| Survivor: Winners at War | |
|---|---|
| Season 40 | |
 Region 1 DVD cover | |
| Presented by | Jeff Probst |
| No. of days | 39 |
| No. of castaways | 20 |
| Winner | Tony Vlachos |
| Runner-up | Natalie Anderson |
| Location | Mamanuca Islands, Fiji |
| No. of episodes | 14 |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Original release | February 12 – May 13, 2020 |
| Additional information | |
| Filming dates | May 22 – June 29, 2019[1] |
| Season chronology | |
Survivor: Winners at War is the 40th season of the American competitive reality television series Survivor. This season, filmed in May and June 2019, is the eighth consecutive season to be filmed in Fiji. Celebrating the show's twentieth anniversary milestone, the season featured twenty returning winners from past Survivor seasons competing for a US$2 million prize.[2] It was won by Tony Vlachos by a 12–4–0 vote over Natalie Anderson and Michele Fitzgerald, becoming the second two-time winner in Survivor. The season aired on CBS in the United States from February 12, 2020, to May 13, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the usual live finale for the winner reveal was replaced by a live teleconference between host Jeff Probst, situated in his garage, and the finalists in their respective homes.
This season is the thirteenth season to feature returning players, and the fifth season to feature only returning players. In addition, the season brought back the Edge of Extinction twist first introduced in the show's thirty-eighth season, where voted-out players could opt to stay for a chance to return into the game. The season introduced fire tokens, a form of currency that could be used by remaining players in the game to buy rewards or advantages. This was also the most recent season to be played over 39 days.
The season was preceded by a retrospective special titled Survivor at 40: Greatest Moments and Players on February 5, 2020, which featured interviews with past players, series highlights and first few minutes of the premiere episode.[3] Winners at War received mixed reviews from critics and fans; commentators praised the season's cast, strategy and memorable moments, but criticized the Edge of Extinction and the editing. The new Fire Tokens twist also received mixed reviews.
- ^ "Survivor 40 calendar". The True Dork Times. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 11, 2019). "CBS Sets Winter Schedule: 'Criminal Minds' Returns To Original Slot For Final Season, 'NCIS: New Orleans' Moves To Sunday". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
- ^ Turchiano, Danielle (January 12, 2020). "CBS Sets 'Survivor' Retrospective Special Ahead of 40th Season Premiere". Variety. Retrieved January 18, 2020.