The CBS Survivor cast 2026 is officially here, with 21 brand-new castaways heading to Fiji for Survivor Season 51. Unlike the milestone 50th season, which featured returning players from previous seasons, Survivor 51 features an entirely new group of contestants competing for the $1 million prize.

The new season premieres Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS, with the two-hour premiere also available through Paramount+. The castaways will compete in Fiji under a new format known as the “Open Era,” which allows twists, idols and advantages from throughout the show’s history to potentially return to the game.

From a professional wrestler and chef to a federal prosecutor, voice actress, farmer, actor and medical professional, the Survivor 51 cast brings together contestants with very different backgrounds and careers.

Survivor 51 Cast 2026: Quick Facts

All 21 contestants are first-time Survivor players, with ages ranging from 24 to 49.

Full Survivor 51 Cast List

Here are all 21 contestants competing on Survivor Season 51:

The official Paramount+ cast announcement confirms the 21-person lineup and provides individual contestant backgrounds, ages, residences and occupations.

Meet the Survivor 51 Contestants

Aaliyah Puglia

Age: 24
Hometown: Gloucester City, New Jersey
Current Residence: Providence, Rhode Island
Occupation: Chef

Aaliyah Puglia enters Survivor 51 as one of the youngest contestants in the cast. Her experience as a chef has given her experience dealing with different personalities, managing pressure and adapting to changing situations.

Aaliyah says she wants to compete seriously and return home with something her family can be proud of. Her background in a high-pressure kitchen environment could give her experience with teamwork and social dynamics.

Alexis Levine

Age: 34
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Current Residence: Atlanta, Georgia
Occupation: Criminal Defense Attorney

Alexis Levine is a criminal defense attorney competing on Survivor 51. Her professional background involves communication, analyzing situations and dealing with high-pressure circumstances.

She is one of several contestants whose careers could bring a strong strategic and analytical background to the game.

An “Thien An” Nguyen

Age: 24
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
Current Residence: Fort Worth, Texas
Occupation: Medical Student

An “Thien An” Nguyen is one of the youngest castaways competing in Season 51.

At 24, Nguyen joins a cast that includes contestants from a wide range of professional backgrounds. Her medical education adds another distinctive career path to the Survivor 51 lineup.

Ana Sani

Age: 34
Hometown: Richmond Hill, Ontario
Current Residence: Toronto, Ontario
Occupation: Voice Actress

Ana Sani is a Canadian voice actress known for work on animated productions including Mysticons, Ollie’s Pack and Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City.

She has been a Survivor fan since childhood and says she is prepared to take risks during the competition.

Angelica “Jelly” Loblack

Age: 29
Hometowns: Garland, Texas and Midwest City, Oklahoma
Current Residence: Bloomington, Indiana
Occupation: Sociology Professor

Angelica “Jelly” Loblack is a sociology professor who is particularly interested in the social dynamics of Survivor.

Her academic background gives her a unique perspective on relationships, group behavior and hierarchy—three elements that are central to the Survivor game.

Brady Booker

Age: 27
Hometown: La Salle, Illinois
Current Residence: Knoxville, Tennessee
Occupation: Professional Wrestler

Brady Booker is a professional wrestler who has appeared under the ring name Bodhi Hayward, including appearances associated with AEW and WWE.

Outside wrestling, Booker enjoys outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking and camping. His athletic background makes him one of the more recognizable competitors in the Season 51 cast.

Carter Krull

Age: 24
Hometown: Rock Rapids, Iowa
Current Residence: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Occupation: Livestock Farmer

Carter Krull is a young livestock farmer who stays busy with several different projects, including farming, a snow cone truck and a moving company.

He has been a Survivor fan since childhood and says the show has been part of his life for years.

Cristian Chavez

Age: 26
Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
Current Residence: Salt Lake City, Utah
Occupation: Head of HR

Cristian Chavez works as a head of human resources and describes himself as energetic and competitive.

His experience working with people could become relevant in a game built around alliances, trust and social relationships.

