Warning: This review contains spoilers from Episode 1 of The Traitors Australia 2026.
After almost a year of waiting, The Traitors Australia is finally back.
Production wrapped almost a year ago, the entire cast leaked online months before Network 10 officially confirmed it, and the first teaser arrived what feels like an eternity ago.
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Now, with the first episode streaming ahead of Tuesday night’s television premiere, audiences can finally see whether the franchise’s long-awaited return was worth it.
First impressions? Surprisingly, yes.
Let’s get the obvious joke out of the way first.
If you’ve spent any time on social media over the past 24 hours or even last few months, you’ve probably already seen someone asking, “Who are these celebrities?”
The answer, of course, is that this isn’t actually being marketed as a celebrity edition.
The players taking part in the new season of The Traitors Australia (image – 10)
Instead, 10 has assembled a mix of reality TV alumni, media personalities and familiar faces from across the wider entertainment industry.
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Some names are instantly recognisable, others less so, but The Traitors has always been at its best when the gameplay, rather than the celebrity, takes centre stage.
More importantly, it’s a cast that appears willing to play.
And after just one episode, that’s arguably the most encouraging sign of all.
The timing also feels right.
Since The Traitors Australia last aired, interest in the format has exploded. The UK version has become one of the biggest reality hits anywhere in the world, the US edition continues to generate headlines, and the format continues to expand into new territories while attracting new audiences.
For 10, bringing the franchise back now makes a lot more sense than it perhaps did previously. The appetite is there, audiences understand the game better than ever, and with the network searching for its next breakout entertainment success, this feels like one worth betting on.
Whether viewers show up remains to be seen, but the opportunity certainly exists.
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Perhaps the biggest improvement comes before anyone has even entered the castle.
Gretel Killeen is an inspired choice as host.
Rather than trying to imitate Claudia Winkleman or Alan Cumming, Killeen brings her own energy to the role. She’s warm when she needs to be, quietly mischievous throughout, and delivers every bit as much camp, albeit in a style that’s unmistakably her own.
After one episode, it’s difficult to imagine anyone else hosting this version.
The 22-player cast also strikes a nice balance. Alongside personalities including former Australian Idol judge Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson, The Real Housewives of Sydney‘s Krissy Marsh, The Bachelor alum Keira Maguire and musician Rob Farnham are plenty of reality TV veterans who already understand the mechanics of these shows.
They might not all be household names, but after one episode, they look like the kind of contestants who’ll happily make big moves when the opportunity arises.
Visually, the series has also taken a noticeable step forward.
Filmed in New Zealand, the series uses the same location as The Traitors NZ, which filmed its latest season back-to-back with Australia’s third outing and is already casting again, which is encouraging.
The cinematography is richer, the wider establishing shots give the series more scale, and everything simply feels more premium than earlier Australian seasons.
That said, the production doesn’t completely sell the illusion.
The series still leans heavily into pretending the castle is somewhere it isn’t, and while that’s hardly unique to Australia, being a little more transparent about the New Zealand location wouldn’t hurt.
Some of the interior spaces also feel a little off.
The Round Table room lacks the warmth and intimacy that should make those banishments feel genuinely uncomfortable, while the Turret comes across as more television set than secret lair. Both spaces look a little cheap, particularly in the wider shots where it becomes obvious they’re purpose-built sets rather than part of the castle itself.
Neither issue is a dealbreaker, but they’re noticeable.
Episode one wastes little time getting the game moving.
Rather than easing viewers back in, producers introduce a major twist almost immediately.
After the group votes for the person they believe to be the most virtuous, Olympic legend Shane Gould is handed the responsibility of distributing room keys. One key is missing, forcing her into an impossible choice: eliminate herself from the game or send somebody else home before the first night has even begun.
Her decision to sacrifice Cam Merchant shocks both the players and viewers, immediately raising the stakes.
Whether that’s truly the last we’ve seen of him remains an interesting question.
The Traitors themselves also feel like a strong selection.
Two-time Australian Survivor player Kirby Bentley, MasterChef Australia contestant Alvin Quah and The Bachelor alum Alex Nation each bring very different strengths to the game and, rather amusingly, all happen to have ties to previous 10 reality franchises.
The Faithfuls, meanwhile, aren’t wasting any time either.
Rhys Nicholson quickly becomes suspicious of Kirby, while Kween Kong is convinced she heard Kirby being tapped on the shoulder during the Traitors selection, sharing their theory with other contestants almost immediately.
If that suspicion gains momentum, one of the Traitors could find themselves under pressure far sooner than expected.
Not everything is perfect.
It’s 2026, yet 10’s closed captions still sit directly over the lower-third graphics throughout the episode, obscuring not only contestants’ names but also the useful context about who they are and where viewers might recognise them from.
It’s also a little bizarre to be served multiple promos for The Traitors Australia while watching the early streaming release, including ads encouraging viewers to stream the very episode that’s already playing.
They’re small frustrations, but noticeable ones.
Ultimately though, after just one episode, The Traitors Australia feels more confident than ever before.
The casting is stronger, the visuals have improved dramatically, Gretel Killeen immediately makes the role her own, and the opening twist ensures the season gets off to a memorable start.
No, it probably isn’t going to dethrone the UK version, and it doesn’t need to.
What it does need to do is establish its own identity and give Australian audiences a compelling reason to tune in each week.
Based on the opening episode, it finally looks capable of doing exactly that.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
The Traitors Australia premieres Tuesday, August 4 at 7.30pm on 10, with new episodes continuing Tuesday & Wednesday nights. Episode one is available now on 10 streaming.
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