Who is hosting The Bachelor season 26 with Clayton?

We’re only a few more weeks away from the season premiere of The Bachelor season 26!

Naturally, as a brand new season of the beloved dating show approaches, fans have tons of questions about the ins and outs of the upcoming debut. However, the biggest question of them all is who will be the host of this new season now that former longtime host Chris Harrison has formally stepped away from the position for good.

Will Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe return to host once more? Or, will it be someone else who we may have gotten to know before? Find out here.

Who is the host of The Bachelor season 26?

According to

Variety

, former

Bachelor

lead Jesse Palmer will be the host for

The Bachelor

season 26.

The media outlet reports that ABC made this decision not only because of Palmer’s previous run on

The Bachelor

but also because of Palmer’s past experience with hosting. This includes but is not limited to his time as a sports commentator on ESPN and as a special contributor on

Good Morning America

.

Expressing his gratitude for his upcoming hosting role, Jesse Palmer previously stated:

"For more than 20 years, The Bachelor has brought the world dozens of unforgettable love stories, including at one time, my own. Falling in love is one of life’s greatest gifts, and I am humbled by the opportunity to return to the show as host this season to offer the newest Bachelor advice gained from firsthand experience and I am grateful to play a small part in his journey."

It is also worth mentioning that ABC might have plans for Jesse Palmer to host future seasons of the Bachelor franchise. However, nothing is permanent at this time meaning there is a chance that our Bachelorette season 17 and 18 hostesses could reprise their gigs at some point.

Why aren’t Tayshia and Kaitlyn hosting The Bachelor?

Following the announcement of Jesse Palmer’s hosting role, Bachelor Nation poured out their frustrations towards this sudden change that they believe isn’t necessary. Adams and Bristowe are fan-favorites and for many, they’ve made the series much more enjoyable and relatable. The switch-up came completely out of left field.

ABC has yet to give an explanation as to why the two former Bachelorettes weren’t seen as potential longtime hosts for the series. But as nothing is yet set in stone, there is a fair chance that the two may return for The Bachelorette season 19, or perhaps The Bachelor season 27.

While we wait to find out what the future of the hosting role for The Bachelor franchise will be, be sure to tune in to the brand new season of The Bachelor. The first episode premieres on Monday, Jan. 3 at 8:00 p.m. EST on ABC!