Nix Adams won Celebrity Treasure Island 2026, beating comedian and actor Liv Parker and content creator Louis Davis in the final treasure hunt and taking $105,000 home for the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation. She is the first woman to find the treasure since the show was rebooted in 2019, and the first wahine Māori to win it. Below is everything about the 2026 season, plus every winner, host and filming location since the original Treasure Island first went to air in 1997.
Who won Celebrity Treasure Island 2026
The final went to air in late May 2026. Adams, a TikTok sketch creator, had started on team Kāhu and was named kaihōtu after Simon Barnett was eliminated. In the last challenge the three finalists raced around the island collecting symbol cards that pointed to the buried treasure, and Adams reached it first.
Her total of $105,000 was the $100,000 grand prize plus a $5,000 bonus from an earlier challenge. “It’s such a proud feeling to be representing women all over the country,” Adams told The Spinoff on finale day, adding that “we women can always pull through in the end.”
Who was in Celebrity Treasure Island 2026?
Sixteen celebrities played in 2026, from former All Black Frank Bunce and rugby star Portia Woodman-Wickliffe to Shortland Street actors Ben Barrington and Ria Vandervis and More FM broadcaster Simon Barnett. The full line-up, as announced by 1News on 13 April 2026, was:
| Castaway | Known for |
|---|---|
| Nix Adams | Content creator (winner) |
| Liv Parker | Comedian and actor (finalist) |
| Louis Davis | Content creator (finalist) |
| Ben Barrington | Actor, Shortland Street |
| David Correos | Comedian |
| Frank Bunce | Former All Black |
| Georgia Lines | Singer-songwriter |
| Harrison Keefe | The Edge radio host |
| Polly Gillespie | Media personality |
| Portia Woodman-Wickliffe | Rugby player |
| Ria Vandervis | Actor, Shortland Street |
| Sammi Poole | Miss World New Zealand 2025 |
| Simon Barnett | More FM broadcaster |
| Te Ao o Hinepehinga | Actor |
| Vinnie Bennett | Actor |
| Zion Dayal | TVNZ sports reporter |
Barnett played for the White Matter Brain Cancer Trust and said winning would be “life-changing” when the cast was revealed.
When was the Celebrity Treasure Island 2026 final?
The final went to air in late May 2026, about a month after season seven premiered on Monday 27 April, and the winner was reported by 1News and The Spinoff on 28 May. Episodes went out at 7.30pm Monday to Wednesday on TVNZ 2. The season was filmed in Northland, the same region used for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Where to watch Celebrity Treasure Island in NZ
Celebrity Treasure Island is a TVNZ show. Episodes screen at 7.30pm on TVNZ 2 during the season and on TVNZ+, the broadcaster’s on-demand service. In 2026 that meant three nights a week, Monday to Wednesday, from 27 April until the final in late May.
Who hosts Celebrity Treasure Island?
Bree Tomasel and Jayden Daniels hosted the 2026 season. Tomasel is the only presenter who has hosted every season of the reboot, starting alongside Matt Chisholm in 2019. Daniels joined her for both 2023 seasons, and former castaway Lance Savali co-hosted in 2024.
Celebrity Treasure Island winners since 2019
The reboot has now run seven seasons. Each castaway plays for a charity, and the winner of the final treasure hunt takes the main prize (it was $50,000 in the 2023 Fans v Faves edition and $100,000 in the others).
| Year | Season | Filmed in | Hosts | Winner | Charity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Celebrity Treasure Island | Fiji | Matt Chisholm, Bree Tomasel | Sam Wallace | Starship |
| 2021 | Celebrity Treasure Island | Ngataki, Northland | Matt Chisholm, Bree Tomasel | Chris Parker | Rainbow Youth |
| 2022 | Celebrity Treasure Island | Ngataki, Northland | Matt Chisholm, Bree Tomasel | Jesse Tuke | Live Ocean |
| 2023 | Treasure Island: Fans v Faves | Mamanuca Islands, Fiji | Bree Tomasel, Jayden Daniels | Matty McLean | ZEAL Education Trust |
| 2023 | Celebrity Treasure Island: Te Waipounamu | Wānaka | Bree Tomasel, Jayden Daniels | James Mustapic | Gender Minorities Aotearoa |
| 2024 | Celebrity Treasure Island | Mercury Bay, Coromandel | Bree Tomasel, Lance Savali | JP Foliaki | ChildFund Water Run |
| 2026 | Celebrity Treasure Island | Northland | Bree Tomasel, Jayden Daniels | Nix Adams | Child Abuse Prevention Foundation |
There was no season in 2020 or 2025. The 2021 and 2022 seasons were the biggest, with 21 castaways each, and the 2021 season raised $215,000 across 13 charities.
Finalists and runners-up by year
- 2019: Gary “The Wiz” Freeman and Shane Cameron
- 2021: Edna Swart and Lance Savali
- 2022: Courtenay Louise and Elvis Lopeti
- 2023 Fans v Faves: Lana Searle and Dame Susan Devoy
- 2023 Te Waipounamu: Courtney Dawson and Turia Schmidt-Peke
- 2024: Christian Cullen and James Rolleston
- 2026: Liv Parker and Louis Davis
The original Treasure Island winners, 1997 to 2007
The show began as plain Treasure Island in 1997, with everyday Kiwis competing for $25,000. Celebrities arrived in 2001. These are the winners of the first era:
| Year | Season | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Treasure Island | Levi Bowen |
| 1999 | Treasure Island 2 | Tanya Pouwhare |
| 2001 | Celebrity Treasure Island | John “Cocksy” Cocks |
| 2002 | Treasure Island: Extreme | John “Horse” McLeod |
| 2003 | Celebrity Treasure Island 2 | Greer Robson |
| 2004 | Celebrity Treasure Island 3 | Josh Kronfeld |
| 2005 | Superstars of Treasure Island | Josh Kronfeld |
| 2006 | Treasure Island: Couples at War | Lance and Bridgette O’Sullivan |
| 2007 | Treasure Island: Pirates of the Pacific | Hayley Holt |
Simon Barnett has history with the show. He finished runner-up to Josh Kronfeld in 2004, 22 years before his 2026 return. Kronfeld was the first person to win two seasons in a row.
How Celebrity Treasure Island works
The castaways are split into teams that compete in physical and puzzle challenges for reward, safety and extra charity money. Players are eliminated through the season until three finalists remain, and the final is a race to dig up the treasure. Everyone takes home something for their charity, which is why the season totals are well above the main prize.
Frequently asked questions
Will there be a Celebrity Treasure Island 2027
As of October 2026, TVNZ has not announced a cast or air date for the next season. This page will be updated when it does.
Where was Celebrity Treasure Island 2026 filmed
It was filmed in Northland, 1News reported when the cast was announced.
How many episodes was Celebrity Treasure Island 2026
The season ran three nights a week from 27 April until the final in late May 2026. TVNZ has not published an official episode count.
What does the winner of Celebrity Treasure Island get
The winner does not keep the money. The $100,000 grand prize goes to the charity they chose, and bonus challenge money can be added on top, as with Nix Adams’ $105,000 in 2026.
Who won Celebrity Treasure Island 2024
Actor JP Foliaki won in 2024, beating Christian Cullen and James Rolleston and giving the prize to ChildFund’s Water Run.
