Survivor 26

***Survivor 26*** is the twenty-sixth season of the PM Survivor Series. This season revived the format of *Survivor 21*, in which pairs of loved ones were split to create the initial tribes. However, this season departed from the precedent set by *Blood vs. Water* in one respect, as it featured Returning Players with their loved ones.

While the season became predictable during the early stages of the game, the game began to see allies turn against each other as loved ones join forces at the Tribe Switch. The true strategists were revealed at the merge when Maria Castillo and Manu Bravo worked closely together with their loved ones to get themselves farther in the game. Almost convinced by the dark horse, Jessie Bennett, to work together to make it to the Final Three as all new-players, she was blindsided by Manu in protection of his girlfriend, Mandy Ramos, at the final four. At the Final Tribal Council, Manu's gameplay conflicted multiple jurors for his control over the game, but deterred some jurors by his move to remove Jessie from the jury. Maria was praised for playing a survivalist game while having the biggest influence over the game. In the end, Maria became the Sole Survivor against Manu and Mandy in a 4-3-1 vote.

## Production

The 26th season was filmed in the same production cycle as Survivor 25. This season would mark the twentieth year of the PM Timeline.

## Twists/Changes

* **Returning Players:** Ten returning players will return to play the game with their loved ones.
* **Blood vs. Water:** Players will be paired with a competing family member or loved one on the cast. Every castaway will be playing individually, so they will remain in the game even if their family member is voted out. This season, the pairs will be comprised of returning players and their loved ones, where the returnees would be put on one tribe, while all of their loved ones would be put on another.
* **Exile Island:** Similar to *Guatemala*, Exile Island would have its tribal Reward Challenges only be one-on-one duels between loved ones. The winner of each duel wins reward for his/her tribe while the losing castaway would be sent to Exile Island, along with one of the winner's tribe mates, where they will choose between two urns: one with a clue to the Hidden Immunity Idol buried on his/her camp, and the other with nothing.
	+ **Extra Vote:** Introduced during the merge visits to Exile Island, an Extra Vote advantage was hidden. A blank parchment was provided that allowed them to vote twice at a future Tribal Council. The advantage can only be used until the final six.
* **Juror Removal:** A castaway would get the power to eliminate a juror of their choice.

## Trivia

* *Survivor 26* is the first season to have an entire tribe of returning players and not have a representative from the season before it.
* *Survivor 26* is the first season to feature a 9-1 vote during the pre-merge.
* *Survivor 26* is the first season since *Guatemala* to not have any combined Reward and Immunity Challenges.
	+ This is also the first season since Guatemala to feature Exile Island, after a hiatus of seven seasons.
* All three of the finalists:
	+ Names start with the letter M.
	+ Received 5 votes against.
	+ Won 1 individual challenge.
* This is the first season since *Survivor: Polynesia* to have all finalists to have the same amount of votes against.