NBC’s next installment of The Traitors is arriving with the biggest format change in the franchise’s history: an entirely civilian cast. The 22 contestants competing in The Traitors: New Blood have no reality television or celebrity backgrounds, a departure from the celebrity-mixed casts of the show’s earlier U.S. seasons.
See our winner predictions, updated after every episode.
The scale of interest in the new format is notable on its own. NBCUniversal has said the cast was selected from a pool of more than 80,000 applicants, evidence of how much appetite there is for a season built around everyday people rather than familiar faces.
The season premiered Thursday, September 17, 2026, on NBC, with returning host Alan Cumming back at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, competing for a prize NBC describes as “up to $250,000.” Eight episodes of The Traitors: New Blood have aired as of October 29, 2026. The season’s original Traitors, Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams, have recruited Katie Fites as their third teammate, while the Faithful have banished their first Traitor. Eleven contestants remain active. Episode 7 ended with no banishment: Mark Zgoda was murdered, Victor Vollbrechthausen got the most Round Table votes with 5, and Alan Cumming froze the exit for the Power of the Pardon decision.
The Traitors: New Blood is NBC’s all-civilian U.S. edition of The Traitors, hosted by Alan Cumming at Ardross Castle in Scotland. Through Episode 9, Joe Vanella and Katie Fites are the active Traitors; 10 contestants remain; and the prize pot stands at $145,300.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Current information |
|---|---|
| Host | Alan Cumming |
| Location | Ardross Castle, Scottish Highlands |
| Starting cast | 22 civilian contestants |
| Prize | Up to $250,000, built through missions |
| Premiered | Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT |
| Network / streaming | NBC; Peacock the next day |
| Applicant pool | More than 80,000, according to NBCUniversal |
| Episodes aired | 9 |
| Active contestants | 10, through Episode 9 |
| Original Traitors | Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams |
| Third Traitor | Katie Fites, recruited in Episode 3 |
| Next episode | Episode 10, “The Sun, the Moon and the Truth”, Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, streaming on Peacock the next day. Official synopsis: “With a place in the final on the line, the players must risk everything for a shot at victory; gambles are made at the roundtable and the Traitors face a mission where one wrong move could prove fatal.” |
| Current prize pot | $145,300 after Episode 9 |
What Is The Traitors: New Blood?
The Traitors: New Blood is NBC’s fifth U.S. installment of The Traitors, the competition format built around a group of Faithfuls trying to identify and banish a smaller group of secret Traitors before the Traitors can eliminate them one by one. What sets this installment apart is the cast. NBC has confirmed that all 22 contestants are civilians, with no reality television or celebrity backgrounds, a first for the U.S. version of the franchise.
NBC and Peacock brand the season The Traitors: New Blood rather than Season 5. Outlets including TVLine and Entertainment Weekly have used Season 5 as a chronological shorthand, but NBC has not formally confirmed that New Blood replaces the franchise’s season numbering. OpenThreadNews treats New Blood as the official title and Season 5 as an editorial label rather than an interchangeable fact.
When Did It Premiere?
The Traitors: New Blood premiered Thursday, September 17, 2026, with a two-hour launch from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, covering Episodes 1 and 2. A second two-hour block airs September 24, covering Episodes 3 and 4. After Episodes 3 and 4 aired on September 24, the series takes a one-week break on October 1. Episode 5, “Wake of the Living Dead,” aired Thursday, October 8 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, and Episode 6, “A Murder of Necessity,” aired Thursday, October 15. Episode 7, “It’s Like Fighting Two Pigs Under a Blanket,” aired Thursday, October 22. Episode 8, “A Bad Apple Spoils the Whole Bunch,” airs Thursday, October 29.
| Episodes | U.S. air date | NBC time | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episodes 1–2 | Thursday, September 17, 2026 | 8:00–10:00 p.m. ET/PT | Two-hour premiere |
| Episodes 3–4 | Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 8:00–10:00 p.m. ET/PT | Two episodes |
| No new episode | Thursday, October 1, 2026 | — | — |
| Episode 5 | Thursday, October 8, 2026 | 8:00–9:00 p.m. ET/PT | Regular weekly episode |
| Episode 6 | Thursday, October 15, 2026 | 8:00–9:00 p.m. ET/PT | Regular weekly episode |
| Episode 7 | Thursday, October 22, 2026 | 8:00–9:00 p.m. ET/PT | Regular weekly episode |
| Episode 8 | Thursday, October 29, 2026 | 8:00–9:00 p.m. ET/PT | Regular weekly episode |
For full episode-by-episode results as they air, see The Traitors: New Blood Episodes.
