The 50th season of Survivor will pull fans into the show like never before.
On Saturday, February 22, host Jeff Probst announced the newest season of the long-running reality season will be led in part by votes cast by viewers at home. “From the very first season, Survivor has been evolving. Now, for our 50th season, it’s time for the next evolution,” Probst explained in a statement.
“Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans is unlike anything we’ve done before,” he continued. “For the first time ever, our loyal fans will take control — deciding key elements of the game, from twists to idols to advantages. I can’t wait to see what the fans choose for our returning players.”
This means fans at home will be able to vote on different parts of the game, including whether or not idols will be included, if the traditional fire-making challenge will be part of the show this year and more.
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Voting will take place before the 50th season finishes filming.
In April 2024, Probst confirmed the 50th season of the show will also include some familiar faces. “I just got an idea,” he told the crowd during a Survivor Q&A event held that month.
“Survivor 50 is coming down the corner. The truth is, we really do focus on 47 and 48, that’s what we’re heading out to shoot next, and then we have to shoot 49. But we know 50 is coming, so I am curious, is there a feeling, should 50 be another season with new players and don’t make it a big deal?”
After the audience replied in the negative, Probst, who also serves as the showrunner on the series, asked, “Or should it be returning players?”
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“In the spirit of, sometimes letting the game be in the hands of the fans, I feel like — and there are a couple of people from CBS right now going, ‘Oh my God, what is happening?’ — I feel like we should just commit and make this the moment where we decide that Survivor 50 will be returning players,” he said. “I don’t know what is going to happen after this, but I’m pretty sure we’re committed.”
The 50th season will begin filming around Memorial Day this year — 25 years after the show originally debuted on CBS. It airs in the spring of 2026.
The move contradicted Probst’s previous declaration that returning players would not be brought back through season 48. “Why would we want returning players?” he told Entertainment Weekly in February 2024. “Not yet. Time is on our side. Let’s just keep going here. And that’s how I feel about seasons 47 and 48. We’re already meeting the people who are going to be playing months from now and we are jazzed about it.”
