The Challenge Season 42: Everything You Need To Know

Key facts about the new season

Season number: 42
Status: Now streaming
Streaming: Paramount+
Premiere date: Aug. 5, 2026
Location: Thailand
Grand prize: $500,000
Number of competitors: 24
Episode release cadence: Weekly
Executive producers: Julie Pizzi, Justin Booth, Jacob Lane

The Challenge Season 42, known as The Challenge: Cutthroat, is now streaming on Paramount+.

Originally an MTV show that streamed select seasons on Paramount+, the reality-competition show starts a new chapter with Season 42. The Challenge is now a Paramount+ original series, with all new episodes launching on the service.

The Challenge: Cutthroat also introduces an all-new team format set in beautiful Thailand. Survivor alums Chris Underwood, Michele Fitzgerald, Cassidy Clark, and Sydney Segal, and The Challenge legends Chris “CT” Tamburello and John “Johnny Bananas” DeVenanzio headline a cast of 24 competitors who’ll battle for the $500,000 prize.

We’ve got all the details on what you can expect, how to watch the new season and official trailer, plus more info on the cast and format.

Watch on Paramount+

When and where to watch

The Challenge Season 42, known as The Challenge: Cutthroat, is now streaming on Paramount+. The Paramount+ original season premiered on Aug. 5. New episodes will arrive on Wednesdays through the season finale.

In addition to Season 42, you can watch select past seasons of The Challenge on Paramount+. Seasons 10-41 of the show’s MTV era were available to stream on demand.

Paramount+ subscribers (any plan) can stream any and all episodes and seasons found on the service. To watch, get started with a subscription, and/or log into your account, and navigate to the show page. Use the pulldown menu (found on mobile and desktop) to select the season you want to watch.

What’s new this season: the Cutthroat format

Also new this time out: Season 42 episodes launch exclusively on Paramount+. Previously, The Challenge was an MTV show that eventually streamed on the service.

And so you know: While The Challenge Season 20 is also known as The Challenge: Cutthroat, Season 42 is not a remake of that season.

Meet the competitors

Season 42 mixes legends of The Challenge with returning recent competitors and franchise newcomers from various CBS reality shows, including Survivor. Johnny Bananas, CT Tamburello, and Cara Maria Sorbello are just some of the returning champions and veterans.

Here’s a look at the full cast of The Challenge Season 42, The Challenge: Cutthroat.

Returning Challenge champions

Chris “CT” Tamburello

CT Tamburello The Challenge Cutthroat — Paramount+

Five-time Challenge champion CT has stolen the hearts of America for more than 20 seasons, but, after appearing on The Traitors, he’s looking to erase his poor performance on The Challenge Season 41 (Vets & New Threats) and remind everyone why he’s one of the most feared Challengers.

John “Johnny Bananas” DeVenanzio

Self-proclaimed GOAT, Johnny Bananas, hasn’t taken home a championship since The Challenge Season 35 (Total Madness), and after an early exit from Vets & New Threats (and a short stint on The Traitors), he’s looking to defy the odds, end his slump, and bring home an illustrious eighth victory.

Victoria “Tori” Deal

Despite making it to the Final on The Challenge Season 40 (The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras), Tori took fourth, and left empty-handed, but The Challenge Season 38 (Ride or Dies) Champ has put in the work during her time away and shows up ready to take home the whole bag.

Cara Maria Sorbello

Two-time Challenge Champ Cara Maria returns after stepping away from the game last season to be with her mother, in hopes of adding a historic third Championship to her resume.

Brad Fiorenza

OG vet Brad’s only Challenge Championship comes from the original Cutthroat, and now he’s looking to leverage that experience and lead his team to victory, again.

Chris Underwood

Winner of both Survivor: Edge of Extinction and The Challenge: USA 2, Chris anticipates continuing his undefeated winning streak, but this time, with fewer elimination appearances.

Returning Challenge veterans

Cory Wharton

Known for being one of the best to never win, a girl dad and Teen Mom cast member, Cory Wharton returns for his 12th season, striving to finally add Challenge Champion to his resume.

