Full Season List - The Challenge

Season 1

All Stars

Road Rules: All Stars is the first season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge. Unlike later seasons the show followed alumni of The Real World as they went on a typical Road Rules-type adventure around the United States in a non-competitive format. It is the only season without the term Challenge in its title. The season premiered on June 1st, 1998.

Network

Episodes5

DatesJun 1, 1998 - Jun 29, 1998

Season 2

Real World vs. Road Rules

Real World/Road Rules Challenge is the 2nd season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge. The season is directly subsequent to Road Rules: All Stars. The season marked the first time in which "Real World/Road Rules Challenge" would be used as the show's main title. In addition, it's one of two seasons absent of a subtitle, a trend that wouldn't truly emerge until the show's 4th season. It is the first six-on-six Challenge in the series. The teams traveled via tour bus and RV starting in San Francisco, ending in Universal City, California, competing in different individual challenges. The winning team had the right to travel in a tour bus, while the losing team had to travel in an RV. Each time a team won an individual challenge, they won the right to spend time in a "money machine". The "money machine", set up outside Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, California was a huge wind chamber that contained up to $150,000. Whatever the casts could keep on them, they were guaranteed to keep. This season also featured an additional challenge where the two teams competed over possession of a teddy bear. Whichever team had the teddy bear in their possession at an unknown, predetermined point in the challenge, would win the additional challenge.

Network

Episodes6

DatesNov 9, 1998 - Dec 14, 1998

Season 3

Challenge 2000

Real World/Road Rules Challenge 2000 is the 3rd season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge. The season is directly subsequent to Real World/Road Rules Challenge the season. Real World/Road Rules Challenge 2000 is the second six-on-six The Challenge in the series. The teams traveled via tour bus starting in Las Vegas, Nevada then moving to the eastern U.S., ending in Miami, Florida after competing in different individual challenges. Each time a team won an individual challenge, they won $10,000. After each mission won, the winning team would invest those 10K in the product of their choice through E-Trade. At the end, the winning team also won any money won in the stock market. The last mission would be for the right to keep the money collected in the pot, an additional cash prize and a car. This season also featured an additional challenge where the two teams had to give up smoking for the duration of filming. If any cast member on either team were caught smoking, their cast would lose the additional challenge.

Network

Episodes11

DatesJan 17, 2000 - Apr 3, 2000

Season 4

Extreme Challenge

Extreme Challenge is the 4th season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge. The season is directly subsequent to Real World/Road Rules Challenge 2000. Extreme Challenge is the first season that adorned the show with a subtitle, the series having begun a new trend of titling each season based off its format and theme. To date, it's also the only season in which the season title alters the show title, through the insertion of "Extreme" between "Real World/Road Rules" and "Challenge." Extreme Challenge consisted of the third and final six-on-six Challenge. The casts were split up into two different six-person teams, one representing The Real World and the other representing Road Rules. The teams traveled via tour bus in the eastern U.S. and Europe competing in different individual challenges. Each time a team won an individual challenge, money would be added to an E-Trade account. Each time they won a challenge, they had the chance to invest those winnings in the stock market for the duration of the challenge. The last mission would be for the right to keep the money collected in the pot, an additional cash prize, and a car.

Network

Episodes18

DatesJan 9, 2001 - May 22, 2001

Season 5

Battle of the Seasons

Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Battle of the Seasons is the fifth season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge (at the time known as Real World/Road Rules Challenge). The season is directly subsequent to Extreme Challenge. Battle of the Seasons premiered in early 2002 and took place in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. In each episode, the cast competed in a challenge, and the top three Real World and top three Road Rules teams would become the "Inner Circle" and have the power to vote off teams. The "Inner Circle" was determined by a cumulative score that would be tallied on a leader board. The final six teams would compete for a final prize worth $300,000.