Where to Watch
The Traitors: New Blood airs on NBC first, with each episode streaming on Peacock the next day. No midseason move to a streaming-first release has been announced.
Who Hosts It?
Alan Cumming returns as host and executive producer, a role confirmed by both NBCUniversal and Peacock.
How Does the Game Work?
Each season of The Traitors splits its cast into two groups: a majority of Faithfuls and a smaller, secret group of Traitors, chosen early in the game by the host. The two groups compete together in missions that add money to a collective prize fund, then gather each episode at a round table, where the full cast votes to banish one person they suspect of being a Traitor.
After the round table, the surviving Traitors meet privately to choose a Faithful to eliminate overnight, a “murder” that removes that person from the game entirely, without a vote. The tension of the format comes from the fact that only the Traitors themselves know who they are, everyone else is guessing based on behavior, alliances, and the outcome of each banishment.
If the Faithfuls successfully banish every Traitor before the end of the season, the remaining Faithfuls split the prize pot. If even one Traitor survives to the end, that Traitor, or Traitors, take the full pot instead. NBC’s official materials describe New Blood as using this same format, missions, murders, banishments, Faithfuls and Traitors, with no new elimination system, mission rules, or Traitor-selection process announced for this installment. For the full breakdown of the format’s history and rules, see The Traitors Explained.
How Is New Blood Different From Previous Seasons?
The biggest change is the cast. NBC has confirmed that all 22 contestants are civilians, a shift from earlier U.S. seasons, which combined reality television personalities and celebrities with civilians. The other major change is where the show airs. New Blood moves to NBC’s network broadcast schedule, with episodes streaming on Peacock the next day, rather than releasing on Peacock alone as earlier seasons did. Episode length is different too, NBC’s roughly 42-minute network format compared with the longer, less rigidly timed episodes of the streaming-only seasons, according to Entertainment Weekly’s reporting on the creative team’s approach.
The Cast
| Name | Hometown | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| Abbey Benjamin | Mangham, Louisiana | Nurse |
| Abby Lee | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Astrophysicist |
| Arisa Thomas | Los Angeles, California | Dog groomer |
| Ben McDonnell | Granbury, Texas | Barrel racer |
| Clyde Moser | Charleston, South Carolina | Teacher (theater) |
| Jay Vinnedge | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Physician |
| Joe Vanella | Wantagh, New York | Funeral director |
| Katie Fites | Jacksonville, Florida | Marketing manager |
| Kim Daily | Houston, Texas | Lawyer |
| Kriste Lewis | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | Realtor |
| Logan Smith | Gatlinburg, Tennessee | Realtor |
| Madeline Kostopulos | San Diego, California | Construction manager |
| Mark Zgoda | Phillipsburg, New Jersey | Personal trainer |
| Michael Foote | New York, New York | Lawyer |
| Morgan Cook | Midland, Michigan | Content creator |
| Niyyah Hayes | Indianapolis, Indiana | Therapist |
| Shane Beatty | Staten Island, New York | Ironworker |
| Sherry Kuehl | Leawood, Kansas | Writer |
| Tomica Adams | Boston, Massachusetts | Pilot |
| Victor Vollbrechthausen | New York, New York | Business executive |
| Wyatt Gillespie | Ligonier, Pennsylvania | Set designer |
| Xavier Scruggs | Wesley Chapel, Florida | MLB analyst |
| Contestant | Status through Episode 9 | Exit / role |
|---|---|---|
| Kim Daily | Eliminated | Murdered in Episode 1; Faithful |
| Madeline Kostopulos | Eliminated | Banished in Episode 2; Faithful |
| Xavier Scruggs | Eliminated | Murdered in Episode 3 after losing the Accomplice recruitment decision |
| Arisa Thomas | Eliminated | Banished in Episode 4; Faithful |
| Logan Smith | Eliminated | Murdered, revealed Episode 4; Faithful |
| Sherry Kuehl | Eliminated | Banished in Episode 5; Faithful |
| Niyyah Hayes | Eliminated | Murdered in Episode 6 with the cursed apple; Faithful |
| Michael Foote | Eliminated | Banished in Episode 6 (8 votes); Faithful |
| Mark Zgoda | Eliminated | Murdered in Episode 7; Faithful |
| Abby Lee | Eliminated | Murdered in Episode 8; Faithful |
| Joe Vanella | Active | Original Traitor |
| Tomica Adams | Eliminated | Banished in Episode 8; Traitor |
| Katie Fites | Active | Recruited third Traitor |
| Remaining 9 contestants | Active | Faithfuls, based on available Episode 8 status |
The cast’s professions span medicine, law, the trades and specialized fields, from a physician and two lawyers to an ironworker, a funeral director, and a former Major League Baseball player. That range could shape early alliances, contestants with high-stakes, people-reading professions, like the physician, the lawyers and the funeral director, may lean on those instincts once the game begins.
