If you’ve ever sat down with your snacks ready, only to realize you have no idea what channel is Love Island on this year, you’re definitely not the only one. The franchise is a bit of a moving target. Between the UK original, the US version, and those chaotic Australian seasons, the "where to watch" question gets complicated fast. Plus, 2026 has already thrown us a massive curveball with production delays and network shifts that left even the most dedicated fans refreshing their apps in a panic.
Honestly, it’s a lot to keep track of. You've got different streaming platforms for different countries, and if you’re trying to watch the UK version from the States, you're looking at a completely different setup than someone sitting in a London flat.
The Current State of Play: Love Island UK and All Stars
Right now, the big talk is Love Island: All Stars Series 3. It was supposed to kick off on January 12, 2026, but nature had other plans. Wildfires in South Africa’s Western Cape forced a production evacuation—talk about actual drama before the cameras even rolled.
In the United Kingdom, the home of the show remains ITV2.
If you are watching live on a traditional telly, that’s your spot. Most people nowadays have moved over to ITVX, which is ITV’s free streaming platform. It’s where the episodes drop at 9:00 p.m. GMT. If you miss the live broadcast, it’s usually uploaded for on-demand viewing shortly after.
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What Channel is Love Island in the USA?
For those across the pond, the answer to what channel is Love Island depends entirely on which version you’re craving.
If you want the brand new All Stars season (the one that just started on January 15 in the UK), you need Peacock. NBC’s streaming service has become the exclusive home for the UK imports. But here is the catch: there is a two-day delay. While the Brits are seeing the fallout of a recoupling on Thursday, US fans usually have to wait until Saturday at 9:00 p.m. ET to see it legally on Peacock.
- Love Island USA: This also lives on Peacock. It moved there from CBS a few years back and never looked back.
- Love Island UK (Regular Seasons): Also Peacock. They usually carry the summer seasons with that same slight delay.
- Older Seasons: If you’re looking for a nostalgia trip to the era of Maura Higgins or Molly-Mae, you can often find those back-catalogues on Hulu, though the newest stuff is almost always on Peacock now.
Watching from Australia or Anywhere Else
Aussie fans usually look to 9Now. It’s the free-to-air streaming arm of Channel 9. Historically, they’ve been pretty good about airing the UK version shortly after it hits the northern hemisphere. For Love Island Australia itself, 9Now is the primary home.
What if you’re traveling?
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That is where things get "kinda" technical. Many viewers use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to make their laptop think they are in London or Sydney. This allows them to log into ITVX or 9Now regardless of their physical location. It’s a bit of a gray area with terms of service, but it’s basically the open secret of the Love Island community.
The 2026 Schedule Shakeup
Because of those South African wildfires I mentioned, the schedule is a bit wonky. The premiere finally happened on January 15, 2026. This means the usual "Unseen Bits" episodes that normally air on Saturdays might be replaced by actual new episodes for the first week or two to make up for lost time.
Why Finding the Right Channel Matters
It isn't just about missing the "I’ve got a text!" shouts. It’s about spoilers.
The internet moves fast. If you’re waiting three days for an episode to move from ITV2 to a US streamer, Twitter (X) and TikTok will have already ruined the surprise for you. Knowing exactly what channel is Love Island helps you plan your "social media blackout" periods.
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Quick Summary for the Busy Fan
If you just need the highlights, here is how the landscape looks this week:
- UK Viewers: ITV2 (Linear TV) or ITVX (Streaming).
- US Viewers: Peacock (Exclusively).
- Australian Viewers: 9Now.
- Canadian Viewers: Often CTV or Hayu, though Peacock's US exclusivity sometimes makes Canadian rights a bit of a scramble.
Actionable Steps for the Next Season
To make sure you never miss an episode again, do these three things right now:
- Download the App: If you’re in the US, get the Peacock app and make sure your subscription is active before the summer season starts. If you're in the UK, ensure your ITVX login still works; they log you out more often than you’d think.
- Check the Time Zones: Remember that 9:00 p.m. GMT is 4:00 p.m. ET. If you see people screaming on social media at 4:00 p.m., you know the UK episode has just finished.
- Clear Your Cache: If you’re using a streaming service like ITVX on a browser, sometimes the "Live" player glitches. A quick cache clear usually fixes the "this content is not available" error message that plagues international fans.
Basically, the "channel" is now an app. Whether it's Peacock or ITVX, the days of flipping through a physical remote are mostly over. Just make sure your Wi-Fi is strong because nothing ruins a dramatic dumping like a buffering wheel.