Network

Episodes15

DatesFeb 4, 2002 - May 20, 2002

Season 6

Battle of the Sexes

Battle of the Sexes is the 6th season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge. The season is directly subsequent to the first Battle of the Seasons. Battle of the Sexes featured cast members from The Real World and Road Rules. The cast stayed in the Round Hill Hotel and Villa Resort near Montego Bay, Jamaica. The show premiered on December 30, 2002 and concluded on May 12, 2003. This is the first edition of the Battle of the Sexes series, with Battle of the Sexes 2 following in 2004–2005.

Network

Episodes20

DatesDec 30, 2002 - May 12, 2003

Season 7

The Gauntlet

The Gauntlet is the 7th season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge. The season is directly subsequent to Battle of the Sexes. The Gauntlet featured 28 castmates competing in missions with an immunity life-saver awarded to the best individual performer. Each team would then select a player from their team to go into the Gauntlet elimination challenge. This challenge was held in Telluride, Colorado. It was hosted by Jonny Moseley. This is the first edition of the Gauntlet series, with The Gauntlet 2 following in 2005–2006 and The Gauntlet III following in 2008.

Network

Episodes19

DatesSep 22, 2003 - Jan 26, 2004

Season 8

The Inferno

The Inferno is the 8th season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge. The season is directly subsequent to The Gauntlet. The Inferno aired in 2004. The season was composed of twenty cast members, and took place in Acapulco, Mexico. In this challenge, the winning teams would receive a prize at the end of each mission. They would then nominate two players from their team to the Inferno elimination challenge. Unlike The Gauntlet, there would be another challenge with an immunity life-saver up for grabs before the Inferno. Each team then selected one of the two nominees from the opposing team to go into the Inferno. This is the first edition of The Inferno series, with The Inferno II following in 2005 and The Inferno 3 following in 2007.

Network

Episodes19

DatesFeb 2, 2004 - May 31, 2004

Season 9

Battle of the Sexes 2

Battle of the Sexes 2 is the 9th season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge. The season is directly subsequent to The Inferno. Battle of the Sexes 2 is the first sequel season of The Challenge, representing the sequel to the show's 6th season, Battle of the Sexes. Battle of the Sexes 2 premiered on October 4, 2004, and concluded on January 31, 2005. The Challenge took place in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Before each challenge, every team would choose three leaders. If the team won, those leaders got to vote off anyone else; if the team lost, one of those leaders would be voted off. No life-shields were used during this season.

Network

Episodes19

DatesOct 4, 2004 - Jan 31, 2005

Season 10

The Inferno II

The Inferno II is the 10th season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge. The season is directly subsequent to Battle of the Sexes 2. The Inferno II is the second of The Inferno series, with the original Inferno airing in 2004, and The Inferno 3 following in 2007. The show aired in 2005, and took place in Manzanillo, Mexico. This challenge was the same as The Inferno, except this time each team was allowed to choose only one "Inferno nominee" from the opposite team. This nominee had to win the "life shield" to save him or herself. The contestants in this challenge were grouped into two teams of "Good Guys" and "Bad Asses", representing the "heroes" and "villains" of their respective seasons.

Network

Episodes18

DatesFeb 28, 2005 - Jun 27, 2005

Season 11

The Gauntlet 2

The Gauntlet II is the 11th season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge. The season is directly subsequent to The Inferno II. The Gauntlet II marked T. J. Lavin's first time presenting the series, regularly hosting the program from this season forward. Prior seasons only used temporary hosts. The season is the second in the Gauntlet series, with the original Gauntlet airing in 2003–2004 and The Gauntlet III following in 2008. The Gauntlet II aired in late 2005 and into 2006 with 32 contestants and took place in Trinidad and Tobago. The teams were designated Veterans and Rookies, based on the number of prior Challenge seasons on which each cast member had competed. Those on the Veterans team had been on at least two prior seasons, and those on the Rookies team had been on fewer than two seasons. For this season, a male and female captain were determined at the beginning of the season. After each team challenge, the losing team captain was sent to the "Gauntlet", where they would face an opponent of the same sex and same team who was voted into the Gauntlet by the respective team. Gauntlets alternated between "Male Gauntlets" and "Female Gauntlets".

