“The Traitors” ditches celebs but keeps host Alan Cumming for civilian season on NBC

Get ready for more of The Traitors, but this time host Alan Cumming will be the only celebrity in the castle.
NBC announced the reality competition, which has previously made its home on streaming service Peacock, will begin production of a non-celebrity season in 2026.
In a teaser trailer for the season (below) Cumming says that he's "opening the doors of my castle not to a group of celebrities but to you, America! Now anyone can apply."
He wasn't exaggerating. The application is already available online at TheTraitorsUS.com.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_19jckr8lb2mav5ubsddbH1_ iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_29jckr8lb2mav5ubsddbH1_ iframeWhile the U.S. version of the international hit has previously included unknown people — the first season was a mix of famous and non-famous contestants — this is the first time that the latter will be featured exclusively.
"The money will mean more to them," Cumming said when he revealed the news at the Televerse 2025 conference at the JW Marriott Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, per Variety. "I'm pretty excited about it. I think it's going to be a hoot."
Even with the inclusion of many civilians on season 1 of the U.S. version, the champion was Survivor and Big Brother all-star Cirie Fields, who was playing as a Traitor. The following celeb-only season 2 was won by Faithfuls Chris “CT" TamburelloandTrishelle Cannatellaof The Challenge. Faithfuls were again the victors on the most recent season 3, with The Bachelor's Gabby Windey, The Real Housewives' Dolores Catania, Dylan Efron, and royal Ivar Mountbatten all sharing the prize pot.
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"We're excited to bring along The Traitors' highly addictive fan base as we discover the next generation of legendary gamers and schemers," Sharon Vuong, the executive vice president for unscripted programming at NBCUniversal Entertainment, said in a statement.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_1b3ckr8lb2mav5ubsddbH1_ iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_2b3ckr8lb2mav5ubsddbH1_ iframeVuong continued, "With our resident host and gameplay master of ceremonies, Alan Cumming, on board to introduce complete strangers to new epic missions and twisted gameplay, this new version for NBC offers a unique opportunity for the cast and audience to meet each other for the first time and we know it will be incredible to watch."

Euan Cherry/Peacock
Alan Cumming on 'The Traitors'In June, Peacock announced its celebrity cast for its next season, which is expected to premiere next year. The list included reality show veterans, such as Survivor's Rob Cesternino, Yam Yam Arocho, and Natalie Anderson (who was also on The Amazing Race), plus Monét X Change from RuPaul’s Drag Race, Kristen Kish from Top Chef, The Bachelor’s Colton Underwood, along with athletes, actors, and more.
The show, in which players try to determine which contestants are faithfuls and which are traitors, has already been renewed for a fifth season.
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