What the Hell Is The Bachelor Winter Games?! Here's Everything We Know

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Our favourite Bachelor hotties are returning for another shot at love—and this time it’s going international.

The new Bachelor spinoff, The Bachelor Winter Games, debuts on Feb. 13 at 8:00 EST and is basically a show where contestants compete in a series of winter-themed challenges for a chance to win the ultimate prize: love. *Cue eye rolls now* The show, described as “different and fun” by host Chris Harrison, is a four-part series filmed in Manchester, Vermont, at what producers call a “luxurious winter resort.” (Basically, it’s a fancy AF space for cozy rendezvous, cuddle sessions and, obviously, drama.)

While we’re stoked that some of our fave Bach Nation contestants will be taking part (hello Eric Bigger!), we don’t know a heck of a lot about this new *reality* show. So, we did a deep dive into The Bachelor Winter Games and this is everything we learned so far about the show we will complain about non-stop while compulsively watching. You’re welcome.

When it airs

Clear your calendars, babes. The four-parter airs from 8:00 EST to 10:00 EST on Tuesday, February 13, Thursday February 15, Tuesday February 20 and Thursday February 22 on ABC. That means—including Arie’s season—there will be six hours of Bachelor Nation programming on the weeks of February 12 and 19. We are seriously not sure if we can handle it all, HBU?

Here’s how the game works

Ten former Bachelor/Bachelorette contestants from the United States along with 14 contestants from overseas editions of The Bachelor—including Australia’s Tiffany Scanlon, Canada’s Benoit Beausejour Savard and New Zealand’s Jordan Mauger—will compete for “date cards” that they can use to pursue romantic one-on-ones with fellow competitors. How does one win a date card, you ask? Simple. By showing off one’s skiing, biathlon and ice-dancing skills.

According to a press release by ABC, the competitions will “test the contestants’ perseverance in pursuing relationships with one another while faced with language barriers and cultural differences.” Producer Mike Fleiss hopes the games will “create a global celebration of unity and love.” Hey, if that means we get to see Ben Higgins’s winter bod we’re alllllllll for it.

The special guests are insane

In case you are bummed about missing some of the actual Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea (which will air at the same time), you can get your athlete fix with special appearances by world figure skating champions Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner, and Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan. Other special appearances include former Bach contestants and forever lovebirds Trista and Ryan Sutter, who will kick off the games as “grand marshals,” former Bachelorettes Rachel Lindsay and JoJo Fletcher, and current Bachelor Arie Luyendyk Jr.

These are the contestants we are most stoked to see

Ben Higgins

Our hearts filled and then eventually broke for season 20 Bachelor Ben and his now-ex Lauren Bushnell. But hey, if Ben can’t find love in Vermont, Amy Schumer seems to dig him.

Ashley Iaconetti (a.k.a. Ashley I)

C’mon. As if we wouldn’t be excited for the return of infamous Kim Kardashian-esque crying Ashley! It’s been too long since we saw her on Bachelor in Paradise seasons 2 and 3. And if the games are anything like the promo suggests, there will be plenty of tears ahead.

Eric Bigger

Sweet, charming, sexy Eric was a fan favourite on Rachel Lindsay’s season of The Bachelorette. He wasn’t lucky enough to capture her Final Rose, but will her guest appearance bring up old feelings? WE HOPE SO.

Luke Pell

We still have a serious bone to pick with Luke about his not-so-cute f-ckboy tendencies, so we will be watching to see if he’s improved his behaviour.

Dean Unglert

He won our hearts when he showed his sensitive side on Rachel’s season of The Bachelorette, but got a bad boy reputation on Bachelor in Paradise season 4 when he tried to date BOTH Kristina Schulman and Danielle Lombard. Which Dean will we get this time?

How do Bach fans feel?

Many fans are stoked for the triumphant return of our favourite Bachelor babes

Others, not so much

And some just don’t know what to think—but are obvs going to watch anyway

Related:
Peter Kraus No Longer Listed as Cast on ‘The Bachelor Winter Games’
Sharleen Joynt on The Bachelor: Episode 2 + New Video!
For Your Reference: A Guide to Bachelor Arie’s Remaining Women