri Lanka to uncover the truth behind his mother’s heritage and reconnect with his father’s Tamil roots, with a defining moment coming through DNA results that finally bring clarity to his family’s identity.
Rosie Batty
“When people ask where I get my strength, I think it comes from that little girl who lost her mum at six. Looking back at my family, I can see that strength and resilience has always been there.” - Rosie Batty
Former Australian of the Year and family violence campaigner Rosie Batty returns to her childhood home in England to explore the origins of her strength and resilience, uncovering generations shaped by hardship, class barriers and personal tragedy, and recognising the enduring influence of both sides of her family.
Aaron Pedersen
“Finding out the truth about my family, and finally knowing where I come from, has given me a sense of peace. It’s something I’ve carried for a long time, and now I feel like I can move forward with a clearer understanding of who I am.” – Aaron Pedersen
Respected Indigenous actor Aaron Pedersen leads a powerful NAIDOC Week episode, embarking on a deeply personal journey to uncover his Arabana heritage and the identity of his father, culminating in a life-changing discovery that brings clarity to a question he has carried for decades.
Curtis Stone
Internationally renowned chef Curtis Stone, whose career spans Michelin-star restaurants and global television, uncovers a deeply personal family story shaped by survival, resilience and long-held mystery, including a DNA breakthrough that finally reveals the identity of his great grandfather.
You can catch Curtis Stone in Getting Grilled with Curtis Stone and Field Trip with Curtis Stone: Hong Kong, now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Matt Day
One of Australia’s most prolific stage and screen actors, Matt Day sets out to better understand his family history, uncovering an extraordinary wartime story of survival, including his grandfather’s 14-week escape through the jungles of New Guinea during World War II, alongside a legacy of wealth and enterprise that reshapes his understanding of identity and belonging.
Essie Davis
Acclaimed stage and screen actor Essie Davis, best known for her role in Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, uncovers a complex family history marked by secrecy and social stigma, including the revelation that her grandmother adopted her own grandchildren to protect a family secret, reshaping her understanding of her father’s past.
You can catch Essie Davis in the romantic drama South Solitary, now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Chrissie Swan
Much-loved television and radio host Chrissie Swan delves into her family history, uncovering stories of hardship, resilience and unexpected tragedy, including a shocking moment where a long-lost ancestor is revealed to have committed a violent crime, challenging everything she thought she knew about her past.
Now in its 17th season, Who Do You Think You Are? remains one of SBS’s most enduring formats, continuing to connect audiences through deeply human storytelling.
Who Do You Think You Are? is produced by Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia for SBS. The brand-new series airs at 7:30pm Tuesdays on SBS and SBS On Demand, starting 12 May.
All eight episodes of Season 17 of Who Do You Think You Are? will be available to stream on SBS On Demand with subtitles in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean. All episodes will also be available with audio description.
Head to SBS On Demand to catch up on previous seasons of Who Do You Think You Are?
