The sun is setting on another whirlwind season of Love Island All Stars, and as the villa doors prepare to close in South Africa, the drama has reached a fever pitch. The ITV2 spin-off, which returned last month after a delayed start due to wildfires near Cape Town, has delivered on its promise of romance, rivalry, and the kind of jaw-dropping moments that have become the show’s trademark. With the grand finale set for February 23, 2026, at 9pm, fans are buzzing about who will walk away as this season’s champions—and which couples will even make it past the villa gates.
This year, the All Stars edition gathered fan favorites and notorious ex-contestants, inviting them to try their luck at love once more. The familiar faces jetted off to the South African villa, ready to navigate the complexities of rekindled flings, new connections, and the ever-present threat of elimination. But nothing could have prepared the Islanders—or the audience—for the explosive events of the last 48 hours.
In a twist that left viewers both stunned and vindicated, original Islander Belle Hassan and late arrival Harrison Solomon were eliminated from the competition just hours before the final. Their exit followed a dramatic firepit showdown, orchestrated by the return of previous Islanders who were handed the power to decide which couple was least compatible. According to OK! and The Sun, the returning cast didn’t hold back, grilling Harrison about his recent breakup with Lauren Wood—his ex-girlfriend, with whom he’d been in regular contact until joining the show. The tension in the air was palpable as the former Islanders justified their decisions in front of the entire villa.
Harrison, for his part, insisted that he and Lauren had ended things back in October 2025, but the timeline—and the ongoing communication—left many skeptical. "The girls in particular all felt very protective of 2025 star Lauren Wood, who Harrison was secretly dating on the outside but dumped to join All Stars – without even telling her," a source told The Sun. The result? Belle and Harrison were unceremoniously dumped from the villa, with only a slim three percent of readers in a Sun poll believing they’d have lasted as a couple outside the show. In fact, 42 percent ranked them as the least genuine pairing of the season.
The firepit showdown wasn’t just about Belle and Harrison, though. It also reignited simmering tensions among the remaining couples. Fans had already been speculating that Scott van-der-Sluis and Leanne Amaning, as well as Sean Stone and Lucinda Strafford, would be in the hot seat. Throughout the season, Lucinda and Scott’s fiery arguments became must-see TV, with Charlie Frederick—one of the returning Islanders—wasting no time in calling Scott "the biggest snake" in the villa. Meanwhile, Shaq Muhammad openly questioned Lucinda’s feelings for Sean, suggesting she was "putting on an act." These confrontations, reported by Mirror and OK!, only fueled the drama that has defined this All Stars run.
After the dust settled, five couples remained in the competition: Scott van-der-Sluis and Leanne Amaning, Sean Stone and Lucinda Strafford, Samie Elishi and Ciaran Davies, Yamen Sanders and Whitney Adebayo, and Millie Court and Zac Woodworth. Each pair brings their own unique dynamic to the finale, but public opinion is sharply divided on who deserves to win—and who’s simply playing the game.
According to a Sun readers’ poll, Lucinda and her sweet shop owner partner Sean are narrowly leading the fan vote with 28.8 percent, while Scott and Leanne are hot on their heels at 27.7 percent. Samie and Ciaran round out the top three. Yet, the same poll reveals that 37 percent of respondents believe Lucinda and Sean are "faking it" for the cameras, and only two percent think Belle and Harrison would have lasted as a couple back in the UK. The skepticism doesn’t stop there: even the newly formed international couples, such as Yamen Sanders and Whitney Adebayo (he’s based in Los Angeles, she’s in London), and Millie Court with Zac Woodworth, face long odds in fans’ eyes, with only four and thirteen percent, respectively, backing them to make it outside the villa.
Despite the controversies, the All Stars series has been a ratings juggernaut for ITV2. After kicking off three days late due to the wildfires—a delay confirmed by an ITV spokesperson who said, "Health and safety is our greatest priority and will always come first"—the show rebounded spectacularly. It’s been streamed 80 million times on ITVX, with 58 percent of viewers tuning in through the digital platform, according to The Sun. The season has also attracted its fair share of complaints—over 12,000 to Ofcom—mostly related to the show’s trademark rows and bust-ups. Still, 39 percent of viewers surveyed said they "loved" the drama, with another 45 percent preferring a balance of romance and confrontation. And let’s not forget the record-breaking number of kisses: more than 50 snogs in the first four days alone!
This season also marked a global first for the franchise with the "Villa USA" twist, introducing six American All Stars to the South African villa. The move led to two transatlantic romances—Yamen Sanders with Whitney Adebayo, and Zac Woodworth with Millie Court—though fans remain skeptical about their longevity. As one might expect, the unique dynamic added another layer of intrigue to an already combustible atmosphere.
At the center of it all is host Maya Jama, who has earned widespread praise for her handling of the chaos. Seventy-five percent of viewers rated her work this season as top-notch, the highest since she took over the role in 2023. Her ability to steer the ship through storms of controversy and romance alike has been a stabilizing force for the franchise, which only a few years ago faced calls for cancellation.
As the clock ticks down to the finale, the question on everyone’s mind is: who will Maya Jama crown as the 2026 Love Island All Stars champions? Will it be one of the fan favorites, or will the underdogs pull off a surprise victory? One thing is certain—this season has reignited the passion of Love Island fans and proved that, even after years on air, the show still has the power to shock, entertain, and spark conversation across the UK and beyond.
With the final five couples preparing for one last night in the villa, viewers everywhere are bracing for the ultimate reveal. Whatever happens, it’s safe to say that this season’s blend of romance, rivalry, and reality TV spectacle has set a new standard for All Stars editions to come.