Network

Episodes18

DatesNov 21, 2005 - Mar 27, 2006

Season 12

Fresh Meat

Fresh Meat is the 12th season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge. Fresh Meat is a season that made history on The Challenge by being the first season to include previously unknown contestants as part of the cast. Previous to Fresh Meat, all seasons functioned solely by the program's trademark: strictly using contestants that were previously cast on past seasons of The Real World or Road Rules. To date, Fresh Meat's most notable debuting contestants who've both continued on in further seasons of the show and won Challenge seasons are: Kenny Santucci, Evelyn Smith, and Evan Starkman. Filmed in Australia, Fresh Meat featured two-player teams; each team had an alumnus of The Real World or Road Rules partnered with a newcomer to the Challenge. This is the first edition of the Fresh Meat series, with Fresh Meat II following in 2010.

Network

Episodes16

DatesMay 29, 2006 - Sep 11, 2006

Season 13

The Duel

The Duel is the 13th season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge. The season is directly subsequent to Fresh Meat. The Duel took place in Búzios, Brazil, with former cast members from MTV series The Real World and Road Rules competing, along with several cast members from the previous Challenge, Fresh Meat. The host of The Duel was T. J. Lavin. The season differed from previous Challenge seasons in that no teams were assigned, as it was every man and woman for themselves. The surviving male and female cast member would win $150,000 each. The season was watched by a total of 83 million viewers. The Duel premiered on October 12, 2006, and concluded on January 18, 2007. This is the first edition of The Duel series, with The Duel II following in 2009.

Network

Episodes16

DatesOct 12, 2006 - Jan 25, 2007

Season 14

The Inferno 3

The Inferno 3 is the 14th season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge. The season is directly subsequent to The Duel. The Inferno 3 marked the show's first trilogy, the third of the Inferno series, continuing on from The Inferno and The Inferno II. Filming took place in Cape Town, South Africa, with cast members from The Real World, Road Rules and the Fresh Meat challenge competing. The teams were in the format of The Inferno II, "Good Guys" versus "Bad Asses." Contrary to the previous Inferno shows, the Lifesaver competitions have been limited to gender only winners, as for the male Inferno days, only males will be able to win it and vice versa. The season premiered on Tuesday April 10, 2007 on MTV. There were $400,000 in prizes.

Network

Episodes16

DatesApr 10, 2007 - Jul 10, 2007

Season 15

The Gauntlet III

The Gauntlet III is the 15th season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge. The season is directly subsequent to The Inferno 3. Being the third in The Gauntlet series, The Gauntlet III marked the show's 2nd trilogy, continuing on from The Gauntlet and The Gauntlet 2. The season was filmed in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with former cast members from The Real World and Road Rules competing, along with several cast members from the Fresh Meat challenge. This season was in the format of two teams: Veterans vs. Rookies, with a format similar to The Gauntlet 2. The contestants on the Veterans team had been on at least two prior seasons of the Challenge, and the contestants on the Rookies team had been on fewer than two prior seasons.

Network

Episodes10

DatesJan 23, 2008 - Mar 26, 2008

Season 16

The Island

The Island is the 16th season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge. The season is directly subsequent to The Gauntlet III. Like previous seasons of The Challenge, The Island featured cast members from various past seasons of The Real World and Road Rules, of which The Challenge was a spun off from, competing along with several cast members from the Fresh Meat challenge. This season featured the contestants "stranded" on an island off the coast of Panama, where the cast competed for a buried treasure chest filled with $300,000 USD in gold. Unlike in previous Challenges, the cast was not housed in a luxurious dwelling, but was "forced" to improvise and "work" for the basic necessities of food and shelter, as on the TV series Survivor. Unlike previous seasons of The Challenge, there were no predetermined teams. Instead, the cast members had to forge their own alliances. Of the twenty cast members, there were only four winners. The Island premiered on September 10, 2008, and concluded on October 29, 2008.