For full bios, ages, superlatives and each contestant’s own strategy quotes, see The Traitors: New Blood Cast.
Spoilers through Episode 9: This guide includes current Traitor roles, eliminations, recruitment details and the Episode 9 results.
Who Are the Traitors?
Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams were chosen as the season’s original Traitors in Episode 1. They later selected Katie Fites and Xavier Scruggs as Accomplices and ordered both to complete a covert Death Warrant task.
Both Accomplices succeeded, leaving Joe and Tomica to decide who would join them. In Episode 3, they recruited Katie as the season’s third Traitor and murdered Xavier. The active Traitor team through Episode 9 is Joe and Katie.
See the individual profiles for Joe Vanella, Tomica Adams, Katie Fites and Xavier Scruggs.
Storylines to Watch
Katie’s vulnerable recruitment: Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams expanded their Traitor team by recruiting Katie Fites over Xavier Scruggs. But the decision produced immediate risk: Xavier had already raised questions about Katie, and Jay Vinnedge openly accused her at the Episode 5 Round Table. Jay’s case collapsed under pressure and the group banished Sherry Kuehl instead, but Jay still insists Katie is a Traitor.
The Faithfuls’ first caught Traitor: The Faithful banished their first Traitor in Episode 8, when Tomica Adams was banished 10-2 and revealed as a Traitor. Madeline Kostopulos was banished in Episode 2, Arisa Thomas was banished in Episode 4, Sherry Kuehl was banished in Episode 5, and Michael Foote was banished in Episode 6, with all four later revealed as Faithfuls.
Logan’s murder and its fallout: The Traitors murdered Logan Smith after he voiced suspicion of Katie. The move removed a threat but may also invite questions about why a contestant skeptical of Katie was targeted.
Joe’s risky apple play: Joe Vanella’s attempt to murder Morgan Cook with a poisoned apple failed on camera, and he ate the apple himself to kill suspicion. Victor Vollbrechthausen noticed Joe clinging to his fruit and saw Tomica offering apples around the kitchen. In Episode 6, Victor laid out the full FruitGate theory at the Round Table, naming Joe and Tomica. The room dismissed it and banished Michael Foote instead.
Victor’s FruitGate and the fourth wrong banishment: Victor Vollbrechthausen correctly identified the cursed-apple murder and named Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams at the Episode 6 Round Table, but the room treated the theory as a half-baked conspiracy. Katie Fites and Clyde Moser helped steer suspicion onto Michael Foote, who was banished 8-3-3-1 and revealed as a Faithful. The episode ended in the turret with Tomica declaring that Victor must die. In Episode 8, Shane Beatty’s Pardon saved Victor instead, and the castle banished Tomica 10-2.
Prize Money
Contestants are competing for a prize fund of up to $250,000, built through missions.The prize pot stands at $145,300 after Episode 9, following the $18,000 haunted cabin mission; no one was banished in Episode 9.
The Episode 4 mission also included a strategic trade-off: Ben McDonnell and Michael Foote gave up potential prize money to receive a clue about the Accomplice twist, demonstrating that contestants can sometimes choose information over cash.
