'The Challenge' season 42 'Cutthroat' premieres on Paramount+
The Challenge season 42, titled The Challenge: Cutthroat, premieres August 5, 2026 exclusively on Paramount+ — marking the franchise's first streaming-only season after nearly three decades on MTV. Twenty-four competitors will vie for a $500,000 prize in Thailand across three teams, with weekly episodes debuting at 12 a.m. PT. Paramount+ has released the trailer and full cast list.
Key Takeaways
- August 5 premiere: The Challenge: Cutthroat debuts exclusively on Paramount+ with weekly episodes at 12 a.m. PT / 3 a.m. ET.
- MTV exit: Season 42 marks the first time the flagship series streams exclusively; it has aired on MTV since 1998.
- 24-player cast: Johnny Bananas, CT Tamburello, Tori Deal, Cara Maria Sorbello, and 20 others compete for $500,000 in Thailand.
- Team twist: Three teams must finish together, but the captain decides whether to split the prize or keep it all.
- Returning theme: "Cutthroat" revives the Season 20 (2010) title that spawned the iconic Johnny Bananas backpack moment.
Why Is The Challenge Leaving MTV for Season 42?
After 28 years on MTV, the reality competition franchise is moving its flagship show to streaming. Variety reports that while The Challenge: All Stars already lived on Paramount+, this is the first time the main series will be exclusively streamed. The show is now billed as a Paramount+ original.
The shift follows years of spinoffs landing elsewhere — The Challenge USA on CBS and All Stars on Paramount+ — but season 42 represents the biggest platform change in franchise history. For more streaming moves like this, see our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.
Who Is on The Challenge Season 42 Cast?
Deadline confirms 24 competitors split between veterans and newcomers. Returning fan favorites include seven-time winner Johnny Bananas, five-time champ CT Tamburello, eight-time competitor Tori Deal, two-time champ Cara Maria Sorbello, original Cutthroat champion Brad Fiorenza, and 11-time competitor Cory Wharton.
Newer faces include Survivor winner Chris Underwood, Big Brother 27 favorite Josh Goldstein, Love Island USA vets Deb Chubb and Izzy Fairthorne, and Vets & New Threats alumni such as Sydney Segal, Reilly Smedley, and Cedric Hodges. The full roster also features Michele Fitzgerald, Nelson Thomas, Nurys Mateo, Keanu Soto, Leo Dionicio, Justin Hinsley, Will Gagnon, Cassidy Clark, Anna Leigh Wilson, Alexis Lete, and Adrienne Naylor. T.J. Lavin returns as host.
How Does The Challenge: Cutthroat Work?
Filmed in Thailand, the season divides 24 players into three teams racing for $500,000. According to Paramount+, the only way to claim a share is to cross the finish line together — but captains hold final power over how winnings are divided, including the option to take everything.
Deadline notes that nominated captains must balance dominance with loyalty or risk losing power, while solo players must prove they can cooperate or forfeit their shot. The format echoes Season 20's Cutthroat theme from 2010, making Bananas and CT's return especially fitting.
When Can You Watch The Challenge Season 42?
The Challenge: Cutthroat premieres August 5, 2026 on Paramount+. New episodes release weekly at 12 a.m. PT / 3 a.m. ET, maintaining the familiar rollout rhythm despite the platform switch. Paramount+ has published the official trailer alongside cast photos.
The series is produced by Bunim/Murray Productions, with Julie Pizzi, Justin Booth, and Jacob Lane serving as executive producers. For official details, see the Variety announcement.