Danny “Kilby” Kilby

Age: 30
Hometown: Mount Forest, Ontario
Current Residence: London, Ontario
Occupation: Game Designer

Danny “Kilby” Kilby is a game designer and longtime Survivor fan with an interest in puzzles.

He has been watching Survivor since he was a child and even met his girlfriend through an online Survivor game.

Devin Way

Age: 33
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Current Residence: Los Angeles, California
Occupation: Actor

Devin Way joins Survivor 51 as an actor. He is among the castaways bringing an entertainment-industry background to the competition.

His ability to work with different personalities and perform under pressure could be an interesting part of his Survivor journey.

Eric Macksoud

Age: 34
Hometown: Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Current Residence: Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Occupation: Mental Health Counselor

Eric Macksoud works as a mental health counselor and enters Survivor 51 with experience working closely with people.

His professional background is another example of the variety of careers represented among the 21 contestants.

Jenna Doore

Age: 30
Hometown: Perrysburg, Ohio
Current Residence: Toledo, Ohio
Occupation: Wedding Photographer

Jenna Doore is a wedding photographer and longtime Survivor fan.

Her work requires her to interact closely with people and navigate unpredictable situations, while she describes herself as energetic, empathetic and determined.

Kristin Flickinger

Age: 49
Hometown: Ketchum, Idaho
Current Residence: Santa Barbara, California
Occupation: Crisis Management

At 49 years old, Kristin Flickinger is the oldest contestant on Survivor 51.

She works in crisis management and has spent many years working with the LGBTQ+ community. Her career has involved dealing with challenging situations and maintaining composure during crises.

Lewis Kelly

Age: 28
Hometown: Dublin, Ireland
Current Residence: Puerto Rico
Occupation: Farmer

Lewis Kelly is an Irish farmer who currently lives in Puerto Rico.

He and his wife live on a small farm, and his background includes an unconventional lifestyle that involves living in a school bus.

Linnea Capobianco

Age: 25
Hometown: Kearny, New Jersey
Current Residence: Jersey City, New Jersey
Occupation: Entrepreneur

Linnea Capobianco is a 25-year-old entrepreneur from New Jersey.

She describes herself as social, logical and confident and has been a Survivor fan since childhood. Her entrepreneurial background adds another business-oriented contestant to the Season 51 cast.

Maggie Nestor

Age: 40
Hometown: Middleway, West Virginia
Current Residence: Charles Town, West Virginia
Occupation: Farmer

Maggie Nestor is a farmer and mother who has watched Survivor for many years.

She also has a background in therapy and homeschooling. An experienced hunter and fisher, Nestor says she is looking forward to testing herself in the environment of Survivor.

Mike Pinsky

Age: 32
Hometown: New York City
Current Residence: New York City
Occupation: Baseball Executive

Mike Pinsky works in baseball operations and has experience advising on player transactions, contracts and roster decisions.

He has also been playing his own versions of Survivor since childhood, including creating challenges and voting games with friends.

Ori Jean-Charles

Age: 27
Hometown: Spring Valley, New York
Current Residence: Spring Valley, New York
Occupation: Personal Trainer

Ori Jean-Charles is a personal trainer and former Division I football player.

His athletic background gives him experience with competition and physical challenges. He has also studied previous Survivor seasons and arrives as a longtime student of the game.

Patt Cannaday

Age: 33
Hometown: Tampa, Florida
Current Residence: Washington, D.C.
Occupation: Federal Prosecutor

Patt Cannaday is a federal prosecutor and former Navy JAG officer.

Her military and legal background gives her a distinctive professional history within the Survivor 51 cast. She has described herself as someone who enjoys challenging herself and is prepared for the demanding conditions of the game.

Rob Antonson

Age: 40
Hometown: Johnston, Rhode Island
Current Residence: Cumberland, Rhode Island
Occupation: Airline Gate Agent

Rob Antonson is a husband and father of three who works as an airline gate agent.

He describes himself as outgoing, competitive and adventurous and believes his ability to communicate with people could be an important part of his Survivor experience.

