Survivor 50 sees return of White Lotus star in surprise announcement

A major name in the world of The White Lotus has joined the record-breaking all-star cast as CBS confirms the lineup for 2026 season.

13:19 ET, Wed, May 28, 2025 | UPDATED: 13:20 ET, Wed, May 28, 2025

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Mike White to return for Survivor 50 (Image: Getty)

CBS has announced the 24 returning players for Survivor 50: In The Hands Of The Fans, and among the familiar faces is The White Lotus creator and former runner-up Mike White.

White, who competed in Survivor: David vs. Goliath in 2018 and finished in second place, will return to Fiji for another shot at the $1 million prize.

His casting comes as a surprise to some viewers who were unfamiliar with his beginnings, especially as his HBO series continues to grow in popularity.

The show, now heading into its fourth season, has even featured cameos from several Survivor contestants.

White will be joined by winners Dee Valladares, who won Season 45, and Kyle Fraser, who took the title in Season 48. Two contestants from Season 49 whose identities remain under wraps are also set to return, despite their original season not airing until fall 2025.

Mike white

Survivor will mark their 50 year anniversary (Image: CBS)

The full cast list was announced by the network today, naming: Jenna Lewis, Colby Donaldson, Stephenie LaGrossa, Cirie Fields, Ozzy Lusth, Benjamin “Coach” Wade, Aubry Bracco, Chrissy Hofbeck, Mike White, Angelina Keeley, ch Hubicki, Rick Devens, Jonathan Young, Emily Flippen, Dee Valladares, Quintavius “Q” Burdette, Charlie Davis, Tiffany Nicole Ervin, Genevieve Mushaluk, Joe Hunter, Kamilla Karthigesu, Kyle Fraser, as well as two unnamed players from Season 49.

The new season will be the largest in the show’s history, with 24 all-stars competing.

Historically, Survivor has seen anywhere between 16-20 players start the game on day one.

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Survivor

The Survivor 50 cast will see the return of notable alumni (Image: CBS)

In a shocking twist, host Jeff Probst revealed that fans will have the power to shape the game.

He said: “Fans would have the opportunity to influence the game mechanics of Season 50 through a voting process."

"While players are aware of the possible changes, they won’t know which changes have been implemented until the game unfolds, adding an element of unpredictability.”

Survivor 50 is scheduled to air in the spring of 2026.