Mary Hartless
Senior Entertainment Correspondent
MEET THE CAST OF THE NEW SEASON OF ‘THE TRAITORS’
Alan Cumming’s Castle Is Welcoming 24 New Guests — Including Reality Legends, Hollywood Stars and Some Very Familiar Toons
DIANE NGUYENCulture & Features Correspondent · September 26, 2026
The castle doors are opening once again.
Twenty-four celebrities will head to the Scottish Highlands for a new season of The Traitors, where alliances will form, suspicions will spread and nobody will know exactly whom they can trust.
This year’s cast brings together reality-competition veterans, actors, comedians, athletes, Bravo personalities, digital creators, Toons and a few truly unexpected wildcards.
Meet the cast.
The Cast
- Alyssa Edwards (RuPaul’s Drag Race)
- Benjamin “Coach” Wade (Survivor)
- Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live)
- Carmen Sandiego (Carmen Sandiego)
- Elmer Fudd (Looney Tunes | Dancing With the Stars)
- Francesca Scorsese (Digital Creator)
- The Joker (Batman: The Animated Series)
- Jordan Chiles (Olympic Gymnast)
- Kelley Wentworth (Survivor)
- LeVar Burton (Reading Rainbow | Star Trek: The Next Generation)
- Lisa Vanderpump (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills | Vanderpump Rules)
- Luann de Lesseps (The Real Housewives of New York City)
- Macaulay Culkin (Home Alone)
- Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)
- Nicole Byer (Nailed It!)
- Olive Oyl (Popeye)
- Paige DeSorbo (Summer House)
- Pepé Le Pew (Looney Tunes)
- Pinocchio (Pinocchio)
- Tiffany “New York” Pollard (Flavor of Love | I Love New York | House of Villains)
- Tony Hawk (Professional Skateboarder)
- Vanessa Rousso (Big Brother)
- Velma Dinkley (Scooby-Doo | The Evidence Room)
- Wayne Brady (Whose Line Is It Anyway? | Let’s Make a Deal)
Official Portraits
ALYSSA EDWARDS (RuPaul’s Drag Race)
The Texas-born performer became a fan favorite through RuPaul’s Drag Race and has since built a career around dance, performance and an unmistakably larger-than-life personality. Alyssa knows how to command a room — and in the castle, knowing when not to may prove just as useful.
Traitor or Faithful?
Traitor.
What’s your approach to the game?
Give me the cape, give me the drama. If I can keep everybody entertained, maybe they won’t look too closely at me.
BENJAMIN “COACH” WADE (Survivor)
The legendary Survivor competitor returns to reality competition with his familiar philosophy of honor, loyalty and warrior spirit. After four trips to the island, the self-proclaimed Dragon Slayer has plenty of experience navigating alliances — though the Scottish Highlands may test his code in entirely new ways.
Traitor or Faithful?
Faithful.
What’s your approach to the game?
I want to follow the warrior’s path: loyalty, observation and honor. I’ll read the energy in the room and look for the people whose words don’t match their spirit.
BOWEN YANG (Saturday Night Live)
The Emmy-nominated comedian and Saturday Night Live performer has made a career out of sharp observations and committing completely to a bit. Whether that ability to read a room translates to a castle full of deception remains to be seen.
Traitor or Faithful?
Faithful.
What’s your approach to the game?
I would be terrible at maintaining the same lie for days. I’d rather watch for the person who suddenly seems to be performing a version of themselves.
CARMEN SANDIEGO (Carmen Sandiego)
The internationally notorious master thief has spent years staying one step ahead of detectives around the world. Carmen’s talent for disappearing, misdirection and reading an opponent makes her an intriguing addition to a game where everyone is searching for someone hiding in plain sight.
Traitor or Faithful?
Traitor.
What’s your approach to the game?
Misdirection, aliases and staying one step ahead are professional skills. The trick is making everyone feel like they’re looking in the right place when they aren’t.
ELMER FUDD (Looney Tunes | Dancing With the Stars)
The longtime Looney Tunes star arrives fresh off an unexpectedly successful run on Dancing With the Stars, where he finished fourth and introduced audiences to a softer side of the famously determined hunter. After a career spent pursuing one particularly elusive rabbit, Elmer may finally have found a competition suited to patience.
Traitor or Faithful?
Faithful.
What’s your approach to the game?
After years of chasing the wrong suspect, I’m determined to finally identify the right one. Patience first; accusations second.
FRANCESCA SCORSESE (Digital Creator)
The filmmaker and digital creator has developed a following through short-form comedy and an irreverent online presence — sometimes with a little help from her Oscar-winning father, Martin Scorsese. Now Francesca will have to navigate a very different kind of ensemble cast.
Traitor or Faithful?
Traitor.
What’s your approach to the game?
Let the bigger personalities take up the oxygen. I’d rather listen, stay underestimated and figure out exactly where everyone thinks the danger is.