Where the Season Stands
Through Episode 9, twelve contestants have left The Traitors: New Blood: Kim Daily was murdered in Episode 1; Madeline Kostopulos was banished in Episode 2; Xavier Scruggs was murdered in Episode 3 after Katie Fites was recruited as the third Traitor; Arisa Thomas was banished in Episode 4; Logan Smith was murdered in Episode 4; Sherry Kuehl was banished in Episode 5; Niyyah Hayes was murdered in Episode 6 with the cursed apple; Michael Foote was banished in Episode 6 and revealed as a Faithful; Mark Zgoda was murdered in Episode 7; Abby Lee was murdered in Episode 8; Tomica Adams was banished in Episode 8 (10-2) and revealed as a Traitor; and Morgan Cook was murdered in Episode 9 by the poisoned chalice. Eleven eliminated contestants were Faithfuls. Joe Vanella and Katie Fites are the active Traitors. The Faithful have banished their first Traitor. Ten contestants remain in the game. Episode 9 ended on a cliffhanger at the Round Table before a vote, with Morgan Cook murdered and Victor Vollbrechthausen holding a secret shield. Episode 10 airs November 12, 2026.
For full episode-by-episode results, eliminations and future developments, see The Traitors: New Blood Episodes, updated weekly.
Episode Recaps
Episode 1: “A New Dawn Is Rising” (September 17, 2026)
Tomica Adams and Joe Vanella were selected as the season’s original Traitors. They secretly recruited Katie Fites and Xavier Scruggs as Accomplices for covert tasks. The HMS Cumming shipwreck mission earned $50,000 of a possible $50,000. Shields, granting immunity from the first murder, went to Abby Lee, Madeline Kostopulos, and Victor Vollbrechthausen. Kim Daily was murdered overnight, with her death revealed in Episode 2.
Episode 2: “I’m a Sweaty Boy” (September 17, 2026)
Kim Daily’s murder was revealed, and she was confirmed as a Faithful. At the Round Table, Kriste Lewis claimed Madeline Kostopulos said “I shouldn’t have picked Kim,” calling her a “bald-faced liar.” Madeline was banished by a 13-7-1 vote and revealed as a Faithful.
Episode 3: “The Traitors Are Watching” (September 24, 2026)
Katie Fites was recruited as the third Traitor, while Xavier Scruggs was murdered after losing the recruitment decision. The crypt mission earned $15,000 of $30,000, bringing the pot to $65,000. Tomica Adams advised Clyde Moser to take the shield and then disclosed it to the group. Realityblurred’s Andy Dehnart quoted her post-move confession (‘I can’t believe they actually believed me’) and called it ‘Brilliant!’ Michael Foote and Ben McDonnell obtained secret Traitor information with the clue: “Last night, two players battled in plain sight to become a Traitor.” The episode ended on a cliffhanger at the Round Table.
Episode 4: “The Death Parade” (September 24, 2026)
Arisa Thomas was banished 13-5-1 and revealed as a Faithful. The mission earned $12,000 of $24,000, bringing the pot to $77,000. The Traitors named 10 contestants to the murder shortlist: Abby Lee, Clyde Moser, Kriste Lewis, Mark Zgoda, Morgan Cook, Niyyah Hayes, Sherry Kuehl, Tomica Adams, Victor Vollbrechthausen, and Logan Smith. Seven were declared safe: Abbey Benjamin, Ben McDonnell, Jay Vinnedge, Katie Fites, Michael Foote, Shane Beatty, and Wyatt Gillespie. Logan Smith was murdered after the Traitors named him to the murder shortlist. The episode ended on a cliffhanger as Jay Vinnedge opened the Round Table with: “I believe Miss Katie is a traitor.”
Episode 5: “Wake of the Living Dead” (October 8, 2026)
Sherry Kuehl was banished 11-5-1 and revealed as a Faithful after Abby Lee built a case around Sherry’s claim that there were three Traitors in the game. Jay Vinnedge’s accusation against Katie Fites collapsed under pressure, and he voted for Sherry while insisting Katie is still a Traitor. The Traitors carried out a murder in plain sight with a poisoned apple; Joe Vanella’s attempt on Morgan Cook failed and he ate the apple himself to deflect suspicion. The episode ended on a cliffhanger before Alan Cumming named the murder victim, one of Niyyah Hayes, Clyde Moser, or Mark Zgoda. See the full Episode 5 recap.
