Here are all the new contestants in The Traitors spring 2026 – the full list and the rumours
It's official now. The Traitors is back with a new season this spring, and I don’t know if you’ve had time to process it yet, but the contestant list that’s just been released is absolutely wild. The channel has really pulled out all the stops putting this group together – we’ve got heavyweight political names mixing with arena-selling artists and influencers who’ve built empires online. They’ll all gather at Häringe Castle just outside Stockholm, they’ll all be trying to outwit each other, and only one – or a select few – will be left standing when the dust settles.
I’ve been following The Traitors ever since the very first season in 2023, when Katia Mosally took home the win as a Traitor, and I can tell you this: this year’s lineup is one of the most unexpected I’ve ever seen. Dragomir Mrsic is back at the helm as usual, with that look that says "I know something you don’t know", and the prize pot grows with every episode. But the question is who can handle the pressure when things start heating up at the round table.
Why this spring’s edition of The Traitors is different
Filming is already wrapped, I know that from reliable sources, and word has it the atmosphere was anything but harmonious. One contestant is said to have cried as early as the first night. Another reportedly refused to eat in the same room as a certain rival. It’s exactly this kind of gossip that makes you even more eager for the premiere on 16 April.
What sets this season apart from previous ones is the mix of personalities. In past years, you could see clear clusters – either heavyweights from the sports world or a bunch of reality stars. Now they’ve blended generations, backgrounds and temperaments in a way that promises pure chaos. And the best part? Everyone is equally in the dark about who’s loyal and who’s plotting murders behind their backs.
The full list: Contestants in The Traitors spring 2026
Here are the confirmed names stepping into the game. Some have already been spotted on social media with cryptic posts from the castle setting, while others kept a low profile until the official press releases confirmed them.
- Mona Sahlin – former party leader and government minister. The question is whether her political poker face will hold up in an environment where everything hinges on trust.
- Miriam Bryant – the artist who’s gone platinum and packed out Scandinavium. She’s admitted herself that she’s completely obsessed with the show. "I’m a proper nerd about it," she said recently on a morning programme.
- Sebastian Tadros – the influencer and presenter who’s built a career on being loved. But will that be enough when you have to be cunning?
- Anna Anka – former Hollywood wife who always delivers quotes worth framing. Her straight-talking style will either win her allies – or burn bridges.
- Tilda Törnqvist – TV personality who’s made a name for herself in several reality formats. She knows how to play the game, but The Traitors is a whole other level of psychology.
- Jonna Lundell – one of Sweden’s most established influencers. She’s used to being in the spotlight, but here there’s no editing function.
And then there’s a name that even made me raise an eyebrow: Jan Salestrand, Lieutenant General and former head of His Majesty the King’s military staff. The man who was the King’s right-hand man will now have to navigate a game built on exactly what the military usually despises – betrayal and uncertainty. I can already picture him sitting down at breakfast with the same disciplined expression he wore when leading the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters. The question is whether the others will dare to vote out a man with that much gravitas.
Premiere, air time and what lies ahead
The first episode of The Traitors airs on Thursday 16 April on the channel and its streaming service. As usual, episodes will be released as the season rolls out, which typically means we’ll get to follow both murder nights and round tables every week. Häringe Castle once again serves as the evocative setting – a castle that feels like a dream by day but a trap by night.
According to sources from the production, this year’s prize pot is the biggest yet, which of course raises the stakes even higher. For the Faithful, it’s about survival; for the Traitors, it’s about manipulating without being exposed. And us viewers? We’ll be sitting at home on our sofas yelling at the screen when someone clearly lies right to the group’s face.
What’s being whispered behind the scenes
Off the record, there are whispers that several contestants accused each other of "planning everything in advance" during filming. Other rumours suggest that one of the artists – my money’s on Miriam Bryant – refused to film certain scenes because another contestant was "too manipulative". Exactly who that is, we’ll have to wait and see when the episodes air.
One thing’s for sure: with this mix of political experience, artistic integrity and sheer bloody-mindedness, this is a season that’ll go down in history. And if you think you already know who’s going to win – just wait until you see how it all ends. Because in The Traitors, no one is who they claim to be. Not even the King’s general.