THE JOKER (Batman: The Animated Series)
Gotham’s most notorious comedian has built a career around elaborate performances, unpredictable appearances and making everyone around him deeply uncomfortable. The Joker insists he is simply looking forward to “a nice relaxing vacation in Scotland.”
Nobody appears particularly reassured.
Nobody appears particularly reassured.
Traitor or Faithful?
Traitor.
What’s your approach to the game?
Where’s the joke in being Faithful? My strategy is chaos — extremely organized chaos, obviously.
JORDAN CHILES (Olympic Gymnast)
The decorated Olympic gymnast knows what it takes to perform under extraordinary pressure. Jordan brings athleticism, discipline and years of experience relying on teammates — qualities that could be valuable in a castle where trust is considerably harder to earn.
Traitor or Faithful?
Faithful.
What’s your approach to the game?
I know how to work under pressure and trust a team. I’ll pay attention to the moment someone stops acting like a teammate and starts acting like they have a different goal.
KELLEY WENTWORTH (Survivor)
The three-time Survivor player is known for bold strategic play, memorable immunity-idol finds and an ability to survive when the numbers appear stacked against her. Kelley enters the castle with a reputation that the other contestants are unlikely to ignore.
Traitor or Faithful?
Traitor.
What’s your approach to the game?
If people already know you as strategic, you’re going to get watched anyway. I’d rather have some control over where the game is moving.
LEVAR BURTON (Reading Rainbow | Star Trek: The Next Generation)
The beloved actor and television host has spent decades encouraging audiences to read, learn and remain curious. That naturally reassuring presence may be useful in the castle — though a game built around suspicion has a way of making even the most trusted faces look questionable.
Traitor or Faithful?
Faithful.
What’s your approach to the game?
Listen carefully, ask good questions and make decisions from evidence instead of the loudest theory in the room.
LISA VANDERPUMP (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills | Vanderpump Rules)
The restaurateur and longtime reality-TV fixture knows her way around complicated social circles. Elegant, observant and rarely short on opinions, Lisa arrives with decades of experience managing personalities — both in her restaurants and on television.
Traitor or Faithful?
Traitor.
What’s your approach to the game?
Information is most useful before anyone realizes you have it. I’d listen far more than I speak and let other people volunteer what they think they know.
LUANN DE LESSEPS (The Real Housewives of New York City)
The former Countess turned cabaret performer has survived years of friendship fallouts, reunions and shifting alliances on The Real Housewives of New York City. Luann enters the castle confident, composed and already accustomed to rooms where everyone has an opinion about everyone else.
Traitor or Faithful?
Faithful.
What’s your approach to the game?
Stay composed, be social with everyone and never look desperate. People reveal a lot when they think you’re simply enjoying yourself.
MACAULAY CULKIN (Home Alone)
One of the most recognizable former child stars in Hollywood, Macaulay Culkin has spent much of his adult career embracing unexpected projects and an offbeat public persona. His arrival may be one of the season’s biggest surprises — which is probably exactly how he likes it.
Traitor or Faithful?
Traitor.
What’s your approach to the game?
Honestly, it sounds more fun. I’d try to seem unserious enough that nobody could tell when I was actually playing.
NEIL PATRICK HARRIS (How I Met Your Mother)
The actor, magician and veteran host has built a career around precision, performance and a fondness for elaborate presentation. Neil enters the castle with no shortage of charm — and enough experience with misdirection to make everyone else pay attention.
Traitor or Faithful?
Traitor.
What’s your approach to the game?
Misdirection is kind of the point. The best trick is convincing an audience they’ve already figured out how it works.
NICOLE BYER (Nailed It!)
The comedian and host is best known for turning chaos into comedy and saying exactly what she’s thinking. Nicole’s infectious personality could make her a social force in the castle, assuming her fellow players can keep up.
Traitor or Faithful?
Faithful.
What’s your approach to the game?
I do not think I could do nightly murders and keep a straight face at breakfast. I’d get people talking and listen for the moment somebody starts sounding rehearsed.
OLIVE OYL (Popeye)
The screen veteran has spent decades weathering romantic rivalries, maritime disasters and the occasional fistfight involving Popeye and Bluto. Olive may appear slight, but anyone familiar with her career knows she has survived far stranger situations than a Scottish castle.
Traitor or Faithful?
Faithful.
What’s your approach to the game?
I’ve spent a lifetime between very strong personalities. You learn quickly when someone is trying to push you somewhere you didn’t intend to go.
PAIGE DESORBO (Summer House)
The television personality and podcast host has made a career out of dissecting relationships, friendships and other people’s behavior with a dry sense of humor. Paige will now have the chance to put those observational skills to work around the Round Table.
Traitor or Faithful?
Faithful.
What’s your approach to the game?
Sit back, observe and let everybody else exhaust themselves. I can investigate from a bed.
PEPÉ LE PEW (Looney Tunes)
The former romantic leading man enters the competition amid a highly public effort to rebuild his reputation following the #MePew movement. After stepping away from Hollywood, Pepé has spoken openly about finding faith, accountability and second chances. The castle will offer him a very public test of all three.