Network

Episodes9

DatesSep 10, 2008 - Nov 5, 2008

Season 17

The Duel II

The Duel II is the 17th season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge. The season is directly subsequent to The Island. The Duel II is the sequel to the show's 13th season, The Duel, and succeeds The Island season. It took place in Queenstown, New Zealand, with former cast members from MTV's The Real World and Road Rules competing along with several cast members from the Fresh Meat challenge. The cast departed for Queenstown, New Zealand on October 27, 2008 and filming ran through early December. This season premiered on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 and concluded on June 17, 2009 with the reunion show.

Network

Episodes11

DatesApr 8, 2009 - Jun 17, 2009

Season 18

The Ruins

Real World Road Rules Challenge: The Ruins is the eighteenth season of the MTV reality television game show, Real World/Road Rules Challenge, and follows The Duel II. The Ruins took place in Phuket, Thailand, with former cast members from MTV's The Real World and Road Rules competing along with several cast members from the Fresh Meat challenge. This season was played in the format of two teams: Champions and Challengers. Players on the Champions team had won at least one previous challenge, while players on the Challengers team had never won a challenge. This is the last season to use Real World/Road Rules in the on-screen title, before being shortened to The Challenge in the 19th season. The season premiered on September 30, 2009 and concluded with the "S#!t They Should Have Shown" special on December 23, 2009.

Network

Episodes11

DatesSep 30, 2009 - Dec 16, 2009

Season 21

Rivals

The Challenge: Rivals is the 21st season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge. Rivals takes place in Costa Rica, Argentina, and Patagonia. The season used former cast members from The Real World and The Challenge. Rivals marked the first season of The Challenge to not include any cast members from cancelled series Road Rules. The season featured an incendiary format in which players were teamed with their arch enemies from past seasons of The Real World and The Challenge. The season premiered on June 22, 2011

Network

Episodes11

DatesJun 22, 2011 - Aug 31, 2011

Season 25

Free Agents

The Challenge: Free Agents is the 25th season of the MTV reality game show, The Challenge. The season is located in Uruguay and Chile, with former cast members from MTV's The Real World and The Challenge competing. This season marks the first since season 12 that does not include any cast members from The Real World: Austin or the first Fresh Meat challenge. The season follows a new format, featuring each contestant competing in either teams, pairs or for themselves, for a share of $350,000 in prize money.

Network

Episodes13

DatesApr 10, 2014 - Jun 26, 2014

Season 27

Battle of the Bloodlines

This season just got VERY personal. We've seen rivals, exes, veterans, rookies, and even free agents earn their victories on The Challenge. Now, fourteen players from MTV series will travel to Bodrum, Turkey to join the people who know their toughest strengths, crippling weaknesses, and deepest fears better than anyone -- their own flesh and blood. In this unprecedented format, competitors will battle it out WITH and AGAINST their bloodlines, turning family into foe. This shake-up gets even more twisted when players learn that their fates are combined with their bloodlines'. It's anyone's game when family still means everything, because despite strong performances, competitors could still go home if their relatives fall short. With $350,000 on the line and family honor to defend, there will be blood.

Network

Episodes14

DatesDec 2, 2015 - Feb 17, 2016

Season 28

Rivals III

They’ve been pissed off. They’ve been wronged. They’ve been betrayed. And now they want vengeance! Rivals is back and the stakes couldn’t be higher! Twenty-six fan-favorites from The Challenge, The Real World, and Are You The One will head to exotic Mexico and be paired up with their biggest enemy! However...this time around the game has a shocking twist – players will be paired up with their rival – of the opposite sex! These guys and girls must figure out a way get over their bad blood as they compete in a series of heart-pounding challenges in order to earn a share of the massive $350,000 prize! Tempers will rise, passions will flare, and pride will be on the line in the most shocking season of The Challenge yet!

Network

Episodes15

DatesMay 4, 2016 - Aug 3, 2016

Season 29

Invasion of the Champions

In Season 29, Invasion of the Champions, 18 Underdogs battle across a series of contests for the chance to move out of squalor and into typical Challenge luxury, The Oasis! Just when the lucky ones get comfortable, they’ll find the game is far from over. The final crop of Underdogs will have to face down eight proven Champions for their share at the $350,000 prize. With devastating elimination rounds, truly baffling hookups and the first-ever three-day final on the way, Season 29 may just prove to be the most unpredictable and gripping yet!

