After the extravaganza of nostalgia that was Survivor 50, the much-loved reality show returns for its second run in 2026. And without wanting to become branded as the comedown from that huge anniversary series, Season 51 is set to be the start of a whole new era for the show — its so-called Open Era. Ready to head back to Fiji? Then stick with us to see all the ways you can watch Survivor.
You won't be surprised to learn that Survivor Season 51 will go out on CBS in the US, with the network's Paramount Plus and OTT cable alternatives like YouTube TV and Fubo all good options for cord cutters. The show goes out on the free-to-air Global TV north of the border in Canada, while the Stan subscription service is the place to view it in Australia now, since it left the free 9Now.
So what is the Open Era? As stalwart presenter Jeff Probst explains in the series trailer (which you can watch at the bottom of this article), it means that "every type of advantage, every twist we've ever done, is in play." So you can expect the show's producers to replay some of the greatest hits from previous iterations, with all the most grueling, soul-destroying, tribe-splitting challenges coming back to haunt the 21 castaways, all desperate to end up as Sole Survivor and $1 million richer.
With 11 females and 10 males starting things off, there are a couple of potentially familiar faces in the list of contestants; actor Devin Way has appeared in Grey's Anatomy and Queer as Folk, while Brady Booker is no stranger to the physically demanding after his career as a professional wrestler. Can they manipulate and fight their way to the final Tribal Council? To find out, follow our guide on how to watch Survivor, with advice on what you need to do if you're traveling overseas when it's on.
How to watch Survivor in the US
Just like all previous 50 seasons, Survivor 51 will go out on CBS in the US, so you're good to go if you pull CBS down via your antenna or as part of a cable package. As per usual, it's in its 8 p.m. ET/PT slot on Wednesday nights, with the two-hour premiere taking place on September 23. It's also possible to watch online thanks to the network's Paramount Plus streaming service.
If you want to stream episodes at the same time as they go out on CBS, then you'll need the Paramount Plus Premium plan for $14 a month. Or, if you don't mind waiting a day to stream episodes, you can opt for the more affordable Paramount Plus Essential, which costs $9 a month.
Paramount Plus offers a huge library of on-demand content from Paramount, CBS, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, and MTV. The Premium Plan also includes Showtime and live CBS streaming. More importantly, it removes ads from the on-demand streaming library.
There are other options for cord-cutters, too, with CBS appearing in the channel lineup of most online OTT cable alternatives. Take YouTube TV, for example. It starts at $65 a month for the Sports plan, which includes CBS, with a reduction on your first few months. The Main plan carries CBS and 100+ other channels for $83 a month, but there's an introductory savings opportunity on the first five months. New users also get the benefit of a free trial.
YouTube TV's main plan carries over 100 channels, ranging from local networks to cable favorites.
CBS is also available in multiple Fubo plans, including Pro, Elite, and Elite with Sports Plus. Pro comes with 200+ channels and access to ESPN Unlimited. Pro subscriptions cost $89 a month, but first-time customers can get $25 off their first month after a free trial.
Fubo is the streaming service for sports fans. Its huge library of channels includes regional and international sports leagues, setting it apart from the competition. You can also tack on additional programming to your plan, but it'll cost you extra.
How to watch Survivor in Australia
Survivor fans in Australia need a subscription to Stan to watch the latest season (it used to go out for free on 9Now, but not since Season 49). Episodes drop on the platform a day after they air in the US, so the premiere will be Thursday, September 24. Stan subscriptions start at $10 a month for the Basic tier, but you can upgrade for perks or get the Sports add-on if you're looking for even more content Down Under.
How to watch Survivor in Canada
With two Canadians — Danny and Ana — in the OG Survivor Season 51 cast, you can watch episodes as they go out on Global TV on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT. That means that you can also stream every episode absolutely free on the Global TV website and app, with new installments typically landing the day after their air date and generally available for one week only. This is a great free streaming option if you don't mind not watching live. Catching up with episodes from earlier in the run? You'll need your cable login details to access those.
