South Park Just Renamed Itself “South America”

South Park is back in the headlines, and this time the joke starts with the title. Days after winning an Emmy, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone announced that the long-running Comedy Central series is changing its name to South America ahead of Season 29.

The official account even posted as South America. The artwork slaps “AMERICA” over the town sign, leaves the snowy Colorado skyline in place, and adds a small American flag. If you came for a quiet week in animation news, this is not that.

Drop your take in the comments. Is this a one-week gag, or the cold open for the whole season? Like this if you are already counting down to September 16.

The title change announcement

On September 8, 2026, Parker and Stone released a joint statement through the show’s official channels:

“Inspired by the bravery and patriotism of Apple and Google, we are changing the name of South Park to SOUTH AMERICA. We especially want to thank our parent company Paramount -- a Skydance Capitulation.”

The line is aimed at two things at once. First, recent geographic name changes promoted by President Donald Trump, including the Gulf of America and Lake America labels that Apple Maps and Google Maps have displayed for some users. Second, Paramount Skydance, the show’s parent company, which the statement mocks in the same breath.

source Official South Park account via X CDN (pbs.twimg.com)

How far the rebrand will go on screen is still an open question. Several outlets have described it as a satirical stunt. The Hollywood Reporter noted it was not immediately clear whether the change is a short promotional gag or a joke the production will carry into the new season. When asked for more comment, Parker and Stone told People they are “100% committed to SOUTH AMERICA.”

Why “South America,” and why now

The timing is not random. Trump signed an executive order in August 2026 directing his administration to refer to Lake Ontario as Lake America amid a trade dispute with Canada. He previously declared that the Gulf of Mexico should be known as the Gulf of America, a change later reflected on mapping services. He has also floated renaming New Mexico as “New America.”

Apple and Google updating map labels for some users is the punchline Parker and Stone borrowed. The new South America artwork does the same move in miniature: keep the old sign, cover the old word, declare victory.

source Official South Park profile image via X CDN (pbs.twimg.com)

That is classic South Park strategy. The show has spent nearly three decades turning the week’s loudest story into a cartoon before the news cycle cools off. Season 29 arrives while the renaming fight is still live, which is exactly when Parker and Stone like to strike.

An Emmy win, then another punchline

The announcement landed two days after South Park won Outstanding Animated Program at the 2026 Creative Arts Emmy Awards. It was the show’s first win in that category since 2013. The honored episode was “Sermon on the 'Mount,” a Season 27 premiere that put the Trump administration at the center of the satire.

The official account marked the trophy the same way it marks almost everything else. It posted a cartoon of the show’s Trump character holding an Emmy with the caption “You finally got your Emmy,” a jab at Trump’s long-running complaint that The Apprentice never won the award despite nominations.

Trey Parker used the acceptance speech to thank the team, the Television Academy, and the fans. “It’s only because of you guys that we haven’t been canceled in 30 years,” he said. The series premiered on Comedy Central on August 13, 1997, and will mark its 30th anniversary in 2027.

When Season 29 hits Comedy Central

Season 29 premieres Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy Central. New episodes stream the next day on Paramount+ in the United States, Canada, and Australia, with global availability on Paramount+ on a staggered schedule.

Additional new episodes are scheduled for September 30, October 14, October 28, November 11, and November 25. That is a six-episode run, dropping every other Wednesday through late November.

Watch the official return promo here: South Park Season 29 premiere promo on YouTube

No official plot details for the premiere have been released. What is confirmed is the platform, the date, the creators’ statement, and a title card that already looks like a dare.

If you think the name sticks past episode one, say so below. If you think Cartman treats the new sign like a personal insult, say that too. Like the post if you are watching live on Comedy Central, and subscribe so you do not miss the first reactions after the premiere.

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#SouthPark #SouthAmerica #ComedyCentral #EmmyAwards #Season29

Sources

BBC News; The Guardian; Variety; TVLine; The Hollywood Reporter; USA Today; People; Deadline; Paramount Press Express; South Park Studios; official @SouthPark / South America announcement on X.