What's Changing for “Survivor ”Season 50? Here's How the Fan Vote Switched Up the Show's Usual Format

Emily BlackwoodThu, February 26, 2026 at 12:00 AM UTC

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'Survivor 50' castCredit: Robert Voets/CBS -

Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans premieres on Feb. 25

In addition to hosting a record number of players, this season allowed viewers to control multiple aspects of the game

Fans voted in early 2025 on major gameplay elements like advantages and tribe swaps, but the outcomes remain secret until they unfold onscreen

Jeff Probst put Survivor 50 in the hands of the fans — literally.

The format of the hit CBS competition series’ 50th season was partly shaped by viewer votes, which began in February 2025 during season 48. Over the course of three rounds, Survivor die-hards cast their preferences for everything from tribe colors and fire-making to whether or not players should get rice during their 26 days on Fiji.

“We’re not in charge," Probst, who has hosted the show since it began in 2000, told Parade in February 2026. "I’m used to having control. Like, ‘This is when an idol is going into the game, and this is how it works. And this is the new twist we’re putting to the game, and this is how it works.’ "

He continued, "This is the audience saying, ‘We’ll let you know about the twists and advantages, Probst. We’ll get back to you on that.' ”

So, what's changing on Survivor season 50? Here are the confirmed format switches for the show's milestone installment, including those chosen by fans.

There are more players, but the same 26-day timeframe

Competitors on 'Survivor 49'Credit: CBS

Survivor 50: In the Hands of Fans will feature 24 players, which will be the largest group in the show's history.

Probst told Parade that they intended to limit themselves to 20, but it didn't "feel complete enough." So in order to have an even number of eight people per tribe, they raised the number of castaways to 24.

“We landed on 24 in part because we saw these two players on 49 and said, ‘We got to have them,’ ” the Emmy-winning host explained. “But what does that mean for our math? Does that mean we can invite more people onto 50? So it was really a win-win. But it was not guaranteed. We were never going to put somebody on just to have 49 represented.”

However, a larger cast doesn't mean a longer time on the island. Survivor 50 will still retain the 26-day timeline, as opposed to the traditional 39 days from seasons 1 through 40.

Only one contestant will be voted out during the first three days

Angela Perkins, Chris Noble, Donathan Hurley, Wendell Holland, James Lim, Laurel Johnson, Libby Vincek, and Domenick Abbate on the sixth episode of Survivor: Ghost IslandCredit: Robert Voets/CBS via Getty

The logistics of eliminating 23 players within 26 days will likely mean different voting timelines from previous seasons. However, only one person will be voted out during the first three days of the game, according to Parade.

Probst said they had to wait to see what fans had voted for before determining the structure for player eliminations this season.

"So we have these two things happening simultaneously," he explained to Parade. "We have 24 players, and we know we have to figure out how to vote them out. We also have to wait and see what elements we have to help us do that or to hinder us from doing that.”

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There are multiple celebrity cameos

Billie Eilish, Jeff Probst on SURVIVORCredit: Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty; Robert Voets/CBS via Getty

Returning Survivor players won't be the only familiar faces on the island during season 50. The first trailer for In the Hands of Fans revealed multiple celebrity cameos.

Zac Brown and Jimmy "MrBeast" Donaldson made appearences and there were references to a "Billie Eilish boomerang idol."

Survivor: David vs. Goliath alum Christian Hubicki even remarked that Jimmy Fallon could decide his fate in the game. However, exactly how these celebs will influence the competition has yet to be revealed.

Fans voted on elements like idols, advantages and tribe swaps

Kenzie Veurink, Q Burdette, and Tiffany Ervin on 'Survivor'Credit: Robert Voets/CBS via Getty

Many of the beloved Survivor plot twists were hand-selected by viewers during three rounds of voting in 2025.

Fans had the chance to vote on everything from design elements for immunity necklaces and tribe colors to whether or not to keep iconic challenges like fire-making at the final four.

Also up for debate was how generous Probst should be with supplies. Fans cast their opinions on whether or not players should have to earn their supplies (which typically include items like a tarp, fishing gear and flint) and if they should be given rice to eat.

Idols, advantages, challenges and tribe swaps were also included in the voting categories.

Additionally, fans decided whether to have the “Live Finale and Reunion Show in L.A. — or Keep the Winner Reveal and Aftershow in the Jungles of Fiji.” The live finale seemingly won, as Probst announced its comeback in an ad during the 2026 Golden Globes.

Now, viewers have the opportunity to compete for tickets in the Survivor 50 challenge, in which fans hunt for immunity idols across the country.

But players didn’t learn the results until they were on the island

Joe Hunter, Eva Erickson, and Kyle Fraser on 'Survivor 48'Credit: Chuck Snyder/CBS via Getty

Though fans cast their votes before filming began, Survivor 50 players weren't aware of the results until they got to Fiji. Probst confessed to Parade that he hopes the element of the unknown encourages contestants to think outside the box.

“I think what’s interesting for the player, at least the clever player, is knowing that nobody knows,” he said. “So I can tell you anything I want as a fellow player. They could make up anything they want."

Probst continued, "I can tell you, ‘I just ran into Probst in the jungle. I had a margarita with him. No, it’s a new thing. It’s called Drinks with Jeff.’ And who knows if that’s true, because they could have voted for anything."

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”