How Does Destination X Work? The Rules of NBC’S All-New Competition Show Explained

An American version of the Belgian travel competition show Destination X is coming to NBC. In Touch breaks down the rules for the game, which is hosted by Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

How Does ‘Destination X’ Work?

NBC released a fun-filled explainer video with Jeffrey revealing the premise on May 23, 2025.

“The game starts with players traveling together on a blacked-out bus. When the players get off the bus, they have no idea where they’ve gone or why they’ve stopped,” Jeffrey explained as an attractive group of contestants were seen getting off the bus with heavy dark goggles on. Upon removing them, the players were seen looking around confused in front of what looked like an ancient wall in the countryside.

“Where in the X are they? Well, that’s up to them to figure out,” The Walking Dead star added.

“My first stop in Europe is in a place where I don’t even know where the hell I am,” Biggy Bailey, a contestant from Chattanooga, Tennessee, said in a heavy southern drawl after he was shown running up the steps of an old building.

How Do Players Advance in ‘Destination X’?

Jeffrey said players will determine where they are through “clues,” while warning them about being tripped up by “red herrings.”

“You have to compete in challenges that are going to help you get a little bit closer to the answer,” he continued, as players were seen digging through snow on a mountainside, running through a narrow city alley and an aerial shot of a complicated topiary garden maze was shown.

“If you’re very close to the location, you get to stay. If you’re not close, I’m kicking you out of my game,” the actor warned.

Will Famous Locations Be Included in ‘Destination X’?

“There is stuff you’ll recognize and stuff you won’t recognize,” the Grey’s Anatomy alum shared while aerials of Rome’s Colosseum and a snowy alpine mountain ridge flashed across the screen.

“Stuff that players probably have studied and stuff that they don’t know anything about,” Jeffrey continued, as a female contestant looked up at a structure and said, “This looks so Roman.”

“I’m so bamboozled by this,” another player said while aboard the blacked-out bus.

“Each week there will be a beautiful new location with less players until the best guess wins,” Jeffrey revealed about how the contestants will be eliminated week by week. Whoever places their “X” the furthest away from the target destination in the map room gets sent home.

What Does the Winner of ‘Destination X’ Receive?

The last traveler standing takes home a $250,000 prize.

Former Reality Competition Stars Are Included in Destination X’s Cast

“I don’t do haunted castles. The only ghost I believe in is the Holy Ghost,” contestant JaNa Craig said in the explainer trailer. She previously competed on season 6 of Love Island.

Season 25 Bachelor lead Peter Weber is also part of the competition, after appearing on season 2 of Peacock’s The Traitors.

Big Brother season 19 winner Josh Martinez is also among the 12 contestants. He’s been featured as a repeat competitor on The Challenge.

When Does ‘Destination X’ Premiere?

Destination X premieres on NBC on May 27 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. It will air immediately following the season premiere of America’s Got Talent.