Survivor Season 49: Meet the Cast and Find Out When New Episodes Premiere

Survivor season 49 is bringing the heat — literally.

The upcoming season of the long-running CBS reality competition series had the castaways sweating in more ways than one, as Jeff Probst teased.

What the players experienced was “a Fijian summer so sweltering it feels like the jungle is breathing on you,” the longtime host told Entertainment Weekly.

For the 49th season, the stakes have never been higher. Not only are the new crop of castaways competing for $1 million prize, but two of the contestants will also return for next year’s all-star 50th season.

So, as Survivor fans gear up for another fierce fight in Fiji, here’s everything to know about the new season, including when it premieres and who’s in the cast.

Who is in the cast of Survivor season 49?

The cast for Survivor season 49 was unveiled on Aug. 20.

The season 49 cast features a rocket scientist, an airport ramp agent, a career coach and a political comms director, among others. Two notable players include Kimberly “Annie” Davis, a musician who fronts the Austin-based rock band Trashy Annie, and Nate Moore, a prolific film producer who is behind multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbuster movies, including Black Panther.

In addition to Davis and Moore, the castaways on Survivor season 49 are Alex Moore, Jake Latimer, Jason Treul, Jawan Pitts, Jeremiah Ing, Kristina Mills, Matt Williams, Michelle “MC” Chukwujekwu, Nicole Mazullo, Rizo Velovic, Sage Ahrens-Nichols, Savannah Louie, Shannon Fairweather, Sophi Balerdi, Sophie Segreti and Steven Ramm.

As Probst revealed to Entertainment Weekly in August 2025, some drama had already happened even before the first challenge, with a last-minute shakeup among the players.

Treul and Chukwujekwu were brought to Fiji as alternates, and for the first time in Survivor history, two players were sent home before the game began, and the alternates took their place. The two new castaways were given 12 hours’ notice before they were brought to the beach to compete in the game.

“This is a completely unique situation, and it is a cool layer to this experiment,” said Probst. “Maybe there’s something in there about how we do the pre-game with players. When the season’s over, we will definitely evaluate if we thought it had an impact. And, if so, what kind of impact.”

Is Jeff Probst returning to host Survivor season 49?

Yes, longtime host Probst will be back for Survivor season 49.

Probst has hosted Survivor since its inception in 2000. The Emmy-winner is the beloved face of the reality competition series, but even he has received critiques from fans over the years.

“I’ve heard the criticism that I’ve become a little too soft — I hear you,” Probst told PEOPLE in February 2024, ahead of season 46. “Maybe I need to bring a little of the edge back, and I think you will start to see that.”

Does Survivor season 49 have a theme?

No, season 49 of Survivor does not have a theme. There has not been an overall theme since season 40, Survivor: Winners at War. Since then, Survivor has just used numbers for its seasons.

When asked about the move away from themes, Probst told Entertainment Weekly that they’re increasingly difficult to think of.

“It’s hard to come up with a theme that rolls off the tongue, is a legit extension of the social experiment, and is something you can sustain all the way to the final three and the decision of who wins,” he explained. “I think going to numbers allows us now to focus more on the players and put individual twists within the game.

Where was Survivor season 49 filmed?

The upcoming season of Survivor was filmed in the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji. The tropical locale has been the backdrop for the series since it moved there in 2016, for season 33.

When does Survivor season 49 premiere?

Survivor season 49 premieres on Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. ET.

The previous season, season 48, aired its finale on May 21.

Where can I watch Survivor season 49?

Survivor will air on CBS and will be available to stream on Paramount+. Subscribers to the Paramount+ Premium plan will be able to watch it live, while Paramount+ Essential subscribers will have to wait until the following day to stream it.