Episode 6: “A Murder of Necessity” (October 15, 2026)
Niyyah Hayes was murdered with the cursed apple, resolving the Episode 5 cliffhanger. Victor Vollbrechthausen’s FruitGate theory correctly identified Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams, but the room dismissed it and banished Michael Foote 8-3-3-1 instead; Foote was revealed as a Faithful, the fourth consecutive wrong banishment. The graveyard mission added $20,000 to the prize pot. See the full Episode 6 recap.
Episode 7: “It’s Like Fighting Two Pigs Under a Blanket” (October 22, 2026)
Mark Zgoda was murdered. The scarecrow mission added $15,300 to the prize pot, bringing it to $112,300, and the mission’s top banker won a new secret power, the Power of the Pardon, which can overturn the night’s banishment; the holder was not revealed. Victor Vollbrechthausen received the most Round Table votes with 5, but no banishment was completed: Alan Cumming froze the exit and the Pardon decision carries into Episode 8. Katie Fites voted for her fellow Traitor Tomica Adams after Victor exposed Tomica’s slip: she had named Katie as a suspect earlier, then claimed she said Kriste Lewis. Episode 8, “A Bad Apple Spoils the Whole Bunch,” aired Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC, streaming on Peacock the next day, and opened with the Pardon reveal.
Episode 8: “A Bad Apple Spoils the Whole Bunch” (October 29, 2026)
Shane Beatty revealed himself as the Power of the Pardon holder and pardoned Victor Vollbrechthausen, overturning Victor’s Episode 7 banishment. Abby Lee was murdered, the season’s sixth murder. No mission ran in Episode 8. At the Round Table, Tomica Adams was banished 10-2 and revealed as a Traitor, the first Traitor banished all season. The prize pot stands at $127,300 and 11 players remain.
Episode 9: “Playing Chess” (November 5, 2026)
Morgan Cook was murdered by the poisoned chalice, the Traitors’ choice over Victor Vollbrechthausen. The haunted cabin mission banked $18,000, taking the pot to $145,300. Victor secretly held the only shield, found in a teddy-bear chest. The Round Table ended on a cliffhanger before a vote, and no one was banished.
| Episode | Mission | Earned | Available | Pot after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HMS Cumming shipwreck | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| 2 | Banishment episode (no mission) | — | — | $50,000 |
| 3 | Crypt mission | $15,000 | $30,000 | $65,000 |
| 4 | Death Parade mission | $12,000 | $24,000 | $77,000 |
| 5 | Wake of the Living Dead (no mission) | — | — | $77,000 |
| 6 | Graveyard scream-matching | $20,000 | $20,000 | $97,000 |
| 7 | Scarecrow mission | $15,300 | — | $112,300 |
| 8 | Banishment episode (no mission) | $15,000 | — | $127,300 |
| 9 | Haunted cabin mission | $18,000 | $27,000 | $145,300 |
Voting Records
Episode 2: Madeline Kostopulos was banished 13-7-1. Victor Vollbrechthausen received 7 votes and Kriste Lewis received 1 vote.
| Voter | Voted for |
|---|---|
| Abbey Benjamin | Madeline Kostopulos |
| Abby Lee | Madeline Kostopulos |
| Arisa Thomas | Madeline Kostopulos |
| Ben McDonnell | Victor Vollbrechthausen |
| Clyde Moser | Victor Vollbrechthausen |
| Jay Vinnedge | Madeline Kostopulos |
| Joe Vanella | Victor Vollbrechthausen |
| Katie Fites | Victor Vollbrechthausen |
| Kriste Lewis | Madeline Kostopulos |
| Logan Smith | Madeline Kostopulos |
| Madeline Kostopulos | Victor Vollbrechthausen |
| Mark Zgoda | Madeline Kostopulos |
| Michael Foote | Victor Vollbrechthausen |
| Morgan Cook | Madeline Kostopulos |
| Niyyah Hayes | Madeline Kostopulos |
| Shane Beatty | Madeline Kostopulos |
| Sherry Kuehl | Madeline Kostopulos |
| Tomica Adams | Madeline Kostopulos |
| Victor Vollbrechthausen | Kriste Lewis |
| Wyatt Gillespie | Victor Vollbrechthausen |
| Xavier Scruggs | Madeline Kostopulos |
Episode 4: Arisa Thomas was banished 13-5-1. Victor Vollbrechthausen received 5 votes and Michael Foote received 1 vote.