Sharonda Cox

Age: 34
Hometown: Pompano Beach, Florida
Current Residence: Richmond, Kentucky
Occupation: OBGYN Resident

Sharonda Cox is an OBGYN resident and one of the medical professionals competing on Survivor 51.

She says she wants to challenge herself and use her determination, street smarts and book knowledge during the competition.

Who Is the Oldest Survivor 51 Contestant?

Kristin Flickinger, 49, is the oldest castaway on Survivor Season 51.

Flickinger’s background is in crisis management, and she currently lives in Santa Barbara, California. She is 25 years older than the youngest contestants in the season, who are 24.

Who Is the Youngest Survivor 51 Contestant?

Several contestants are 24 years old, including Aaliyah Puglia, An “Thien An” Nguyen and Carter Krull.

The three contestants represent different backgrounds: Puglia is a chef, Nguyen is a medical student and Krull is a livestock farmer.

Are There Any Returning Players on Survivor 51?

No. All 21 contestants on Survivor 51 are first-time Survivor players.

This makes Season 51 different from Survivor 50, which brought back contestants from previous seasons for its milestone season.

What Is the Survivor 51 Open Era?

Survivor 51 introduces what the show calls the Open Era.

Under this format, elements from the show’s history—including twists, idols and advantages—can potentially return to the game. This creates an unpredictable format in which contestants cannot necessarily know which previous Survivor mechanics could appear.

The format is intended to mark a new chapter following the show’s 50th season.

Where Was Survivor 51 Filmed?

Survivor 51 takes place in Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands, the location that has been used for numerous recent seasons of the American Survivor franchise.

The contestants face the familiar combination of limited resources, physical challenges, social strategy and Tribal Council votes as they attempt to remain in the game.

When Does Survivor Season 51 Premiere?

Survivor 51 premieres Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

The premiere is a special two-hour episode, scheduled from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET/PT. Following the premiere, new episodes are scheduled for Wednesdays, with regular episodes running approximately 90 minutes.

How to Watch Survivor 51

Viewers in the United States can watch Survivor 51 on CBS.

The season is also available through Paramount+. Paramount+ Premium subscribers can stream episodes live as they air on CBS, while episodes are also made available on demand after broadcast.

For viewers outside the United States, availability varies by country and streaming service.

Survivor 50 vs. Survivor 51 Cast

One of the biggest differences between the two 2026 Survivor seasons is the type of cast.

Survivor 50 celebrated the show’s history with returning contestants, while Season 51 begins a new chapter with 21 first-time players.

Survivor 51 Cast FAQs

How many contestants are on Survivor 51?

There are 21 contestants competing on Survivor Season 51, and all 21 are first-time players.

Who hosts Survivor 51?

Jeff Probst hosts Survivor Season 51.

When does Survivor 51 start?

Survivor 51 premieres on September 23, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Where can I watch Survivor 51?

In the United States, Survivor 51 airs on CBS and streams through Paramount+.

Is Survivor 51 a returning-player season?

No. Survivor 51 features 21 new castaways, with no returning contestants.

Who is the oldest person on Survivor 51?

Kristin Flickinger, who is 49 years old, is the oldest contestant in the Survivor 51 cast.

Who are the youngest Survivor 51 contestants?

Aaliyah Puglia, An “Thien An” Nguyen and Carter Krull are each 24 years old.

What is the Open Era on Survivor?

The Open Era is the new format introduced in Season 51 that allows twists, idols and advantages from Survivor’s history to potentially return to the game.

Final Thoughts

The CBS Survivor cast 2026 brings together 21 first-time players with backgrounds ranging from professional wrestling and acting to medicine, law, farming, education, business and sports.

With an entirely new cast and the introduction of the Open Era, Survivor 51 represents a new chapter for the long-running CBS reality competition. The season begins September 23, 2026, with Jeff Probst returning as host and the contestants competing in Fiji for the $1 million prize.

As the season progresses, this page can be updated with Survivor 51 episode results, eliminations, tribe changes, cast updates and the eventual winner.