Traitor or Faithful?
Faithful.
What’s your approach to the game?
I have done enough deceiving of myself. I would rather begin this chapter by proving I can be honest, observant and accountable.
PINOCCHIO (Pinocchio)
The former child star has spent his entire career associated with one unfortunate physical response to dishonesty. Now grown and determined to be taken seriously, Pinocchio insists that years of personal growth have made the old reputation unfair.
His fellow contestants may still find themselves watching his nose.
His fellow contestants may still find themselves watching his nose.
Traitor or Faithful?
Traitor.
What’s your approach to the game?
I want to prove I can lie without my nose giving me away. I realize that may be an ambitious opening statement for this particular game.
TIFFANY “NEW YORK” POLLARD (Flavor of Love | I Love New York | House of Villains)
Few reality stars have influenced the genre quite like Tiffany Pollard. From Flavor of Love and I Love New York to House of Villains, New York has built a career on unforgettable confessionals, fearless confrontation and an ability to instantly understand the dynamics of a room.
The Round Table may have met its match.
The Round Table may have met its match.
Traitor or Faithful?
Traitor.
What’s your approach to the game?
I want the power and I’m not going to pretend otherwise. People hear loud and assume distracted; meanwhile, I’m noticing everything.
TONY HAWK (Professional Skateboarder)
The skateboarding legend has spent decades taking calculated risks and making extremely difficult things look easy. Tony’s calm demeanor could make him a steadying presence in the castle — provided the castle ever gives anyone an opportunity to relax.
Traitor or Faithful?
Faithful.
What’s your approach to the game?
Stay calm, watch what happens and don’t make moves just to make moves. I’m comfortable waiting until there’s actually something worth acting on.
VANESSA ROUSSO (Big Brother)
The professional poker player and former Big Brother finalist has spent much of her career studying opponents, managing information and deciding when someone is bluffing. There may be no résumé in the castle more obviously suited to the game — which could be an advantage or a very large target.
Traitor or Faithful?
Traitor.
What’s your approach to the game?
More information is always valuable. I’d separate actual deception from ordinary nerves and pay attention to who changes their story when the pressure moves.
VELMA DINKLEY (Scooby-Doo | The Evidence Room)
The Mystery Inc. investigator has spent years exposing elaborate hoaxes, unmasking villains and noticing clues everyone else overlooked. She also co-hosts the hit true-crime podcast The Evidence Room with Batman, where she methodically reconstructs disputed cases while her co-host treats every recording like an active investigation.
A castle built around hidden conspirators would seem to play directly to Velma’s strengths — which is something the other contestants are unlikely to forget.
A castle built around hidden conspirators would seem to play directly to Velma’s strengths — which is something the other contestants are unlikely to forget.
Traitor or Faithful?
Faithful.
What’s your approach to the game?
Solving mysteries is literally what I do. I’ll follow the evidence, compare stories and remember that this time the culprit probably isn’t wearing a rubber monster mask.
WAYNE BRADY (Whose Line Is It Anyway? | Let’s Make a Deal)
The Emmy-winning performer has built his career on improvisation, quick thinking and adapting instantly to whatever is happening around him. Those skills have served him well onstage; the castle will determine how useful they are when nobody is sure who is telling the truth.
Traitor or Faithful?
Traitor.
What’s your approach to the game?
Improvisation is about accepting what you’re given and building on it instantly. If the story changes, I can change with it without letting the room see the adjustment.
What do I need to know about the season?
A nail-biting psychological adventure in which treachery and deceit are front and center, The Traitors drops the entertainment industry’s most competitive stars and personalities into the ultimate murder mystery. Throughout the season, players work together on exhilarating missions to build a prize fund worth up to $250,000. But hidden amongst the Faithful are the Traitors, whose goal is to eliminate the Faithful and claim the money for themselves. Under the cover of darkness, the Traitors murder the Faithful one by one in a treacherous spree, while the Faithful try to uncloak the Traitors and banish them from the game. If the Faithful banish all the Traitors, they share the money, but if a Traitor makes it to the end, they steal the pot.
“Ah dear me, what treachery awaits us this season?” Cumming asks in the first teaser for the upcoming season. “The fates whisper of betrayal, backstabbing, and the occasional dagger in the dark. Let us see whose murderous destinies are forever entwined in my castle walls. The cards never lie — people, on the other hand, constantly.”
How can I watch past seasons of The Traitors?
While the countdown for the season has begun, you can watch the whole series of The Traitors exclusively on Peacock and ZachPlex. Don’t miss out on the lying, deceiving, and backstabbing within the walls of the glamorous Scottish castle. And who can forget Alan Cumming’s delightful zingers and bold gingham outfits?
The Traitors is now a 15-time Emmy®-winning program. Its honors include Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program, three consecutive wins for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program for Cumming, and three consecutive wins for Outstanding Reality Competition Program.