Nelson Thomas

After a devastating car accident that changed the trajectory of his life, Nelson makes his long-awaited return to The Challenge, ready to prove he is still a fierce competitor, hoping for his first win, and, more importantly, hoping to inspire other amputees out there.

Michele Fitzgerald

Michele was so close to achieving what few Survivor alums have done: win a Challenge Championship. But the dream died after she dropped from first to third due to karma points on Battle of the Eras. This season she refuses to let the same thing happen twice and leave her fate up to others.

Nurys Mateo

Runner-up on The Challenge Season 39 (Battle for a New Champion), Nurys looks to bring a different energy into this season. Now that she is single, she can focus on playing the game, not her relationship drama, plus she has her Ride or Dies bestie Nelson to have her back.

Cassidy Clark

The runner-up of Survivor 43 saw The Elimination Arena four times on The Challenge USA 2, losing out on the chance to make it all the way just before the Final. Cassidy has put that loss in the rearview and is laser-focused on a title win this time around.

Adrienne Naylor

Adrienne was sent into four eliminations on Vets & New Threats, escaping them all victorious, but had to bow out in the middle of the Final early, taking fourth place. This season, there’s no quit in her – and her drive to win is stronger than ever.

Sydney Segal

Survivor alum Sydney made her Challenge debut on Vets & New Threats, narrowly missing out on victory in the home stretch of the Final. The brash runner-up and Rookie of the Year has no problem reminding everyone she is the best – period.

Cedric Hodges

Big Brother alum Cedric had a breakout freshman season; evading almost every elimination until the Final, where he took home the bronze. This time, Cedric expects a perfect run all the way to a Challenge championship.

Justin Hinsley

After proving everyone wrong in the first elimination of Vets & New Threats, but falling just short before the Final, Justin’s coming in hot for his sophomore season with his eyes on the prize… and a bit of revenge.

Leonardo “Leo” Dionicio

Leo caused a ruckus in the house on Vets & New Threats with his cunning strategy and expects to use that same tactic, along with his Love Island charm, to add champ to his name.

Will Gagnon

Will proved to everyone he’s one to watch out for with his brute strength and emotional outbursts on Vets & New Threats, but the stake-a-claim twist tanked his almost near-perfect run, something he plans to erase from the records and replace with a Challenge championship.

Isabella “Izzy” Fairthorne

The Too Hot to Handle alum quickly found love and elimination on her debut in Vets & New Threats. She returns to The Challenge house hungry for a win, but her plate may, once again, be too full of boys and drama.

Rookie Challengers

Josh Goldstein

Love Island alum Josh is excited to get his hands dirty on his freshman season, and prove he’s more than just a pretty face and that his leadership skills make him a serious competitor … and, still, a great catch.

Anna Leigh Wilson

Known for being the uber-competitive half of the daughter/dad duo on The Amazing Race 35, Anna Leigh comes in solo for her freshman season and anticipates using her Challenge knowledge to dominate the game.

Alexis “Lete” Lete

A former WWE NXT performer and Miss Indiana USA 2020, Lete makes her Challenge debut and hopes to change her title of Runner-Up on Deal or No Deal Island to Challenge Champion.

Deb Chubb

A fan favorite from Love Island USA Season 4, Deb was beloved for her humor, authenticity, and infectious personality, and plans to use those traits to lull her competition into underestimating her abilities all the way to a win.

Keanu Soto

Keanu had his back up against the wall on Big Brother 27, narrowly missing out on a victory but, with strategy and athleticism, won the hearts of America with a personality as big as his biceps. He is looking to channel what he learned about his social game into a successful Challenge run.

Reilly Smedley

After winning the first Head of Household on Big Brother 25, Reilly’s seat at the top was quickly toppled, getting her sent packing second from the house. She’s hoping her first time in the Challenge house will be much longer and more successful.

Watch the official trailer

You can watch the official trailer for Season 42 of The Challenge right here. The clip offers a taste of the season’s Thailand location, its team format, and the physical challenges that await these teams.

With new Challengers, new challenges, and a beautiful new location to explore, there’s never been a better reason to get excited for a new season of The Challenge. Start watching Season 42 of The Challenge now on Paramount+ with a subscription.