Survivor Season 49: premiere date, cast, location, what’s new

TL;DR:

• Premiere is Wednesday, September 24, 2025, with a two-hour episode.
  
• 18 new castaways compete in Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands.
  
• CBS airs at 8 p.m. ET/PT, with streaming via Paramount+.
  
• Two standout players from 49 will be invited to join Season 50.
  
• Expect brutal heat and a fast, twist-heavy back half of the season.

What’s happening. Survivor returns for Season 49 tonight, Wednesday, September 24, 2025, with a two-hour premiere on CBS. Paramount+ Premium streams live, with on-demand afterward. Entertainment Weekly reports host Jeff Probst is teasing a “bananas” back half this season.

When and where. The two-hour opener starts at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. If you stream, use Paramount+; broadcast repeats and next-day options vary by market. Yahoo’s guide confirms the 8 p.m. ET/PT start.

The setting. Filming returns to Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands, where production has built a reliable base. Local authorities set maritime exclusion zones in April to support Season 49 shoots, signaling the show’s continued footprint there. Expect fierce sun and heavy heat. Probst warned players about the conditions during press.

Meet the Season 49 cast

Eighteen new castaways are split into three tribes. CBS and press materials highlight a wide mix of jobs and backstories. Media rollouts on August 20 featured full galleries, short bios, and video introductions.

A few faces to watch:

• Nate Moore, producer known for “Black Panther.” Variety flagged his industry résumé when revealing cast photos.
  
• Savannah Louie, former KENS 5 reporter, who says the show’s hardships are very real. She described rugged living and zero creature comforts.
  
• “RizGod” Rizo Velovic, a big-personality player Probst called genuine and compelling. He plans to keep the alter ego mostly for confessionals.

Entertainment Weekly’s cast package and TV Insider’s gallery provide tribe lineups, ages, and occupations, with photography by Robert Voets. Use them for quick bios before the episode.

What’s new or different

A direct bridge to Season 50. Probst says two standouts from Season 49 will be invited to compete on Season 50, the show’s oversized celebration with 24 players. He frames 49 as part of 50’s “pregame,” which adds stakes to early performance.

Intensity and pace. Expect a punishing climate and a twist-heavy second half. Probst’s comments suggest production leaned into pressure and faster turns late in the game.

Return to Fiji, refined. Fiji has hosted since Season 33. The infrastructure, ready challenge sites, and supportive local rules keep the game consistent while still surprising players. Fiji’s maritime notices show the mature logistics behind the scenes.

How to watch tonight

United States

• TV: CBS, 8–10 p.m. ET/PT.
  
• Streaming: Paramount+ Premium live, on-demand after. Basic on-demand may appear next day.
  

Outside the U.S.

• Availability differs by region. In many countries, new episodes land on local CBS affiliates, Paramount+ international, or licensed partners after U.S. air. Check your regional Paramount+ catalog or local listings.
  

Quick schedule cheat sheet

Background for new viewers

Survivor now plays in 26 days, with 18 players, a tighter pace, and frequent advantages. Fiji’s beaches look serene, but the heat, limited supplies, and social pressure drive the drama. Players must balance tribe unity with personal moves to reach the end.

Season 49 sits at a key moment. Casting features distinct life paths, from media and music to engineering and corrections. Press day interviews show confident talk, but conditions in Fiji often reset expectations by Day 3.

Why it matters

If you are a longtime fan, Season 49 offers a clean slate with real stakes for Season 50. If you are new, it is a friendly entry point with a clear schedule, a vivid setting, and bold personalities. Tonight’s premiere sets threads that may carry into the next cycle.

Watchlist tips

• Skim the EW or TV Insider galleries to learn names and tribes fast.
  
• Note early alliances, food wins, and idol hunts. They shape the midgame.
  
• Track how players handle heat, fatigue, and social roles. Those tells matter.
  

Sources:

• CBS/Paramount Press Express, “SURVIVOR announces the 18 new castaways… two-hour season premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 24,” https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/shows/survivor/releases/?view=111695-survivor-announces-the-18-new-castaways-competing-on-the-49th-edition-with-a-two-hour-season-premiere-on-wednesday-sept-24, Aug 20, 2025.
  
• Entertainment Weekly, “Jeff Probst explains why Survivor 50 pregame starts with season 49,” https://ew.com/jeff-probst-explains-why-survivor-50-pregame-starts-with-season-49-11807250, Sep 18, 2025.
  
• Entertainment Weekly, “Meet the cast of Survivor 49,” https://ew.com/survivor-49-cast-contestants-revealed-11794072, Aug 20, 2025.
  
• TV Insider, “‘Survivor’ 49 Cast Revealed: Meet the 18 Castaways,” https://www.tvinsider.com/gallery/survivor-49-cast, Aug 20, 2025.
  
• Yahoo Entertainment, “How to watch ‘Survivor’ Season 49,” https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv/article/how-to-watch-survivor-season-49-premiere-date-time-cast-and-more-150918822.html, Sep 23, 2025.
  

The Fiji Times, “Exclusion zones declared for filming of Survivor series,” https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/exclusion-zones-declared-for-filming-of-survivor-series/, Apr 12, 2025.