Network

Episodes15

DatesFeb 7, 2017 - May 9, 2017

Season 30

Dirty Thirty

To celebrate the 30th season of The Challenge, MTV is bringing back the dirtiest and most unpredictable players in The Challenge history for the biggest prize ever - $1 MILLION DOLLARS! This devious bunch will stop at nothing to win the game and compete against each other on The Challenge XXX: Dirty 30. Fifteen men and fifteen women will have to fight their way through some of the craziest, most daring challenges yet. And with this devious assortment of players, the backstabbing and masterminding will be just as intense off the field as on the field. Trust. No. One.

Network

Episodes20

DatesJul 18, 2017 - Nov 28, 2017

Season 32

Final Reckoning

First, Dirty 30 sparked the chaos, Then Vendetta's burned everything to the ground, now Final Reckoning will mold the ashes into a new Challenge. This is it. The third chapter to end the epic trilogy saga that pushes our competitors to face the consequences of their actions. All of their recent betrayals, backstabs and wrongdoings will come to head and they must find a way to work together with their biggest vendetta of all! Will they be able to put aside their issues and settle their scores to take home the crown and win $1 MILLION?

Network

Episodes22

DatesJul 10, 2018 - Dec 4, 2018

Season 33

War of the Worlds

The next season of The Challenge is upon us and the War of the Worlds cast has been revealed. The lineup features your usual suspects (Hi, Bananas!) as well as some old faces... and a ton of new ones. MTV has continued to recruit rookies from other TV franchises for The Challenge, but rather than sprinkle them in like they've done over the past few seasons, each vet is getting a rookie of their own from a different franchise to partner through this season's endurance tests. It's basically the new version of Fresh Meat except instead of random strangers from the internet, it's reality show stars from around the world.

Network

Episodes18

DatesFeb 6, 2019 - May 29, 2019

Season 41

Vets and New Threats

In The Challenge: Vets and New Threats a new era begins, and the game has never been more unpredictable.

For 40 seasons, generations of battle-hardened Veterans have fought relentlessly for the ultimate prize: the title of Challenge Champion. This season, fresh faces and new threats have entered the arena with one goal: upend the old order and take it all. The Vets, driven by legacy and pride, will need to adapt fast. Their established hierarchy is crumbling, and leaning on past alliances, and experience is no longer reliable - it's about navigating the ever-shifting landscape of alliances, betrayals, and unknown threats. To win, Veterans and New Threats will be forced to work together, unless they're forced to turn on each other. Nothing is guaranteed.

Network

Episodes21

DatesJul 23, 2025 - Dec 17, 2025

The Challenge - All Seasons

Season 1

All Stars

Season 2

Real World vs. Road Rules

Season 3

Challenge 2000

Season 4

Extreme Challenge

Season 5

Battle of the Seasons

Season 6

Battle of the Sexes

Season 7

The Gauntlet

Season 8

The Inferno

Season 9

Battle of the Sexes 2

Season 10

The Inferno II

Season 11

The Gauntlet 2

Season 12

Fresh Meat

Season 13

The Duel

Season 14

The Inferno 3

Season 15

The Gauntlet III

Season 16

The Island

Season 17

The Duel II

Season 18

The Ruins

Season 19

Fresh Meat II

Season 20

Cutthroat

Season 21

Rivals

Season 22

Battle of the Exes

Season 23

Battle of the Seasons

Season 24

Rivals II

Season 25

Free Agents

Season 26

Battle of the Exes II

Season 27

Battle of the Bloodlines

Season 28

Rivals III

Season 29

Invasion of the Champions

Season 30

Dirty Thirty

Season 31

Vendettas

Season 32

Final Reckoning

Season 33

War of the Worlds

Season 34

War of the Worlds 2

Season 35

Total Madness

Season 36

Double Agents

Season 37

Spies, Lies, and Allies

Season 38

Ride or Dies

Season 39

Battle for a New Champion

Season 40