As the curtain fell on the third series of Love Island: All Stars on Monday, February 23, 2026, fans across the UK and beyond found themselves at the edge of their seats, awaiting the final verdict from host Maya Jama live from the South African villa. The much-anticipated finale, airing at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX, marked the culmination of a season brimming with twists, returning faces, and more than a fair share of controversy—leaving many to wonder whether this might be the last we see of the All Stars spin-off.
This year’s series brought together a vibrant mix of former contestants, including two previous winners—Jess Harding and Millie Court—and, for the first time, stars from the US version of the show. The international flavor was meant to shake up the villa, but, as former contestant Luca Bish candidly told the Daily Star, "It’s cool to see Americans come in and mix it up, but I think a bigger structural twist like Casa Amor would've had more impact." Despite the addition of American islanders, most were voted off before the finale, with only Millie’s partner Zac and Whitney’s partner Yamen still standing as the last US representatives.
The final showdown saw six couples vying for the coveted £50,000 prize: Lucinda and Sean, Samie and Ciaran, Leanne and Scott, Harrison and Belle, Millie and Zac, and Whitney and Yamen. The road to the finale was anything but smooth. Just days before the grand event, viewers witnessed a dramatic twist as former islanders Shaq, Curtis, Kyra, Jack, and Imani returned to the villa on Friday, February 20, 2026. Their task? To deliver some tough love and vote out the couple they deemed least compatible. The result: Jessy and Tommy were dumped from the show, missing out on a place in the final six.
Bookmakers were quick to capitalize on the season’s fever pitch, offering a raft of promotions for eager fans hoping to add a little extra thrill to the proceedings. Betfair, William Hill, and bet365 all rolled out enticing sign-up offers, with odds fluctuating in the days leading up to the finale. According to Oddschecker and William Hill, Lucinda Strafford and Sean Stone led the pack as favorites with odds as short as 2/1, while Millie Court and Zac Woodworth followed closely behind at 11/4. Other couples, such as Ciaran Davies and Samie Elishi, Leanne Amaning and Scott van Der Sluis, and Whitney Adebayo with Yamen Sanders, trailed with longer odds, reflecting both betting sentiment and public speculation.
Yet, if the bookmakers had their favorites, the viewing public was far from unanimous. Social media buzzed with opinions, many expressing reluctance to see Lucinda and Sean crowned as champions. "Would love Belle to win just to see the look on Sean and Lucinda's faces," one fan posted, while another pleaded, "Sammie and Ciaran or Millie and Zac to win, please not Lucinda and Sean." Such division underscored the passionate investment viewers have in the show’s outcome—sometimes, betting odds and fan sentiment simply don’t align.
Meanwhile, the series wasn’t short on behind-the-scenes drama. Former contestant AJ Bunker stirred the pot during Sunday night’s episode, hinting at unresolved relationship issues involving Harrison and his former partner, Lauren. Bunker cryptically remarked, "I’ve been on the outside, I've seen things - break-ups or not break-ups…not telling a certain person…" This comment seemed to allude to the timeline of Harrison and Lauren’s relationship, which began during the 2025 summer season and ended—at least officially—in November 2025. Lauren shared on the NotMyBagg podcast that their split was mutual and intended as a break to work on themselves, with hopes of reconciling. However, she noted, "It’s the fact that he’s literally just spoke to me right up until the moment and then just disappeared. You can’t disappear without a trace and go on one of the biggest shows on ITV. I just can’t comprehend the thought process from his perspective." The intrigue around their status added another layer of complexity to the season’s narrative.
Of course, not all the drama was romantic. Luca Bish recalled a lighter, if somewhat irritating, moment from his own time in the villa: "The biggest issue we had was a cricket that somehow got into the villa. It was so loud we thought we weren’t going to sleep at all. They had people coming in with ladders trying to find it, couldn’t get it, so we all ended up with earplugs. That was the noisiest part." Sometimes, it’s the little things—like a rogue cricket—that make reality TV truly memorable!
As the dust settled on the finale, questions about the future of Love Island: All Stars lingered. Casey O'Gorman, winner of the second series in 2025 and a veteran of four appearances, openly speculated that this might be the last hurrah for the All Stars format. "I personally think this will be the last series," he admitted to the Daily Star, adding, "My Love Island days are done. I've hung my boots up because I won the last season but that's not to say that I wouldn't do other TV shows, whether that maybe dating or more non-dating show." O'Gorman noted that many original All Stars candidates declined to return, feeling they’d outgrown the show, and doubted a fourth series was in the cards.
The show’s structure itself was a topic of debate. While the introduction of American contestants brought a new dimension, some, like Bish, felt it didn’t cause a "huge stir." He observed, "Anyone who was open to getting to know someone else already did, and it didn’t cause a huge stir." The Villa USA twist, promising in theory, ultimately saw most American islanders voted off before the final, leaving only a couple to compete for the prize.
Looking back, the history of the All Stars series has offered both fleeting and lasting romances. Last year’s winners, Casey O’Gorman and Gabby Allen, have since gone their separate ways, while inaugural champions Molly Smith and Tom Clare still remain together as of 2026. As for this year’s newly minted winners, only time will tell if their love will survive outside the bubble of the villa.
For now, Love Island: All Stars continues to capture the imagination of fans and bookmakers alike, blending romance, rivalry, and the ever-present lure of a cash prize. Whether this marks the end of the All Stars journey or just another chapter remains to be seen, but one thing’s certain: the show’s mix of drama and unpredictability keeps everyone guessing until the very last moment.