ITV has officially announced the new start date for the highly anticipated Love Island: All Stars series, after production was dramatically halted over the weekend due to dangerous wildfires near the filming location in South Africa.
New Schedule and Historic Extra Episode
The broadcaster confirmed that the launch of the show's third series will now go ahead on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX. In an unprecedented move for the franchise, ITV also revealed that an extra full episode will air on Saturday, January 17 at 9pm.
This news follows a tense few days after the initial launch, scheduled for Monday evening, was postponed indefinitely. Cast and crew were forced to evacuate the luxury villa on Saturday afternoon as wildfires posed a significant threat to safety.
Maya Jama's Personal Update
Host Maya Jama personally delivered the update to fans in a casual video posted on Instagram. Filmed with her hair in rollers, Jama excitedly told viewers, 'we are back up and running' and that she was heading to the villa to 'start filming in a minute'.
Her message confirmed that the production team had successfully worked to resume filming midweek, following a risk assessment of the location. An ITV spokesperson had previously stated: 'Health and safety is our greatest priority and will always come first.'
All-Star Line-Up Ready for Action
The spin-off series brings back a host of famous faces from previous Love Island seasons, all hoping for a second chance at love and the £50,000 prize. The confirmed line-up includes:
- Series 7 winner Millie Court
- Jack Keating, son of Boyzone's Ronan Keating, from series 8
- Fan favourites including Jess Harding, Whitney Adebayo, and Tommy Bradley
The show's Instagram page reassured fans over the weekend, posting: 'Everyone is safe though and we’re working on bringing you an iconic series.' With the new schedule now locked in, viewers can finally prepare for the return of the hit reality dating show.
