| Quick Answer The Traitors Cast 2026 refers to the 22 contestants on The Traitors: New Blood, NBC’s first all-civilian season of the hit reality show. Hosted by Alan Cumming, the cast includes a nurse, an astrophysicist, two lawyers, a dog groomer, a former MLB analyst and more everyday Americans, all competing at a Scottish castle for a prize pot worth up to $250,000. The season began airing on 17 September 2026. |
If you love a good mystery wrapped up in backstabbing and a Scottish castle, you’ve probably already heard the buzz. The Traitors: New Blood has just landed on NBC, and for the first time ever, the US version of the show has ditched celebrities altogether. Instead, 22 ordinary Americans have swapped their day jobs for a shot at deceit, drama and a quarter of a million dollars.
Below, you’ll find the full cast list, what each player does for a living, and everything else worth knowing before you settle in to watch.
What Is The Traitors: New Blood?
The Traitors: New Blood is a spin-off of the main show, already popular in the UK, the US, Australia, and more than a dozen other countries. However, this version has a significant difference: there are no reality TV stars or recognizable names. Instead, the competition is between ordinary citizens. The game is hosted by Alan Cumming, who selects a small group of participants to act as “Traitors” while the rest must identify them before they are “revealed.” The series was filmed in the Scottish Highlands, in an ancient castle, which also hosted previous seasons of The Traitors. The producers picked 22 winners out of an eighty-thousand-strong applicant pool.
The Full Traitors: New Blood Cast List
Here’s everyone competing this season, along with their job and where they’re from where known:
- Abbey Benjamin, 37 — Nurse
- Abby Lee, 29 — Astrophysicist, Saint Paul, MN
- Arisa Thomas, 36 — Dog Groomer, Los Angeles, CA
- Ben McDonnell, 34 — Barrel Racer
- Clyde Moser, 32 — Teacher, Charleston, SC
- Jay Vinnedge, 36 — Physician, Oklahoma City, OK
- Joe Vanella, 44 — Funeral Director
- Katie Fites, 23 — Marketing Manager
- Kim Daily, 37 — Lawyer
- Kriste Lewis, 52 — Realtor
- Logan Smith, 26 — Realtor
- Madeline Kostopulos, 26 — Construction Manager
- Mark Zgoda, 26 — Personal Trainer
- Michael Foote, 38 — Lawyer
- Morgan Cook, 30 — Content Creator
- Niyyah Hayes, 29 — Therapist
- Shane Beatty, 32 — Ironworker
- Sherry Kuehl, 65 — Writer
- Tomica Adams, 54 — Pilot
- Victor Vollbrechthausen, 26 — Business Executive
- Wyatt Gillespie, 26 — Designer
- Xavier Scruggs, 38 — MLB Analyst (former professional baseball player)
That’s a genuinely varied group — from a Scottish castle full of realtors and lawyers to an astrophysicist and a barrel racer, this cast reads more like a small town’s directory than a typical reality show line-up. That’s exactly the point: ordinary people usually make for the messiest, most unpredictable game.
Why an All-Civilian Cast Changes the Game
Past US seasons relied on using returning participants who knew each other’s strategies, making the game about people who are already familiar with each other like a chess match. This reliance on past competition creates an interesting scenario where the only way to compete fairly is to allow some new blood in, who hasn’t had time to learn the other’s tricks yet
One could argue that it makes the game more predictable, as these new participants will have to learn the tricks of the trade on the spot, having not learned them from years of prior competition. However, this is not taking into account that people who have been competing together for years will have established prior relationships and rivalries, which could make for a less surprising competition than what the audience is used to seeing.
How to Watch The Traitors: New Blood
The show airs Thursdays at 8pm ET on NBC, with each episode available to stream on Peacock the following day. The premiere aired as a two-hour special on 17 September 2026, so if you’re catching up, you’ll want to start there before the twists pile up.
Quick Tips for Watching the Game
- Pay attention to who volunteers for missions — confident players often draw suspicion fast
- Watch body language at the Round Table, not just what people say
- Remember that a “Faithful” accused of lying isn’t automatically a Traitor — panic looks the same either way
Frequently Asked Questions
How many contestants are on The Traitors: New Blood?
There are 22 contestants in total, all civilians rather than celebrities, competing for a prize pot worth up to $250,000.
Who hosts The Traitors: New Blood?
Alan Cumming hosts the series, the same role he’s held across every previous US season of The Traitors.
Where is The Traitors: New Blood filmed?
The series is filmed at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, the same location used in earlier seasons of the American version.
When did The Traitors: New Blood premiere?
The show premiered with a two-hour episode on 17 September 2026 on NBC, with new episodes airing weekly on Thursdays.
Is The Traitors: New Blood different from the celebrity seasons?
Yes. Previous US seasons of The Traitors cast reality TV veterans and public figures, while New Blood is the first season built entirely around everyday Americans with no television experience.
