Finding Your Roots Season 12 Features Star-Studded Guests, Premieres January 2026

PBS's genealogical series Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is set to return for its twelfth season on January 6, 2026, featuring a diverse lineup of celebrities including actors Kristin Chenoweth, Darren Criss, Tracy Letts, America Ferrera, and Sara Haines, as well as musicians Lizzo, Wiz Khalifa, and Flea, athletes Brittney Griner and Chris Paul, comedian Hasan Minhaj, filmmaker Spike Lee, and businessman Barry Diller. The show uncovers surprising family histories through genealogical research and DNA analysis, highlighting shared human ancestry despite societal divisions. Gates emphasized that despite the loss of federal funding for public television, both Finding Your Roots and PBS remain committed to their mission and encouraged viewers to support local PBS stations. The series has previously revealed profound personal stories, such as Kerry Washington discovering her biological father was not who she thought, illustrating the emotional impact of the genealogical explorations. The season will include one additional celebrity guest yet to be announced. Finding Your Roots continues to receive acclaim, including multiple Primetime Emmy nominations, and underscores the importance of understanding our interconnected histories.