Survivor season 44: how to watch, winner and everything we know about the reality series

Jeff Probst on Survivor
Jeff Probst on Survivor (Image credit: CBS)

For nearly 23 years and over 43 seasons, Survivor has been one of the most popular reality TV shows of all time, and things look to keep rolling with Survivor season 44. As such, you shouldn't need much primer on what Survivor is — contestants are taken to a remote island and compete against each other, and the elements, to be the last one standing and win a $1 million prize. Or, as the tagline for the show reads, to "Outwit. Outplay. Outlast."

After Survivor season 43 just aired in fall 2022, fans don't have to wait too long for the next group of contestants to head to the island and start competing in immunity challenges, forming alliances and then breaking those alliances in shocking ways. CBS is teasing this season as "one of the most intense, unpredictable, inspirational and most entertaining seasons of Survivor."

Here is everything that we know about Survivor season 44.

How to watch Survivor season 44

Now that Survivor season 44 has wrapped up, fans who want to catch up (or rewatch) the season can do so entirely on Paramount Plus, as the streaming season has all 13 episodes of the season now streaming. Of course, a subscription is necessary to enjoy Paramount Plus, though a seven-day free trial is available.

Survivor season 44 logo

(Image credit: CBS)

Survivor season 44 winner

Survivor season 44 cast

Survivor season 44 cast (Image credit: Robert Voets/CBS)

After 18 contestants arrived on the island, only one could be the winner, taking home the $1 million prize. That was 

Winner
Yamil "Yam Yam" Arocho

Eliminated
Bruce Perreault
Maddy Pomilla
Helen Li
Claire Rafson
Sarah Wade
Matthew Grinstead-Mayle
Josh Wilder
Matt Blankinship
Brandon Cottom
Kane Fritzler
Frannie Marin
Danny Massa
Jaime Lynn Ruiz
Lauren Harpe
Carson Garrett
Carolyn Wiger
Heidi Lagares-Greenblatt

Check out the gallery of cast members below and learn more about each player with our Survivor season 44 cast feature.

Survivor season 44 trailer

Here is the teaser for Survivor season 44 that was shown as part of the finale. The footage certainly makes it look like the season is going to have a chance to live up to the proclamation that this will be one of the most entertaining seasons to date. Watch directly below: 

Survivor season 44 host

There has only been one host for Survivor throughout its run and that's not changing with season 44, as Jeff Probst returns to the role. In addition to hosting the reality series (for which he has received four Emmys), Probst is also an executive producer on the series.

While Probst has been hyping up the cast for this season, he also spoke with Entertainment Weekly about the sometimes forgotten element of the show — the danger of trying to survive on an island for a month.

"One of the things that keeps Survivor fresh is that you can never ever predict what is going to happen. It's 26 days of unexpected moments that keep the players and the audience on their toes. That includes the physical aspect of the game. It's easy to forget that the players are living in a real jungle with all the danger that can present. Plus, you have the challenges and the lack of food and good sleep. It's relentless. This group will be reminded very quickly that Survivor can get you in a number of ways, and that making it to the final three requires a lot more than just a good social game."

Survivor season 44 location

After moving the show to different locations around the world for much of its run, Survivor has found a permanent home in the islands of Fiji. That is where Survivor season 44 will once again take place. Specifically, the season is being filmed on the Mamanuca Islands. 

How to watch Survivor

When Survivor season 44 gets underway, viewers can watch it live on CBS. The CBS network is available to anyone with a traditional cable TV subscription, a TV antenna picking up local stations or a live TV streaming service with CBS, including FuboTV, Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV. You can also stream the latest episodes the day after they air with any Paramount Plus subscription or live if you are a Paramount Plus premium subscriber.

If you are interested in watching past seasons of Survivor, there are a few options. First, Paramount Plus has all 43 previous seasons of the reality show available to stream on-demand. It is also available to stream on Hulu, but only from season 22 on. Netflix is also getting Survivor in February, but just a single season (season 32). You can also watch past seasons of Survivor for free on Pluto TV, you just have to deal with ads.

Despite Paramount Plus being in the UK, the US version of Survivor is not available to stream on the service for UK subscribers. However, a UK version of Survivor is in the works at the BBC.

Michael Balderston

Michael Balderston is a DC-based entertainment and assistant managing editor for What to Watch, who has previously written about the TV and movies with TV Technology, Awards Circuit and regional publications. Spending most of his time watching new movies at the theater or classics on TCM, some of Michael's favorite movies include Casablanca, Moulin Rouge!, Silence of the Lambs, Children of Men, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and Star Wars. On the TV side he enjoys Only Murders in the Building, Yellowstone, The Boys, Game of Thrones and is always up for a Seinfeld rerun. Follow on Letterboxd.