Koh-Lanta: Relics of Destiny returns to TF1 on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 9:10 PM with a new season set to shake up fans of the adventure show. This 28th season, filmed in the Philippines, features 20 new contestants ready to face off in completely revamped conditions. Following Gaëlle’s victory in La Revanche des 4 Terres in June 2025, the production is promising a bold new approach with mechanics that could dramatically change the game at each tribal council.
Let's be honest, fans have been craving some fresh changes for a few seasons now. This time around, the team at Adventure Line Productions is taking things seriously. Producer Julien Magne revealed during a press conference that the goal isn't to completely reinvent Koh-Lanta, but rather to refresh it with subtle updates. The biggest new feature this season is a novel location called The Lair of Destiny. Essentially, after each tribal council, the contestant voted out isn't necessarily leaving the game right away. Instead, they go to this mysterious lair, where eight pottery vessels await. It's up to them to choose which one to break open and discover what's inside the relic.
And that's where things start to get exciting. Several scenarios could play out: if the pot is empty, it’s game over—the contestant is eliminated. But it could also contain a reward necklace to give to another adventurer, a team switch order, or, most tantalizing of all, a duel. In this last scenario, the contestant can challenge another player, with one of them ultimately going home for good. Basically, even if you're in a strong position within your alliance, no one is truly safe. As Denis Brogniart sums it up in the season teaser: “Usually on Koh-Lanta, the Council is where everything ends. But tonight, it’s where everything begins.”
On the challenge front, the production has pulled out all the stops. We're promised around ten brand-new tests, double the number from previous seasons. Among the fresh additions is a comfort challenge featuring head-to-head duels between teams, where each victory earns food or a camp advantage — but only the team with the most wins takes home the prize. Another test requires balance and teamwork, with participants transporting balls across a wobbly platform above the sea. Classic challenges have also been reworked, like the famous "Out of Breath" task, which this year will be played as a team event rather than individually. All signs point to a season packed with spectacular moments.
For this edition, 20 contestants aged between 21 and 51 years, equal numbers of women and men, will vie to succeed Gaëlle. Denis Brogniart highlighted a few profiles worth watching closely. Among the women, there's Clarisse, 22, a physiotherapy student raised by two mothers; Cindy, 32, a former soldier turned security expert; and Nora, a 51-year-old management controller embarking on a personal challenge. Other notable contenders include Lola, the show's youngest at 21; Clémence, 25, a beverage production supervisor; Jade, a 33-year-old Swiss participant; Cynthia, 37, who owns a catering business; Caroline, 37, a lifeguard; Françoise, a 40-year-old Belgian candidate; and Karine, a 50-year-old real estate negotiator.
On the men's side, the host highlighted Daniel, a 50-year-old wakeboarding instructor from Gironde; Antonin, a postal worker for whom the game is "the adventure of a lifetime"; and Hugo, a young oceanographic engineer. Unlike last season, which featured four teams, this time the contestants will be divided into two teams, offering a clearer format but one that remains unpredictable thanks to the presence of the relics.
Note that the second part of the evening will no longer be part of the programming this year. TF1 has confirmed that the post-show Koh-Lanta segment will not return in 2026. Each episode will run for about 2 hours and 10 minutes, split into two parts, and will air every Tuesday at 9:10 PM on TF1. According to Puremedias, Denis Brogniart highlighted that this year’s contestants were "super motivated right from the start." In short, this season of Relics of Destiny promises to be one of the most unpredictable in the show's history. We can’t wait to see how contestants will handle this added pressure and whether alliances will hold up against the new mechanics. Mark your calendars for March 3, 2026 to find out!
