EastEnders fans have around four months before all the mysteries from the New Year flashforward are revealed. Based on what is known so far, some plot points appear to be answered, but others have created even more questions.
EastEnders' 2026 New Year special took place a year in the future, focusing on Max Branning's (Jake Wood) wedding. In the episode, he was getting married for the fifth time to a yet-to-be-revealed bride but woke up with a mystery pregnant woman.
He then did not make it to his wedding because he was arrested for soliciting a murder. While his brother Jack (Scott Maslen), who had a mystery baby with him, was helping Max out, a gunman took Max's children Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) and Oscar (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) hostage and told him to choose one to save.
Who is the bride?
At the moment, Max is engaged to Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins), making her a frontrunner to be the bride at New Year. The key problem is that the two are set to get married in early September.
Either the wedding goes wrong and they reschedule for New Year (their original wedding date), or Max is marrying someone else. It would be unlikely that a person can have both a failed engagement and a wedding to someone else in less than five months, but this is Max 'The Walford Womaniser' Branning.
The other frontrunner to walk down the aisle is Linda Carter (Kellie Bright). She and Max have history and a daughter, and it was not that long ago that the two seemed to be heading down a romantic road again. Kellie Bright is leaving the show, and a Walford wedding never gets off without a hitch, so this could be how she makes her exit after 13 years.
Who is the pregnant woman?
Max wakes up with a pregnant woman who is not his bride. This is not totally surprising as he is known for his affairs, one of which has happened very recently. Max was sleeping with his employee Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Levy), who is pregnant and has decided to keep the baby.
Given their affair started in late May, Priya could be up to three months pregnant already, meaning she would be seven months pregnant by early January. But fans are not totally convinced it is her, with some saying it seems too soon for the mystery pregnant woman to be revealed.
Fans are predicting the return of one of Max's many lovers. Some have suggested his ex-wife Tanya Cross (Jo Joyner), while others have gone for Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner). For both, Max is not the father of the baby and is instead providing protection to the woman. Stacey is expected to return to the soap at some point, especially as her brother Sean (Rob Kazinsky) will be returning too. The characters are currently in Brazil together, so Sean's return has many thinking that Stacey cannot be far behind.
Who is the gunman?
Nothing is known about this person, who takes Lauren and Oscar hostage but not Max's third child Annie Carter (Lois Hawkins). Other than those basic facts given during the flashforward, nothing else is known.
Since the beginning, Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) has been a top suspect, mostly because people thought Priya might be the pregnant woman (based on her sigh) and figured Ravi's unstable mental health might mean he does something drastic when he discovers her child is Max's. This theory has weight given not only Priya and Max's affair but the news that Aaron Thiara is leaving the show.
Another theory that has gained traction is that the gunman is Mick Carter (Danny Dyer). Some have suggested that Mick, who has been lost at sea since 2022, will return for one or two episodes as part of Linda's exit. Should one of the four children they share together die because of Max, it would make sense for Mick, either with Linda or simply for her, to force Max to choose one of his children to die in an eye for an eye revenge plan. This would also mean Annie's absence from the hostage plan makes sense, as she is Linda's daughter.
An early theory was Cindy, as Max is the reason her son Steven (Aaron Sidwell) is dead. Years ago, Max tried to force Steven to kill Jane Beale (Laurie Brett) and when he refused, Max pushed him, causing the character to land on a hard corner. That caused internal injuries, leading to his death.
It could even be Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks), Albert Square's most prolific murderess.
What happens to Penny?
Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine) was not in the flashforward, but her dad Jack was taking care of a baby called Ethan. Since the episode, Penny has become pregnant and suffered a health issue, landing her in hospital. There is also an unresolved paternity problem as the dad could be either Vinny Panesar (Shiv Jalota) or Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway), though neither are aware of the question, as she has maintained that Vinny is the father.
Most people think that either Penny will die in childbirth or that she will suffer from post-partum depression and not be able to take care of the baby. They are also certain that the paternity question will come back up and Harry will be revealed as the father, leading to the Panesars taking a step back and leaving only Jack to take care of the child in Penny's absence.
Who did Max try to have murdered?
Max may or may not have tried to solicit a murder of someone. He may have been set up. Either way, he is going to be arrested for the crime on his wedding day.
Those inclined to believe that Max did solicit the murder have guessed it might be Ravi, to protect Priya, or Craig Ingram (Matthew James-Bailey) to protect his niece Amy Branning (Ellie Dadd). Those who think he has been set up have guessed Mick, as part of a revenge plan, or Cindy, for the same reason.
