There may be a new batch of contestants arriving, but fans of home renovation reality TV show The Block should already be familiar with the 2026 judges. This year, Marty Fox, Shaynna Blaze and Darren Palmer are back to judge the Blockheads as they renovate their houses, assessing each room week by week and shaping results that can carry through to auction.
There has already been some controversy surrounding The Block Australia judging, with contestant Chantel Green slamming the scoring at a media event in July. “The feedback from the judges is very subjective,” Chantel told hosts Shelley Craft and Scott Cam. “If you have the three judges that we have now, you could take them out, put three new judges [in] and you’ll get a different opinion.”
The judges play an important role on The Block, assessing the rooms on a weekly basis, giving professional critiques and awarding scores. By awarding teams extra money or bonuses to be spent during their renovation, the cast who win the most room reveals have a head start on auction night. More bells and whistles mean more buyers, and attracting the right buyer is often what decides who wins. Together, the judges bring a mix of interior design expertise and high-end real estate knowledge.
Below, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about The Block judges, from their backgrounds and roles on the show to the impact of their scoring and the debate around their calls. In 2026, that means judging new builds from scratch aimed at high-end buyers, with the panel looking each week at layout, style, quality of finish, adherence to the brief, and the balance between practical function and aesthetic appeal.
The Block judge Marty Fox
Marty is a real estate expert on The Block judges panel. He started working as a real estate agent at 21 and has been in the industry ever since. He co-founded Whitefox Real Estate, in 2017, which helped reshape the luxury property market.
During its early years, Marty’s agency was associated with over a whopping $1 billion in luxury properties. In 2023, he took the Whitefox brand to New Zealand, further broadening his real estate empire. On the show, his key point is market value, buyer appeal and real estate strategy, with a clear eye for what will attract the right buyer.
Marty was a CEO of the Year finalist and was included on the AFR Young Rich List in 2025. In addition to his real estate and television personality profile, he also partners with brands like Hugo Boss, Range Rover and BMW.
Away from the boardroom, Marty is very much the family man. He is based in Melbourne with his wife Charlotte and their three children, Freddy, Olive and Bonnie. The couple has also been actively involved in property flipping, having successfully flipped 12 properties over the past decade and a half.
The Block judge Shaynna Blaze
Shaynna joined The Block in 2012 for her 17th series, alongside John McGrath and Neale Whitaker.
She’s an award-winning interior designer who has transformed interiors in residential homes and commercial spaces for more than 20 years.
On top of that, she does product design, which includes a line of furniture, artworks, lighting and candles. Shaynna has her own YouTube TV channel and has written two books: Design Your Home and Design with Colour and Style. She brings that interior design expertise to the judging panel.
The media personality has also dipped her toe into the music world. In 2024, she revealed a love for music which she stepped away from while pursuing her TV and interior design career.
When announcing her new single Warrior, she told fans it was about following her dreams. “I have never lost my passion for performing in front of a microphone. It quite simply gives me joy,” she wrote on her website.
Reports have also placed the pay for Shaynna Blaze and Darren Palmer at about $60,000 to $100,000 per season.
The Block judge Darren Palmer
Darren Palmer joined The Block in 2013 alongside Shaynna and Neale after appearing as one of the former contestants on the interior design home renovation show homeMADE in 2009 before becoming a full-time Block judge.
He was a guest judge in Season 4 and Season 5 before stepping up to the full-time role, and that background helps him understand what the season’s contestants are experiencing as each team tackles the competition. The judge has over 212,000 followers on Instagram, and has written multiple books, including Easy Luxury, HomeSpace, Dive In and A Design Journey.
Darren married his husband Olivier Duvillard in 2011 in Cape Town, South Africa. The couple share a son named Hugo.
What happened to judge Neale Whitaker?
Neale Whitaker left his role as a judge on The Block after the 2023 season. Neale confirmed that he had to focus on his partner David, who was faced with some serious health issues.
However, Neale still makes the odd appearance on The Block. During last year’s season, the former judge returned for the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa Challenge. During the episode, Neale judged the spaces and awarded Sonny and Alicia with the biggest prize in The Block’s history: a $260,000 Titanium caravan.
The Block 2026 premieres on August 2 on Channel 9 and 9Now.
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