If you’ve been frantically refreshing your TV guide or scouring Twitter (X) to figure out when is Love Island All Stars actually starting, you aren’t alone. The schedule has been a total mess. This year, the usual "winter" vibes were replaced by a genuine emergency that nobody—not even the producers—saw coming.
The third series of the spin-off was supposed to be a straightforward January tradition. It wasn't.
The Fire That Almost Cancelled Everything
Honestly, the 2026 launch was basically a disaster before it even began. Everyone was geared up for a Monday, January 12 premiere. Then, the headlines hit. Wildfires near Cape Town, specifically in the Franschhoek area where the villa is located, forced the entire production team to evacuate.
It was a health and safety nightmare.
ITV had to pull the plug at the eleventh hour. For a few days, fans were left in the dark, wondering if the season would even happen. But, thanks to some serious work from the ground crew and a bit of luck with the weather, things got back on track.
The Official Launch Details
So, let’s get to the point. Love Island All Stars officially premiered on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
🔗 Read more: Blink-182 Mark Hoppus: What Most People Get Wrong About His 2026 Comeback
If you missed it, don't panic. Because of the three-day delay, ITV is playing catch-up. They’ve actually scheduled a rare Saturday night episode tonight, January 17, at 9 PM on ITV2. Usually, Saturdays are reserved for Unseen Bits, but this year we’re getting a full-blown episode to make up for lost time.
- Launch Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026
- Time: 9:00 PM GMT
- Channel: ITV2 and ITVX (UK)
- US Premiere: January 17, 2026 on Peacock
Who Is Actually In The Villa?
The cast list for Series 3 is a wild mix of "I remember them!" and "Wait, they’re back again?"
Maya Jama is back hosting, looking as incredible as ever, and Iain Stirling is still providing the voiceover that carries the show. But the real talk is about the Islanders.
Scott van-der-Sluis has officially entered as the first bombshell. This is literally his fourth time on a Love Island franchise. You've got to admire the hustle, or at least the desire to find love on camera. He’s already caused friction with Sean Stone (the sweet shop owner from Series 11), mostly by bringing up old bromance drama with Joey Essex.
The starting line-up includes:
💡 You might also like: Why Grand Funk’s Bad Time is Secretly the Best Pop Song of the 1970s
- Millie Court (Series 7 winner)
- Whitney Adebayo (Series 10 fan favorite)
- Ciaran Davies (Series 11 runner-up)
- Jess Harding (Series 10 winner)
- Jack Keating (Series 8, and yes, Ronan’s son)
- Belle Hassan (Series 5)
It’s a heavy-hitting group. Having two former winners (Millie and Jess) back in the villa is a first for the All Stars format. It shifts the power dynamic significantly.
Why This Season Is Longer Than Usual
One thing most people are getting wrong is the length of the show. In 2024 and 2025, the All Stars seasons felt a bit like a sprint—usually about five weeks.
This year, ITV confirmed that Series 3 will run for six weeks.
That extra week is likely to accommodate the massive cast they’ve teased. Rumors are swirling that Samie Elishi and even Olivia Hawkins (who was in All Stars Series 2) might make appearances later as bombshells. It's becoming a bit of a revolving door, but if the drama stays this high, nobody is going to complain.
Watching From Outside The UK
If you're in the US, the schedule is slightly different. Peacock has the exclusive rights, and they’re operating on a two-day delay. While the UK started on the 15th, US fans are getting the first drop today, January 17.
📖 Related: Why La Mera Mera Radio is Actually Dominating Local Airwaves Right Now
Keep your notifications off if you don't want spoilers. The internet is already flooded with clips of the "No Good" challenge from episode one, where the Islanders had to pin "red flag" labels on each other. It got ugly fast.
What To Watch For Next
The "unfinished business" theme is being pushed hard this year. Specifically, the tension between Shaq Muhammad and his ex Tanya Manhenga (though she isn't in the initial line-up, her name has been mentioned a lot).
The real intrigue, though, is Millie Court. She won the show with Liam Reardon, split, got back together, and split again. Seeing her navigate a villa without him is going to be the main storyline for the first few weeks.
To stay updated on the shifting schedule, keep an eye on the ITVX app. Since the wildfire delay, they’ve been known to shuffle episodes at the last minute to ensure they hit the six-week finale target in late February.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, make sure you have your ITVX notifications turned on for live alerts, and if you're streaming from abroad, ensure your regional settings are sorted before the 9 PM GMT daily drop. Tonight's bonus Saturday episode is expected to feature the first recoupling, which will likely result in the first casualty of the season.