Survivor 53

CBS is currently accepting applications for Survivor Season 53, which will film in Fiji from mid-April through mid-May 2027. The franchise has run continuously since 2000 and is one of the longest-running competition series in American TV history.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years old at the time of application
• Valid US passport (with at least 6 months of validity past the filming window)
• Able to commit to ~26 days of continuous filming in Fiji
• Pass a comprehensive background and psychological evaluation
• No serious felony convictions
• Not currently affiliated with a competing reality TV production

What CBS is looking for

Per the official casting site, the production is looking for “Super Fans, First Timers, and everyone in between.” In practice this means: people who can articulate a gameplay strategy, people who would create natural alliances or conflicts with other castaways, and people who can perform under significant physical and psychological stress.

The franchise has cast 700+ players across 50+ seasons. Casting receives roughly 200,000 applications per cycle.

How to apply

The full application is at cbssurvivorcasting.com, including a written submission and a short video. The video matters more than the writing. The casting team has said publicly that they decide most cuts in the first 30 seconds of the audition tape.

Tips

The strongest Survivor audition tapes do three things in under three minutes: state what kind of player you’d be, give one specific example of strategic thinking you’ve actually applied somewhere in your real life, and demonstrate that you can be on camera without becoming a different person. The third one is the hardest. Practice in front of friends first; they’ll tell you when you sound like you’re auditioning.