Reality TV fans, get ready: the drama, romance, and fierce competition of Love Island Games is set to return for its highly anticipated second season. After a successful debut in November 2023, which saw the franchise’s first all-star cast of returning Islanders, the show has rapidly become one of the most talked-about reality series in recent memory. Peacock, riding high on the show’s popularity, confirmed the renewal of Love Island Games for a second season soon after the conclusion of Love Island U.S. Season 6 in 2024. Now, with the premiere date just around the corner—Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET and 6 p.m. PT—the excitement is palpable.
What’s new for this season? For starters, the cast is a global mix, featuring 14 returning Islanders from the U.S., U.K., France, Malta, Belgium, the Netherlands, and even Australia. The cast announcement, made on September 9, 2025, revealed some familiar faces and a few surprises. Andrea Carmona (U.S. Season 6), Andreina Santos-Marte (U.S. Season 7), Charlie Georgiou (U.S. Season 7), Christopher “Chris” Seeley (U.S. Season 7), Garbi Denteh (Belgium/Netherlands Season 4), Isaiah Campbell (U.S. Season 4), Josh Goldstein (U.S. Season 3), Vickala “Kay Kay” Gray (U.S. Season 5), Kendall Washington (U.S. Season 6), Lucinda Strafford (U.K. Season 7 & AUS Season 5), Mert Okatan (Belgium/Netherlands Seasons 2 & 3), Nicola Gauci Borda-Warr (Malta Season 1), Solène Favreau (France Season 2), and Tyrique Hyde (U.K. Season 10) will all be vying for romance and victory in the Fijian villa.
Love Island Games is more than just a dating show. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the format blends the familiar recoupling and eliminations of the original franchise with a heightened focus on challenges. Islanders compete in team and couples’ challenges that can determine who’s safe, who’s vulnerable, and who gets eliminated. The stakes are high, and the competition fierce, with the final couples facing off in duels for the ultimate cash prize. As Screen Rant pointed out, this unique twist offers past contestants a second shot at love and glory, while viewers get a front-row seat to both the romance and the rivalry.
This season, interactivity is ramped up. For the first time, fans can vote in real time for their favorite couples using the Love Island USA app, directly influencing who stays and who gets dumped from the villa. New episodes will air Thursdays through Tuesdays, with “Hump Day” (Wednesday) as the show’s only day off. During premiere week, episodes will drop daily at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET, ensuring fans can keep up with the drama as it unfolds.
The show’s hosting lineup is a major draw. Ariana Madix, who recently took over as host of Love Island U.S., now steps into the spotlight for Love Island Games Season 2, replacing Maya Jama from Season 1. Madix’s charisma and reality TV savvy are expected to bring fresh energy to the series. Meanwhile, Maura Higgins, a fan-favorite from Love Island UK and a future cast member on The Traitors Season 4, will continue as the show’s social media ambassador and host the weekly recap show, Love Island Aftersun. The ever-witty Iain Stirling returns as narrator, ensuring the show’s signature humor and commentary remain intact.
Among the cast, several contestants have intriguing backstories. Solène Favreau, for example, is currently making waves on Below Deck Season 12, set to conclude just a day before the Love Island Games premiere. Before her stint on Bravo, Solène competed on Love Island France Season 4, earning her spot in the Games. In the newly released trailer, she describes herself as someone who enjoys a good hookup but isn’t necessarily known for hard work—a wild card, if ever there was one.
Other notable personalities include Josh Goldstein, who left Love Island USA Season 3 after a family tragedy but is back and ready to compete. “I got the brains, I got the looks, I got the banter, as they say. It’s game day, baby. Let’s go!” he exclaims in the trailer. Mert Okatan, who previously played professional soccer, brings a competitive edge, vowing, “I hate to lose.” Tyrique Hyde, representing Love Island UK Season 10, is candid about his priorities: “If I find a girl that I like and she’s sh*t at challenges, I’m gonna weigh up how much I like her. Feelings change, money never changes.”
Viewers can also expect the arrival of “Bombshells”—new singles who enter the villa throughout the season to shake things up, as confirmed by USA Today. This tradition, borrowed from the original Love Island format, ensures that just when Islanders think they have the game figured out, new faces (and new temptations) arrive to disrupt alliances and relationships.
The legacy of Love Island Games is already notable. Season 1, which aired in November 2023, is widely regarded as one of the best reality TV finales of that year. The winners, Justine Ndiba (U.S. Season 2) and Jack Fowler (U.K. Season 4), took home the cash prize after 17 days of competition. However, despite their on-screen chemistry, the pair announced just four months after the finale that they had decided to remain friends. Justine has since appeared on Netflix’s Perfect Match Season 3, further cementing her status as a reality TV fixture.
The formula for Love Island Games Season 2 appears to be a winning one: a diverse international cast, a beloved host, a blend of romance and competition, real-time fan engagement, and the promise of unexpected twists. As Parade and Reality Tea both highlight, this season’s cast is not only a testament to the global reach of the franchise but also to its knack for producing reality TV stars who know how to entertain—and surprise—audiences.
For those eager to watch, Love Island Games remains exclusive to Peacock, with episodes streaming at the same time as Love Island U.S. episodes—around 9 p.m. ET. With the season’s finale date yet to be announced, but expected around late September or early October, one thing is certain: this season promises a wild ride from start to finish.
As the countdown to the premiere continues, fans are left to speculate: Who will find love? Who will outplay the competition? And, perhaps most importantly, who will win the hearts of viewers across the globe? If history is any guide, Love Island Games Season 2 is set to deliver all the drama, romance, and surprises that fans crave—plus a few new twists for good measure.
