Another year, another batch of Married At First Sight couples.
The MAFS 2026 cohort have burst onto our screens but since the experts paired them up, we have to admit there have been more break ups than aspirational love stories so far.
We’ve done a deep dive and you guessed it, it’s already game over for some.
Alissa and David: Apparently so
Things were awkward when Alissa refused to marry her groom unless he got down on one knee and proposed to her.
However, despite one of the most graphic first kisses, a honeymoon injury and a feud with some of the experiment’s other brides, Alissa and David appear to be going strong.
Throughout the experiment, both have been fierce defenders of each other especially at those dramatic dinner parties.
In August 2025, the Daily Mail shared photos of the two holding hands while filming together in Sydney which looks like they may have made it all the way to the end of the experiment.
Rachel and Steven: Trouble in paradise?
These sweeties said ‘I do’ aboard a boat in Sydney Harbour but has their love drifted out to sea?
The pair are giving the experiment their all and are still following each other on Instagram (a promising sign) but there have been some awkward moments, including tears on the honeymoon, intimacy hiccups and of course all the finger b***ing drama.
Speaking to Daily Mail, Rachel admitted that though she and Bec are friends, the retreat in general impacted her and Steven’s intimacy.
“It very much put our relationship on ice and set us back because Steven also struggled to understand why it had upset me, even though I could clearly articulate why,” she told the publication.
“I just feel like I spent retreat trying to explain myself. We all have feelings and people’s feelings get hurt at different times by different things, and I don’t feel like anyone should have to explain that. It should simply be respected.”
Mel and Luke: So over
When your groom is late to the wedding after leaving the rings behind, it’s not exactly the best start.
Tensions were high on self-proclaimed “pink girl” Mel and her farmer husband Luke on their wedding day and since we haven’t seen any sparks fly between them, we doubt these two will have that fairytale ending.
Even though they bonded a little more over Intimacy Week, Mel’s comments to TV WEEK implied before they’d even left that it was well and truly over.
Recalling her on-screen big day, Mel said, “I remember when we were leaving the wedding, I just waved bye to them all and felt sad. Is this really a person that I’m meant to be with? It started off on the wrong foot from the get-go.”
The couple chose to leave the experiment at the second commitment ceremony but are on good terms.
Mel even hinted that she and Luke, who are both still single, had a “nice” moment at the reunion.
Gia and Scott: So much for the “strongest couple”
She’s one of the season’s feistiest brides but many fans thought Gia’s love story with Scott actually had legs… and then *those* photos of her and former Love Triangle contestant Alan Wallace came out.
The couple met on the beach for their wedding and their sexual chemistry grew fast despite taking it slow on the honeymoon.
The pair even got matching tattoos and continue to appear strong on the show, but at the end of February, Gia was spotted walking with Alan in Melbourne, and later confirmed they were dating.
What happened to Gia and Scott, the self-proclaimed “strongest couple” on the show? Guess we shall have to stay tuned.
Bec and Danny: Doubt it
Despite some awkwardness on the wedding day, we thought that Bec and Danny would be ones to watch.
There was no chemistry at first for Danny and he even checked another woman out on the honeymoon. Let’s not forget the rumours that Danny said Gia was more his type and Danny’s awkward reaction to Bec dropping the L bomb.
They’ve had more ups and downs than a rollercoaster and seem to be experts at bringing drama to the group so we doubt these two will be the season’s great love story.
But it looks like Bec and Danny will be on the show for a while as Bec and Gia will come head-to-head at a few more of the dinner parties. Bring on the drama!
Brook and Chris: Over and out
We have to admit, at first we felt for Brook when she was partnered with MAFS sceptic Chris.
Between saying his dealbreaker being an “overweight” wife and having a tantrum when his bride wouldn’t kiss him, he was always going to cause some drama.
Fans were surprised to see her behaviour when she turned on brides Stella and Alissa, but even more so when she walked out of the experiment and then came back.
However, Brook is doing just fine post-show. In fact, she is engaged and expecting a baby with her ex, 28-year-old builder Harry.
“I had a dream that I was pregnant. I woke up and thought, ‘That was crazy,’ but I did a pregnancy test… and it was positive!” Brook exclusively told Woman’s Day.
Brook reportedly reunited with her ex Harry only two weeks after she left the MAFS experiment, with the model admitting to the experts during the casting process that she had only been single mere days before signing up for the experiment.
“Harry invited me away to the Maldives a couple of weeks later for a surfing trip with his family friends and that just cemented things for me. We just had the most beautiful time. We were better than we had ever been,” she told Woman’s Day.
Meanwhile Chris appears to be single judging by his Instagram bio “Just a guy with a broken heart 💔”
Rebecca and Steve: Negative
Sparks flew when the experiment’s oldest couple showed just how young at heart they are on their wedding.
Whilst there were clues that Rebecca and Steve were making it work in the real world, things went downhill after Steve listed all her red flags to the other grooms.
