Hey Reader! Welcome to the second annual Reality Tea Awards! With the new year approaching, we decided it’s time to reflect on the past year of reality television and distribute some well-deserved awards. For this list, we’ll be discussing the best reality TV competition shows of the year. Some made us laugh, some made us scream at the TV, and some convinced us we could survive on an island for 26 days without shelter. What? Like it’s hard? The Reality Tea staff voted on what we believe was the best competition show of the year, and came up with four nominees, along with a winner. Let us know what you think of our picks in the comments!
Curious to see who came out on top? Keep reading…
Nominee: Survivor, Seasons 48 and 49
Survivor may be the most well-known reality competition show. The CBS show has been on the air for over two decades, and will celebrate its 50th season in 2026. It’s become a bit of an institution after 25 years, finding itself referenced in pop songs, TV shows, and movies. Two seasons of Survivor aired in 2025. Seasons 48 and 49 were not revolutionary season, to say the least. Some fans complained about the casting and lack of intricate gameplay, which I believe are fair criticisms. They weren’t perfect seasons, but I certainly wasn’t turning off the the TV. Survivor may not be as great as it once was, but it still consistently delivers entertaining content. And for that, I say bravo!
Nominee: Love Island USA, Season 7
Love Island USA Season 7 had huge shoes to fill after Season 6 shattered streaming records for Peacock. The previous season put the dating show in a whole new league. Suddenly, there was a lot more at stake than $100,000. The Season 6 cast became overnight sensations, scoring a spinoff show, lucrative brand deals, and interviews on top podcasts. The Season 7 cast had a lot of eyes on them, which may have set them up to fail. The 2025 season was endlessly enjoyable, but it didn’t have the same magic as Season 6. Fans felt some of the relationships were inauthentic, accusing some islanders of trying to game the system. It wasn’t flawless, but I still watched all 37 episodes.
Nominee: RuPaul’s Drag Race, Season 17
RuPaul’s Drag Race has become a cultural phenomenon. Since it premiered in 2009, the show has transformed from a small program with a cult following to a critical success, taking home over 20 Emmys in its 15 year run. The show celebrates creativity and showcases some of the most talented drag queens from across the country. Season 17 proved that the show has not lost its sparkle. It was fun, creative, and a joy to watch from start to finish.
Nominee: The Traitors (US), Season 3
The Traitors (US) is the newest show on the list, but it’s already made a massive impact. The series, which premiered on Peacock in 2023, pins reality stars against each other in a game of lies, treachery, and murder. Season 3 may have been the most impressive season to date. The cast was cast was eccentric, the banishments were juicy, and fans were satisfied with the winners. The only downside was that we lost legend Dorinda Medley in the first episode. But don’t worry, she’ll be back for Season 4.
Winner: Dancing with the Stars, Season 34
While some long-running competition shows seem to be losing their way, Dancing with the Stars keeps getting better. Season 34 was a dynamite winner that rewarded a deserving winner with the Mirrorball trophy. Robert Irwin and Witney Carson dazzled the dance floor, but they weren’t the only pair earning top marks from the judges. Season 34 featured multiple strong pairs, which kept the season interesting. While Robert was an early favorite, he wasn’t the only front-runner. The tense competition kept fans on their toes.
While we enjoyed all the reality TV competition shows on this list, it’s hard to beat the magic of Dancing with the Stars.
TELL US – DO YOU AGREE WITH OUR WINNER? WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST REALITY TV COMPETITION SHOW OF 2025?
