'Survivor' is back with the 50th season, and it will feature 24 contestants' return on the show. Let's know all about these contestants. Has the winner already been picked up?
American reality-TV competition, Survivor is returning with the 50th season. The season is named Survivor: In the Hands of the Fans, because it's the first time that the fans will be able to vote, be it on the game machines, the twists and advantages, challenges, and mainly production choices. As the fans would have the chance to do so, the show is named Survivor: In the Hands of the Fans.
24 contestants from the last seasons are appearing on the landmark season. It premieres on February 25, 2026, at 8 p.m. PT/ET, and the episodes will be dropped weekly at the same time. The show is broadcast on CBS, and viewers can enjoy the show on different streaming platforms. Well, the cast was announced in May 2025, and since then, two additions have been made. And here's a look into the entire cast, along with the buzz about the show's winner already being picked up.
To mention, the Survivor 50 was filmed months ago, and was reportedly wrapped in June 2026. Season 50 aired on February 25, 2026, but even before that, people had been betting on who could be the winner, and a name had already been emerging. To mention, it can never be officially confirmed, and it's just as per the data available on the prediction market/betting platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi, a contestant's name, as of now, is showing a 79 to 80 per cent chance of winning.
The contestant's name, which is emerging as a probable winner (as per prediction and betting only, not confirmed), is Abury Bracco. Well, the viewers will have to wait until the show is over to witness if Abury is the real winner or not, as by now, it's only just a prediction as per the betting platforms. Abury is returning for the fourth time at the Survivor, and before this, she was seen in the 32nd, 34th and 38th seasons. She is known for her sharp wit. She came in 16th place on the 38th season, while she grabbed the 5th position in season 34.
Survivor is one of the longest-running shows, starting from 2000, and on the 50th season, a 25th-year celebration took place. The cast was announced months back, and during that time, the host and showrunner, Jeff Probst, told PEOPLE that it felt to him just after season 10 that it was a show that would run until humans die. Well, as per him, the format is just like that, which brings a group of strangers, puts them together to work, and continuously conspiring against each other, until the jury decides who will win. To quote Jeff:
"I realize, 'Oh, this show could run until all humans die'. Because the format is so simple: take a group of strangers, force them to work together while conspiring against each other, and in the end, the jury decides who wins. It’s just what you do with it inside that little box."
Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, from the first season of Survivor, is returning on the 50th season of the show. Apart from season 1, she was also seen in season 8, which she ended in the third position. Speaking to PEOPLE about her return on season 50, Jenna said that the show made her realise that she can actually do 'hard things', as she recalled the hard challenges from the previous seasons. Colby Donaldson is also a part of season 50. He was seen in season 2, in which he ended in second position, and in the other two seasons, like season 8 and season 20, but couldn't make it to be the winner or in the final panel.
Stephenie LaGrossa is also a part of Survivor 50. She was earlier seen in season 10, season 11, wherein she ended up in the second place and also in season 20. The Traitors season 1 winner, Cirie Fields, is genuinely a Survivor legend, having appeared in total 4 seasons, like 12th, 16th, 20th and 34th. Now, Cirie is making a return, which will be her fifth time on the show. Ozzy Lusth is also back on the Survivor for the fifth time, after his stints on 13th (became second), 16th, 23rd and 34th seasons.
Along with Abury Bracco, we will also be able to see Benjamin "Coach" Wade, who was there thrice on the show Survivor. Benjamin "Coach" Wade was seen in the 18th, 20th and 23rd seasons, and in 2020, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he said that he wanted to make a comeback, and claimed himself to be 'retired'.
Chrissy Hofbeck from season 35 (ended up in fourth place) is returning for season 50. Apart from that, season 37's Christian Hubicki, Mike White and Angelina Keeley are also coming to compete on the landmark season of Survivor. Rick Devens from season 38, and Jonathan Young, who ended up in the 4th position in season 42, are also returning for season 50. Season 45's winner, Dee Valladares, along with season 48's winner, Kyle Fraser, are appearing in season 50 of Survivor, along with the most recent winner of season 49, Savannah Louie.
Emily Flippen from season 45, Quintavius "Q" Burdette from season 46, along with Charlie Davis and Tiffany Ervin of the same season, also emerged as the contestants for season 50. Genevieve Mushaluk, who appeared in the 47th season of Survivor, is making her way back to the show again. 48th season's Kamilla Karthigesu, Joe Hunter and 49th season's Rizo Velovic are also part of Survivor 50.
What do you think about the prediction of the winner of Survivor 50, even before it aired? And how do you feel about the return of the 24 contestants who are making their way back to the show again?
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