How to watch Survivor from anywhere
Whether you're an American wanting to watch on Paramount Plus, a Canadian on Global TV, or an Australian on Stan, you'll be prevented from streaming episodes on those platforms if you're traveling overseas due to geo-restrictions. This can be circumvented if you use a VPN — or Virtual Private Network. These apps make your smartphone, laptop, tablet, or other streaming device think they're back at home, so you can view the show as normal when you're away.
NordVPN is the most accomplished provider available right now. It's fantastic at unlocking streaming services that would normally be blocked, and you don't have to be a hardened survival expert to work out how to use it; its clients and apps are so easy to operate. Still not sure? Read our extensive NordVPN review for more information and take confidence that you can take advantage of its no-quibble 30-day money-back guarantee if you're not completely happy.
NordVPN is top of the pile of the best VPN services. It offers excellent value, with a strong feature set and a low monthly price. A wide selection of international servers, high-end security, fast connections, and audited privacy protection have made the brand a household name in the world of VPNs for a reason.
Survivor 51 contestants
- Aaliyah Puglia — Chef, 24, Providence, Rhode Island
- Alexis Levine — Criminal defense attorney, 34, Atlanta, Georgia
- An "Thien An" Nguyen — Medical student, 24, Fort Worth, Texas
- Ana Sani — Voice actress, 34, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Angelica "Jelly" Loblack — Sociology professor, 29, Bloomington, Indiana
- Brady Booker — Professional wrestler, 27, Knoxville, Tennessee
- Carter Krull — Livestock farmer, 24, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Cristian Chavez — Head of HR, 26, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Danny Kilby — Game designer, 30, London, Ontario, Canada
- Devin Way — Actor, 33, Los Angeles, California
- Eric Macksoud — Mental health counselor, 34, Windsor Locks, Connecticut
- Jenna Doore — Wedding photographer, 30, Toledo, Ohio
- Kristin Flickinger — Crisis management, 49, Santa Barbara, California
- Lewis Kelly — Farmer, 28, Puerto Rico
- Linnea Capobianco — Entrepreneur, 25, Jersey City, New Jersey
- Maggie Nestor — Farmer, 40, Charles Town, West Virginia
- Mike Pinsky — Baseball executive, 32, New York City
- Ori Jean-Charles — Personal trainer, 27, Spring Valley, New York
- Patt Cannaday — Federal prosecutor, 33, Washington, D.C.
- Rob Antonson — Airline gate agent, 40, Cumberland, Rhode Island
- Sharonda Cox — OBGYN resident, 34, Richmond, Kentucky
Survivor 51 trailer
"You are birthing a new game — the Open Era of Survivor." That's the promise laid down by legendary presenter Jeff Probst to the cast of Survivor Season 51 at the start of the official trailer. From there, Coolio's 'Gangsta's Paradise' is heard in the background as we see smiles turn into grimaces of pain and cheers become tears, with reality dawning on the wannabe survivors about what's in store for them on Fiji's Mamanuca Islands. Check out the full trailer below:
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Adam finally took the plunge in the summer of 2023 to go freelance, and so far isn’t looking back! Behind him is over a decade in journalism, writing, research, and content directorship.Going even further back, Adam started life as a lawyer. Writing blogs on the side about his real passions — cinema and food — eventually encouraged him to retrain and he got his first taste of bylines on a series of independent film magazines.Adam has written on a variety of subjects: from sport (The Cricketer) and tech (T3, TechRadar, Tom’s Guide), to consumer affairs (Which?) and, of course, movies and TV (CinemaBlend, WhatToWatch, Vérité Magazine). He enjoyed several years at Future Plc where he was the Content Director for Subscriptions and Services, helping the company become an ecommerce powerhouse.In recent times, Adam has developed an expertise in consumer VPNs, including product testing, comparisons and advice guides. He has also written extensively on streaming, security software and ‘how to watch’ editorials.Cinema and the Oscars remain obsessions, forever fighting for Adam’s free time alongside singing in a choir, keeping chickens, and summers filled with cricket.