Survivor is about to be in the hands of the fans.
CBS has announced a major twist for the upcoming milestone 50th season of the reality competition series that will have a major affect on players’ abilities to outwit, outplay and outlast their fellow contestants.
For the first time ever, fans will have the ability to shape the game by voting on key elements of the show, the network announced Feb. 24.
Starting on premiere day of Survivor 48 (Wednesday, Feb. 26), viewers can go to survivor50cbs.votenow.tv to vote in rounds including “Idols or No Idols,” “Final Four Fire Making: Keep It or Lose It” and “Live Finale and Reunion Show in L.A.—or Keep the Winner Reveal and Aftershow in the Jungles of Fiji.” Voting will conclude before filming on season 50 begins and players will have no idea which outcomes are headed their way.
And longtime host Jeff Probst couldn’t be more excited for the new twists and turns that lie ahead.
“From the very first season, Survivor has been evolving,” the executive producer said in a Feb. 24 statement. “Now, for our 50th season, it’s time for the next evolution. Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans is unlike anything we’ve done before. 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!”
Survivor—in partnership with Fiji Airways—will also award five lucky fan “tribes” with once-in-a-lifetime trips to Fiji during the filming of Survivor 50.
“In the coming months, the “tribes”—and, separately, the season 49 and 50 castaways—will be transported to Fiji on a Survivor 50-branded Fiji Airways jet,” according to the network’s press release, “which will fly regular travelers to/from Fiji throughout the year as well.”
Survivor‘s 50th season will premiere February 2026.
But until then, keep reading to meet all 18 of the new season 48 castaways who will compete next for the $1 million prize.
Survivor returns Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 8 pm. on CBS. Episodes will also be available on Paramount+.
Stephanie Berger
Age: 38
Hometown: New York City, N.Y.
Current Residence: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Occupation: Tech product lead
Star Toomey
Age: 28
Hometown: Monrovia, Liberia
Current Residence: Augusta, Ga.
Occupation: Sales expert
Cedrek McFadden
Age: 46
Hometown: Colombia, S.C.
Current Residence: Greenville, S.C.
Occupation: Surgeon
Chrissy Sarnowsky
Age: 55
Hometown: Chicago
Current Residence: Chicago
Occupation: Fire lieutenant
Kevin Leung
Age: 34
Hometown: Fremont, Calif.
Current Residence: Livermore, Calif.
Occupation: Finance manager
Mary Zheng
Age: 31
Hometown: Montgomery Village, Md.
Current Residence: Philadelphia
Occupation: Substance abuse counselor
Bianca Roses
Age: 33
Hometown: West Orange, N.J.
Current Residence: Arlington, Va.
Occupation: PR consultant
Kyle Fraser
Age: 31
Hometown: Roanoke, Va.
Current Residence: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Occupation: Attorney
Thomas Krottinger
Age: 34
Hometown: The Woodlands, Texas
Current Residence: Los Angeles
Occupation: Music executive
Saiounia “Sai” Hughley
Age: 30
Hometown: Philadelphia
Current Residence: Simi Valley, Calif.
Occupation: Marketing professional
Shauhin Davari
Age: 38
Hometown: East Bay, Calif.
Current Residence: Costa Mesa, Calif.
Occupation: Debate professor
Joe Hunter
Age: 45
Hometown: Vacaville, Calif.
Current Residence: West Sacramento, Calif.
Occupation: Fire captain
David Kinne
Age: 39
Hometown: Long Beach, Calif.
Current Residence: Buena Park, Calif.
Occupation: Stunt performer
Eva Erickson
Age: 24
Hometown: Eagan, Minn.
Current Residence: Providence, R.I.
Occupation: PhD candidate
Justin Pioppi
Age: 29
Hometown: Winthrop, Mass.
Current Residence: Winthrop, Mass.
Occupation: Pizzeria manager
Charity Nelms
Age: 34
Hometown: Monroe, Mich.
Current Residence: St. Petersburg, Fla.
Occupation: Flight attendant
Kamilla Karthigesu
Age: 31
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Current Residence: Foster City, Calif.
Occupation: Software engineer
Mitch Guerra
Age: 34
Hometown: Waco, Texas
Current Residence: Waco, Texas
Occupation: P.E. coach