| Voter | Voted for |
|---|---|
| Abbey Benjamin | Arisa Thomas |
| Abby Lee | Arisa Thomas |
| Arisa Thomas | Michael Foote |
| Ben McDonnell | Arisa Thomas |
| Clyde Moser | Arisa Thomas |
| Jay Vinnedge | Victor Vollbrechthausen |
| Joe Vanella | Victor Vollbrechthausen |
| Katie Fites | Arisa Thomas |
| Kriste Lewis | Arisa Thomas |
| Logan Smith | Arisa Thomas |
| Mark Zgoda | Arisa Thomas |
| Michael Foote | Arisa Thomas |
| Morgan Cook | Victor Vollbrechthausen |
| Niyyah Hayes | Arisa Thomas |
| Shane Beatty | Victor Vollbrechthausen |
| Sherry Kuehl | Arisa Thomas |
| Tomica Adams | Victor Vollbrechthausen |
| Victor Vollbrechthausen | Arisa Thomas |
| Wyatt Gillespie | Arisa Thomas |
Episode 5: Sherry Kuehl was banished 11-5-1. Jay Vinnedge received 5 votes and Michael Foote received 1 vote.
Episode 6: Michael Foote was banished 8-3-3-1. Wyatt Gillespie received 3 votes, Victor Vollbrechthausen received 3 votes, and Tomica Adams received 1 vote.
Episode 7: Victor Vollbrechthausen received the most votes with 5, but no banishment was completed. Katie Fites voted for Tomica Adams.
Episode 8: Tomica Adams was banished 10-2. Victor Vollbrechthausen received 2 votes.
| Voter | Voted for |
|---|---|
| Abbey Benjamin | Tomica Adams |
| Ben McDonnell | Tomica Adams |
| Clyde Moser | Tomica Adams |
| Jay Vinnedge | Victor Vollbrechthausen |
| Joe Vanella | Tomica Adams |
| Katie Fites | Tomica Adams |
| Kriste Lewis | Tomica Adams |
| Morgan Cook | Tomica Adams |
| Shane Beatty | Tomica Adams |
| Tomica Adams | Victor Vollbrechthausen |
| Victor Vollbrechthausen | Tomica Adams |
| Wyatt Gillespie | Tomica Adams |
| Voter | Voted for |
|---|---|
| Abbey Benjamin | Michael Foote |
| Abby Lee | Wyatt Gillespie |
| Ben McDonnell | Michael Foote |
| Clyde Moser | Michael Foote |
| Jay Vinnedge | Victor Vollbrechthausen |
| Joe Vanella | Wyatt Gillespie |
| Katie Fites | Michael Foote |
| Kriste Lewis | Wyatt Gillespie |
| Mark Zgoda | Michael Foote |
| Michael Foote | Victor Vollbrechthausen |
| Morgan Cook | Michael Foote |
| Shane Beatty | Michael Foote |
| Tomica Adams | Victor Vollbrechthausen |
| Victor Vollbrechthausen | Tomica Adams |
| Wyatt Gillespie | Michael Foote |
| Voter | Voted for |
|---|---|
| Abbey Benjamin | Sherry Kuehl |
| Abby Lee | Sherry Kuehl |
| Ben McDonnell | Sherry Kuehl |
| Clyde Moser | Sherry Kuehl |
| Jay Vinnedge | Sherry Kuehl |
| Joe Vanella | Sherry Kuehl |
| Katie Fites | Sherry Kuehl |
| Kriste Lewis | Jay Vinnedge |
| Mark Zgoda | Jay Vinnedge |
| Michael Foote | Sherry Kuehl |
| Morgan Cook | Sherry Kuehl |
| Niyyah Hayes | Jay Vinnedge |
| Shane Beatty | Jay Vinnedge |
| Sherry Kuehl | Jay Vinnedge |
| Tomica Adams | Sherry Kuehl |
| Victor Vollbrechthausen | Michael Foote |
| Wyatt Gillespie | Sherry Kuehl |
Ratings and Reception
Per TheWrap (September 25, 2026), The Traitors: New Blood was NBC’s top new unscripted premiere in six years among adults 18-49 on three-day multiplatform viewing. Each episode drew more than 6 million viewers, and the season generated over 85 million video views in its first week.
