Massive shakeup confirmed for The Block 2027 after fan complaints

After two seasons of glossy new builds, The Block is heading back to basics in 2027 – and it’s exactly what fans have been asking for.

Season 23 will see five new teams take on the show’s most ambitious challenge yet.

The Block 2027

Next year’s contestants will be restoring three grand heritage buildings at Jacksons Hill in Sunbury, Victoria – 40 minutes north-west of Melbourne’s CBD.

The site, acquired from the Victorian Government, dates back 170 years to the gold rush era, and has served as an industrial school, a psychiatric hospital and most recently, a university campus.

It’s a pivot for the franchise, which has copped criticism in recent years for trading renovation grit for interior styling on brand-new builds.

One Reddit user summed up the frustration bluntly: “I really miss what The Block was about. Attainable renovations where the contestants did the hard yards around their actual lives.”

Others have pointed out that recent seasons have blurred the line between renovating and decorating, with houses already built and finished before contestants even arrive on site.

Returning hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft will oversee the five teams as they attempt to preserve the heritage character of the buildings while transforming them into The Block‘s signature aspirational family homes.

Next season marks a format shift for the show, leaning into restoration rather than reconstruction.

Whether this answers fans’ calls for a return to smaller-scale, contestant-driven renovations remains to be seen, but it’s the clearest signal yet that Nine is responding to the mounting criticism.

The Block: The House Next Door

Adding to the 2027 shake-up is a brand-new spin-off show, The Block: The House Next Door, premiering exclusively on Stan.

A team of fan-favourite all-stars will tackle a sixth property just over the fence from the main cast, renovating the same rooms week-to-week before their reveals drop on the streaming platform.