Love Island All Stars 2026 Bombshells Shake Up Villa

Love Island All Stars 2026 has kicked off in South Africa with a bang, and if early signs are anything to go by, this season is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic yet. With returning favorites, surprise bombshells, and a public vote that’s already sent shockwaves through the villa, viewers are glued to their screens, eager to see how the game of love—and strategy—unfolds.

According to The Tab, nine bombshells have been lined up to enter the villa, promising chaos and plenty of entertainment for fans. The show’s producers seem determined to keep the energy high, bringing back some of the most talked-about personalities from previous seasons. Among the most notable returns is Harrison Solomon, a standout from the 2025 villa. Reports from The Sun say Harrison was already on a plane to South Africa as of January 23, 2026, with an insider revealing, “He’s on the plane right now and will be making an explosive return to the villa in the next few days. Fans might be divided by his return but there’s no question he makes good TV and girls LOVE him!”

But Harrison is far from the only familiar face making a comeback. Lana Jenkins and Shaq, both single and open to new connections, have also signed up for another shot at love. As The Tab notes, their return isn’t just about romance—Shaq is launching a personal training business, while Lana is working on her podcast, making the show a strategic move for their brands as well.

Perhaps the most headline-grabbing return is that of Curtis Pritchard. As reported by MailOnline, Curtis is back for his fourth stint on the show, having previously debuted in 2019 (series five), appeared in the 2023 Games spin-off, and won All Stars in 2025 alongside Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu. This time, Curtis isn’t shying away from shaking things up. He told Daily Mail, “I normally throw all my eggs into one basket… I’m probably going to end up doing that again. I like to focus on one person. I’ve never been a bombshell before, so I don’t quite know what to expect coming in as one. I’ll try and talk to everyone the first couple of days.”

Curtis has his sights set on Islanders Samie Elishi and Millie Court, both of whom he finds attractive and intriguing. “Samie is unbelievably attractive. I don’t know if our personalities will work, we only had a quick little chat last year. Maybe I’ll have a little chat with her. Millie is a big definite yes for me. She’s very, very attractive. She seems like she has a real grounded, confident and down-to-earth personality. I don’t feel like she wants drama for no reason, which is a yes for me,” he shared with MailOnline. He also mentioned Helena as another potential match, hinting at openness but a desire to avoid love triangles.

Lucinda Strafford, another bombshell entry, is also no stranger to the Love Island universe. At 26, Lucinda has appeared in season seven, the 2023 Australia edition, and won season two of Love Island Games in 2025. She’s rejoined her season seven co-star Millie Court and is determined to find romance, expressing interest in Ciaran Davies while making it clear she’s steering clear of Scott van-der-Sluis, whom she dismissed as a “busybody.” Lucinda told Daily Mail that she’s more confident now and won’t hesitate to speak her mind, despite already having three appearances under her belt. “I am single and determined to find love,” she said, underscoring her motivation for returning.

Other rumored and confirmed bombshells include Tanya Manhenga—Shaq’s ex—who is expected to bring her side of their breakup story, Olivia Hawkins (who’s already done All Stars before), Ronnie Vint, Yasmin Pettet (a 2025 finalist), and Alima Gaggio and Andrada Pop, both from the 2025 series. As The Tab reports, these returning contestants are set to bring not just romance, but also plenty of drama and unfinished business to the villa.

But it’s not just about who’s entering. The eliminations have already started, and they’re as dramatic as ever. On January 21, 2026, Maya Jama entered the villa to announce the results of the public vote, revealing which Islanders were the nation’s favorites—and which were at risk of being dumped. As reported by National World, Millie and Scott topped the vote for favorite girl and boy, earning them the power to decide who would be sent home.

Three girls—Jess, Whitney, and AJ—and three boys—Sean, Konnor, and Charlie—found themselves at the bottom of the public vote. In a twist that left viewers reeling, Scott chose to dump AJ, while Millie opted to send Charlie home. The decision was especially surprising given Millie’s own involvement in a love triangle with Charlie and Jess. Fans took to social media to praise her decisive action, with one commenting, “Millie deserves to win for sending Charlie home,” and another adding, “Millie a savage for sending Charlie home. She did what needed to be done.”

Before their exit, AJ and Charlie each had heart-to-heart conversations with their respective partners. Shaq reassured AJ, telling her, “I just wanted to say that, despite the chat we had earlier tonight, I have been enjoying getting to know you this whole time and you did come in here and make an impact on me in a very short space of time.” AJ, frustrated by Scott’s decision, responded, “It’s just a bit of a cop-out decision, I think. Always voting with their friends. It’s never give someone else a chance.” She wished Shaq luck, saying, “I just hope you find what you’re looking for in here and if not you know where I’ll be on the outside.”

Charlie, meanwhile, confronted Millie about her choice, saying, “It’s a bit wild that the person you were getting to know, you kicked them out of the villa.” Millie replied, “[There were] just some things that I think were red flag that I’m not sure…” When pressed further, she explained, “I haven’t necessarily said the words ‘red flags’, but I’ve told you that I don’t like your behaviour, I don’t like the secrecy. Every day was a new thing, and I just keep being in this drama. I can’t be a**** for it.” In his exit interview with Maya Jama, Charlie reflected, “Mills didn’t want drama, I didn’t want drama, I just wanted to get to know the girls.”

As TV Insider confirmed, these eliminations are only the beginning. The villa is now primed for even more bombshells, shifting alliances, and the kind of unpredictable twists that have made Love Island a global phenomenon. With so many familiar faces and unresolved stories, viewers can expect the unexpected as the All Stars season continues to unfold night after night.

With the stakes higher than ever and a cast packed with strong personalities, Love Island All Stars 2026 is set to be a season remembered for its bold moves, dramatic exits, and the relentless pursuit of love—or at least, a place in the final.