Who Is Australian Survivor’s New Host, David Genat? Everything We Know

The Tribe has spoken: Jonathan LaPaglia will not be returning as the Australian Survivor host in 2026. The network has confirmed he will be replaced by "Golden God" David Genat, a former Australian Survivor winner who has played the game three times. Most recently, Genat was seen on Survivor: Australia v The World, where he was blindsided and sent home as the first Australian boot. "I love Australian Survivor. It truly is the greatest game on earth so getting to come back as host after playing three times is such an honour," Genat told Channel 10.

So why was Genat tapped to replace LaPaglia, how many reality TV shows has he won, and what do we know about his first season as Australian Survivor host?

New Australian Survivor host David Genat is no stranger to the game. He first appeared on Australian Survivor: Champions v Contenders back in 2019, before winning Australian Survivor: All Stars in 2020. In 2025, he competed against Parvati Shallow on Deal or No Deal Island and won approximately $9.2 million — the largest game show prize in US history. He returned to Australian Survivor one last time as part of the Aussie Tribe on Survivor: Australia v The World, but had his torch snuffed in Episode 2 due to his perception as a "big threat".

Channel 10 announced that David Genat is currently in Samoa filming the new season of Australian Survivor. "10 is thrilled to confirm the 'Golden God' — David Genat — will be at the helm, commentating every challenge and Tribal Council as castaways battle it out for the title of Sole Survivor in Australian Survivor: Redemption," the network said. "David is ready to snuff the torches, deliver the iconic one-liners, and crown the next Sole Survivor."

David Genat will be snuffing torches on Australian Survivor: Redemption, but he told Channel 10 the new series isn't about him. "It's about the incredible players who put everything on the line to outwit, outplay and outlast," Genat said. "I am pumped for the fans to meet the new crop of Survivors next season."

Daniel Monaghan, SVP Content and Programming at Paramount Australia, said David Genat was an obvious choice to take over from Jonathan LaPaglia as Australian Survivor host. "There was simply no better person to pass the baton to — David's track record, not just on Survivor but across reality TV worldwide, is unrivalled, and there's no one with more real-time experience and game knowledge to help steer this epic season," he said in a statement. "Survivor has always been about the players who pour their heart and soul into every moment, and this new batch of castaways certainly have their work cut out for them, as we introduce our thrilling new theme: Redemption — giving everyday contestants a chance to rewrite their story for a shot at greatness."

Watching the new seasons of Australian Survivor without Jonathan LaPaglia is now going to be bittersweet, after all, he has been hosting the show for a decade. The much-loved TV personality will be returning to ask scathing questions at Tribal for one last season, as Survivor: Australia V World has already been filmed. LaPaglia shared an emotional post on Instagram revealing he was "blindsided" by Channel 10's decision to replace him, and claimed the decision was made due to low ratings.

"Australian Survivor has seen some of the most epic blindsides over the last 10 years, but this one might just be the craziest of them all... because it happened to me. I received a call from the network thanking me for all my hard work and dedication to the show but for next season they are 'going in a different direction'. Ratings had dipped a bit recently and they wanted to do something drastic to shake things up. So for the first time ever this is not a tribe swap, but a host swap," he said.

"I wish I could say, 'Before we go to vote, tonight is a little different... no one's going home'. But I can't. None of that non-elim bulls**t tonight! Someone is going home. And with no idol in my back pocket, that someone is me."

He told fans not to worry, because Survivor: Australia V World is the "best season ever", with popular Australian players like Shonee Bowtell and Kirby Bentley facing off against Survivor US legends Parvati Shallow and Cirie Fields. "It has been one of the greatest adventures of my career to helm Australian Survivor, so it is without a doubt the hardest challenge of all to snuff my own torch," he said. "PS. Whoever said a blindside is the most humane way to put someone down is an idiot. It hurts like a bitch!"

After news of LaPaglia's sacking broke, Channel 10 confirmed they will be announcing the new Australian Survivor host this year, and thanked Jonathan LaPaglia for all his work on the previous series. "JLP has brought a unique blend of authority, intelligence and empathy to his role as host of Australian Survivor over the last 10 years. Acting as a referee and managing the intense pressure of the game while also acknowledging the human drama unfolding, JLP has been a compelling and memorable figure in the world of Survivor," a Channel 10 spokesperson said in an online statement.

After how dramatic Survivor: Australia v The World has been so far, all eyes will be on Genat in 2026 as he tries to fill LaPaglia's big shoes.