Wonka's Chocolate Factory comes to life in Netflix's The Golden Ticket competition series

Imagine Charlie and Grandpa Joe’s big day at the factory... then crannk the chaos up several notches and add reality TV stakes. That’s the flavour of Wonka’s The Golden Ticket - Netflix’s new competition series that's turning Roald Dahl’s beloved chocolate-drenched world into a high-pressure social experiment.

Twelve golden ticket holders and their chosen partners will step through those famous gates, but only one will walk out with a 'life-changing' prize. Here's everything we know about the new reality series...

What is the Wonka competition series about?

Wonka’s The Golden Ticket is a reality competition where 12 lucky golden ticket winners, each bringing a partner of their choosing, enter the Chocolate Factory to face a gauntlet of challenges.

Netflix says once inside, they must navigate a series of temptations and tests designed to push them 'physically, mentally and morally, with every decision shaping their chances of survival in this intense social challenge'. The aim is to prove you have the instincts, resilience and character to thrive in chaos and claim Wonka’s life-changing prize.

The series will also welcome Rusty Goffe back to the chocolate factory. Goffe, who appeared in the 1971 film, will reprise his role as an Oompa Loompa.

Where does it take place?

The entire series unfolds inside Wonka’s Chocolate Factory - filmed at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast in Oxenford, Australia. The set has been reimagined as a wondrous, unpredictable landscape that’s equal parts dream and danger.

Players will journey through a succession of fantastical spaces where every sweet treat and dazzling spectacle may help them, hinder them, or expose their worst impulses.

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Is there a trailer?

Yes! Netflix released the trailer for Wonka's The Golden Ticket on 30th June 2026, alongside the caption: 'Step into a world of pure imagination when the gates of the Chocolate Factory reopen this Fall. Wonka's The Golden Ticket, a new Netflix reality competition series, arrives on September 23.'

Watch the trailer below:

Can I apply?

Unfortunately not - as filming has already taken place.

When does it start?

Wonka’s The Golden Ticket lands on Netflix on 23rd September 2026. The series then builds to a two-part finale on 30th September, where the last remaining contestants discover who has truly earned that coveted reward.

Where can I watch it?

Wonka’s The Golden Ticket is a Netflix original, so you’ll be able to stream every episode there once the series drops.

Wonka’s The Golden Ticket is based on Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and also pays tribute to the classic 1971 film. The reality competition series will feature the re-created voice of Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka - with the consent of Mr. Wilder’s estate - honouring the legendary performance that has enchanted generations.

"More than five decades after Gene brought Willy Wonka to life, people of all ages and backgrounds around the world continue to find joy, laughter and inspiration in his performance,” said Karen B. Wilder, Gene Wilder’s wife, on behalf of the Gene Wilder Estate.

Karen added: "Gene had a remarkable ability to bring humour, wonder and heart into people’s lives, and that connection has endured for generations. We are delighted that Wonka’s The Golden Ticket celebrates the warmth and imagination that he brought to the role, introducing that magic to a new generation while honouring the fans who have cherished it for decades."

After the release of Matilda the Musical, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, and The Twits, Wonka’s The Golden Ticket is the latest Roald Dahl project to hail from Netflix.

The Roald Dahl Story Company partnered with Netflix in 2021 to bring stories from the author’s beloved universe to fans around the world.

The next project in the pipeline is Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory - an animated feature with the voices of Kit Connor and Taika Waititi, set for a 2027 release.