Yesterday, the internet was abuzz after the list of names rumored for The Traitors Season 4 was leaked online, but today Peacock has dropped the official cast announcement, and it’s even gayer—and more chaotic—than we imagined.
Set to film this summer and air in early 2026, the highly anticipated fourth season of the Emmy-winning reality competition series has pulled out all the stops, roping in an eclectic batch of potential Faithfuls and Traitors to enter the castle for another round of treachery, backstabbing, and highly meme-able moments.
Peacock shared the news on social media, posting the portraits of the 23 contestants along with a healthy amount of side-eye to the leakers, writing “Consider it official 😏.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Subscribe to our newsletter for a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
But, for our money, the best way to experience the cast reveal is in this short video teaser, featuring the legendary, tartan-clad host Alan Cumming dramatically reading off each of their names. Everything just sounds better in that Scottish brogue of his!
Watch it here, and then head down below for our breakdown of the LGBTQ+ contestants we’ll be rooting for, the season’s chaos agents to look out for, and all the rest.
Related*
The Traitors Season 4’s LGBTQ+ Contestants
Colton Underwood
A former football player, Underwood was a contestant on The Bachelorette in 2018 before returning as the titular Bachelor the following year. While his relationship from that show ended in controversy, he came out as gay in 2021, eager to right his wrongs and for a fresh start within the queer community—which was chronicled in his short-lived Netflix series Coming Out Colton. He married Democratic strategist Jordan C. Brown in 2023, and the two welcomed their first child last fall, meaning this daddy’s coming to the competition potty-trained!
Johnny Weir
The Traitors always needs a contestant who treats the walk to the roundtable like a runway, and we think Weir’s just the diva to bring the spectacle. The two-time Olympian, and three-time U.S. National champion figure skater thrilled the world with his flair on the ice, and has remained a staple of our screens ever since retiring from competing in ’13, serving as an official Olympics correspondent and frequent red carpet commentator, often alongside his friend Tara Lipinski who’s also competing this season. Very intriguing…
Kristen Kish
Baddie alert! Chef Kristin Kish is the sh*t and we can’t wait to see her knives out in the castle. The South Korea-born chef and host first competed on the Seattle-set tenth edition of Top Chef in 2012, winning it all after getting eliminated then slaying the season’s Last Chance Kitchen twist. This is a real competitor right here! She’s since appeared on shows like Iron Chef, Fast Foodies, and took over Top Chef hosting duties last year, earning a Reality TV Host Emmy nomination, which she lost to… Alan Cumming, of all people!
Monét X Change
Though Bob The Drag Queen made some great TV last season as a Traitor, she was sadly banished four episodes in. Can her Sibling Revelry sister carry the torch for the queens this time around? After competing on Drag Race Season 10, (co-)winning All Stars 4, and becoming a finalist on the all-winners All Stars 7, Monét is a true fan favorite, who’s a proven strategist. Considering she’s known for hilariously gaslighting her friends into believing complete lies, people are pegging her as an early threat to win the whole thing.
Yamil “Yam Yam” Arocho
But if there’s anyone who’s a threat to outwit, outplay, and outlast them all in The Traitors castle, it might just be Yam Yam, the winner of Survivor 44. The queer Puerto Rican salon owner surprising the world with his cunning gameplay, proving his ability to build key alliances (shout-out to the iconic Tika Three, alongside twunk Carson Garrett and thee Carolyn Wiger, who stole the show last season of The Traitors) and getting cutthroat when the time comes. Fans were disappointed he won’t be returning for Survivor‘s 50th season, but this is ever better!
Related*
The rest of The Traitors Season 4 cast
But wait, there’s more—so much more. We can’t say we’ll be excited to see all of the following names (looking at you, Michael Rappaport), but this upcoming season will have its fair share of pot-stirrers, fire-starters, and filler queens to keep things very, very interesting. Here’s who else is competing and what you might know them from:
- Candiace Dillard Bassett: This crowned queen of the 2013 Miss United States pageant was a staple of The Real Housewives Of Potomac for years.
- Caroline Stanbury: Another from the Housewives contingent, this businesswoman was a star of Bravo’s Ladies Of London before hopping franchises to Dubai.
- Donna Kelce: The beloved “mama” of football superstars Travis and Jason Kelce, we’d keep an eye out for her to fly under the radar this season!
- Dorinda Medley: She’s baaaaack! A RHONY legend, Medley returns after being the first booted last season because, let’s face it, Peacock knows they lost out on some TV gold.
- Eric Nam: This Atlanta-born singer-songwriter has become a bonafide K-pop superstar and a staple of South Korean television, hosting & appearing on multiple programs.
- Ian Terry: Big Brother players make big personalities on The Traitors, so watch out for Terry, the Season 14 winner, who has publicly spoken out about being on the autism spectrum.
- Rob Cesternino: As far as Survivor players go, you don’t get much more legendary than Cesternino, who dissects reality TV for a living on his popular Rob Has A Podcast show.
- Lisa Rinna: Soap star turned queen of reality TV, Rinna seems poised to have an unforgettable, highly quotable run on the show a la fellow Housewife Phaedra Parks.
- Mark Ballas: Long-time Dancing With The Stars pro Ballas has experience working with big personalities, having partnered with the likes of Kim Kardashian & Candace Cameron Bure.
- Maura Higgins: We’ll be honest, Love Island is out of our wheelhouse, but social media seems excited for Higgins to bring diva behavior to the competition.
- Michael Rapaport: No thank you!
- Natalie Anderson: Anderson previously competed on The Amazing Race and Survivor alongside her twin Nadiya, but will be going it solo in The Traitors castle!
- Porsha Williams: Hi Porsha! This Real Housewives Of Atlanta diva has given the world so many iconic moments—especially the song, “Legs, Hips, Body” with Kandi Buruss.
- Rob Rausch: Again, Love Island? Not really our jam. But this tatted & toned professional snake wrangler (yes, really) could be the himbo of the season.
- Ron Funches: One of the best stand-up comics working today, Funches is also known for his acting roles, like on Loot opposite faves Maya Rudolph, Joel Kim Booster & Michaela Jaé.
- Stephen Colletti: Once upon a time, he was the heartthrob of MTV’s Laguna Beach, which he parlayed into a temporary stint as a TRL VJ and a regular role on One Tree Hill.
- Tara Lipinski: An Olympic champion figure skater, Lipinski is good friends and a frequent co-host with Johnny Weird, which could help her in the competition… or be her downfall.
- Tiffany Mitchell: After being voted America’s Favorite Houseguest on Big Brother 23 in 2012, Mitchell appeared on the first two seasons of MTV’s The Challenge: USA.
The Traitors Season 4 is expected to premiere in early 2026. Previous seasons are now streaming exclusively on Peacock.
Related*
Sign up for the Queerty newsletter to stay on top of the hottest stories in LGBTQ+ entertainment, politics, and culture.