The Traitors Franchise: What’s Next
Peacock renewed The Traitors through Season 8, announced September 16, 2026. Season 4 won seven Emmy Awards in 2026, including Outstanding Reality Competition Program. The Season 6 celebrity cast was announced September 18, 2026, and includes Whitney Leavitt.
Previous Seasons of The Traitors
For the earlier U.S. seasons of the franchise, see The Traitors Season 1 Cast, The Traitors Season 2 Cast, The Traitors Season 3 Cast, and The Traitors Season 4 Cast, or The Traitors Explained for the full format breakdown.
FAQs
What is The Traitors: New Blood?
The Traitors: New Blood is NBC’s fifth U.S. installment of The Traitors, featuring an all-civilian cast rather than the celebrity and reality-TV-heavy casts used in earlier U.S. seasons. See The Traitors: New Blood Explained for a full breakdown of how the game works.
When did The Traitors: New Blood premiere?
The Traitors: New Blood premiered Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on NBC with a two-hour launch covering Episodes 1 and 2.
Who hosts The Traitors: New Blood?
Alan Cumming hosts and executive produces The Traitors: New Blood, returning to Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands.
Where can I watch The Traitors: New Blood?
The Traitors: New Blood airs first on NBC, with each episode streaming on Peacock the following day.
How many contestants remain on The Traitors: New Blood?
Ten contestants remain active through Episode 9. Twelve players have left the game: Kim Daily, Madeline Kostopulos, Xavier Scruggs, Arisa Thomas, Logan Smith, Sherry Kuehl, Niyyah Hayes, Michael Foote, Mark Zgoda, Abby Lee and Morgan Cook as Faithfuls, and Tomica Adams as a Traitor. See The Traitors: New Blood Cast for the current contestant lineup.
Who are the Traitors on The Traitors: New Blood?
Joe Vanella and Tomica Adams are the original Traitors, while Katie Fites became the third Traitor in Episode 3 after Joe and Tomica selected her over Xavier Scruggs. See the profiles for Joe Vanella, Tomica Adams, Katie Fites and Xavier Scruggs. Tomica Adams was banished in Episode 8, leaving Joe Vanella and Katie Fites as the two remaining Traitors.
Has anyone been eliminated from The Traitors: New Blood?
Yes. Kim Daily was murdered in Episode 1, Madeline Kostopulos was banished in Episode 2, Xavier Scruggs was murdered in Episode 3, Arisa Thomas was banished in Episode 4, Logan Smith was murdered in Episode 4, Sherry Kuehl was banished in Episode 5, Niyyah Hayes was murdered in Episode 6, Michael Foote was banished in Episode 6, and Mark Zgoda was murdered in Episode 7. Ten eliminated contestants were Faithfuls, and Tomica Adams was eliminated as a Traitor. Abby Lee was murdered in Episode 8 and Tomica Adams was banished in Episode 8 (10-2). See The Traitors: New Blood Episodes for the full results.
How much is the prize pot on The Traitors: New Blood?
The prize pot stands at $145,300 after Episode 9, toward a possible total of $250,000. The money is built through missions during the season.
When is the next episode of The Traitors: New Blood?
Episode 10, “The Sun, the Moon and the Truth,” airs Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC and streams on Peacock the next day. Episode 9 aired November 5, 2026. See The Traitors: New Blood Episodes for the episode schedule and results.
Is The Traitors: New Blood the same as Season 5?
NBC and Peacock officially brand the series The Traitors: New Blood. Some outlets use Season 5 as a chronological label, but NBC has not formally confirmed that New Blood replaces the franchise’s season numbering.
How is The Traitors: New Blood different from previous seasons?
The biggest change is the cast. All 22 contestants are civilians, without reality television or celebrity backgrounds. The season also airs on NBC’s network schedule, with episodes streaming on Peacock the next day, rather than being released on Peacock alone.
Have the Faithfuls banished a Traitor yet?
Yes. Through Episode 9, the Faithfuls banished their first Traitor: Tomica Adams, banished 10-2 in Episode 8 and revealed as a Traitor. Madeline Kostopulos, Arisa Thomas, Sherry Kuehl and Michael Foote were all banished but were later revealed to be Faithfuls.