After many tears and Steve’s refusal to participate in Intimacy Week, the pair left the experiment at the second commitment ceremony.
Rebecca told nine.com.au that she’s “definitely ready” to go back into the dating pool, explaining, “Being single for eight years, I didn’t realise how lonely I am, I actually want to find love more than anything,” she revealed.
“I’m definitely ready to find love, hopefully he might find me.”
Steve is also still single and told nine.com.au that he’s ready for love after three years of single life.
“I think I’ve just got to be patient. I’m not going to rush it, that’s for sure.”
Julia and Grayson: Wasn’t meant to be
It was a MAFS first when bisexual bride Julia revealed she wasn’t sure if she’d be partnered with a man or woman as she walked down the aisle.
But Grayson, whose friend Johnny found his real life love on the show back in 2021, seems to be a great fit for her.
But despite a strong start, the intimacy was never there for Julia and Grayson and they chose to leave during the third commitment ceremony.
Whilst Grayson is still single, Julia confirmed she has a new partner on Stan’s After The Dinner Party.
“Two months after the experiment finished, I went to do a singing lesson with this particular woman (and apparently I’m not a good singer),” she explained.
“But I realised I didn’t really want her to be my singing teacher and we’ve been seeing each other since then.”
Stella and Filip: Please say yes!
Sparks flew at this MAFS wedding when Stella and Filip locked eyes on one another and they’ve become our favourite 2026 couple.
Despite some worries from Stella’s friends that her new husband was only on the show to boost his YouTube channel, they seem to have gone from strength to strength.
In the trailer for the fifth commitment ceremony, though, a tearful Stella admits, “If I’m being honest with myself and with Filip… this is a break up.” Cue panic in the WHO office.
But there have been a few clues that the couple have made it official in the real world. Stella and Filip were caught on camera hand-in-hand walking in Sydney’s Cronulla plus, Leila, Stella’s friend who was initially unsure about Filip and his intentions, is now following him on social media, and he is following her back.
Stephanie and Tyson: Nope
2026’s most polarising groom Tyson said he was after a submissive woman more times than we’d care to count.
After being matched with Stephanie they bonded over their conservative view points but the constant fights and disagreements didn’t exactly scream healthy relationship.
The pair weren’t meant to be, with Tyson dramatically walking out of the fourth Commitment Ceremony and since then they’ve gone their separate ways.
“Since I’ve come out of the show, I have been dating a little bit more,” Stephanie revealed. “And funnily enough, people I thought I would never date.”
Tyson’s also been dating since leaving the show but admitted to nine.com.au that he’s not in a hurry to find Mrs Right.
“I’m just trying to find that partner, I believe she is out there somewhere for me but it’s not something I’m going to rush. I feel like for me, I need to take it slow and just see what happens.”
Juliette and Joel: Yikes
There was a collective groan when we heard Joel’s cringeworthy vows but things went from cringe to cruel quickly.
At their second dinner party, Juliette exploded accusing Joel of being a “liar” and outing the fact that he still owns a teddy bear to the group. She even admitted that she likes the teddy more than Joel.
“The part that troubles me the most was there was a pre-meditation about what she was going to do, it’s cold and calculated. It was almost bone-chilling, that,” Joel said on After The Dinner Party.
However, in a move that surprised everyone (including Joel), Juliette decided to stay in the experiment during the Commitment Ceremony on March 8, vowing to be better behaved and treat her new husband with “respect”.
But after her attacks on Bec during the retreat and a snippet of the trailer showing her say “I don’t think this experiment is for me” before walking out of the fifth commitment ceremony, Juliette looks like she is done with her MAFS experience.
Chris and Sam: Our favourites have fallen
They were the intruder couple we were all rooting for and while things for the experiment’s only same-sex couple started off well, a bump in the road made everything unravel.
While Chris’ admission that he’s expecting two kids in the near future wasn’t the news to break the pair, their clash of communication styles was, ultimately leaving Sam in tears and Chris ready for a fresh start. After Sam brought up his struggle to have a constructive conversation with Chris at the dinner party, behind-the-scenes footage of Chris and Gia mocking Sam showed the groom that their split was probably for the best.
The unseen footage revealed that what Chris said in front of the group was very different to what he said to producers with Gia by his side.
“I’m sorry babe, you share accommodation with three other people and you don’t pay for dinner, I’ve paid for every single f–king dinner,” he said. “And he was all about coupons too… he had the coupons all out ready to f–king go.”
Before this footage even aired, Sam was open to learning from the experts’ feedback and admitted on the show that he’s okay with making more “sacrifices” in the relationship. However, in the end, Chris was ready to “put [his] dad hat on and leave.”
It seems the pair don’t have much contact now, with Chris last seen partying with Gia and renovating his house, and Sam dancing topless in Adelaide. Friends or not, it seems they both are where they need to be.
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