Love Island 2026 has confirmed a major shake-up for its upcoming series 13 launch, airing tonight (1 June). The premiere episode, hosted by Maya Jama, will begin at nighttime for the first time in the show's history, marking a departure from the usual prerecorded daytime format.
ITV released a promotional image showing Jama standing by the iconic Love Island entrance in the dark, teasing an exclusive welcome party under the stars. The network promises the same mix of surprise arrivals, shifting loyalties and instant sparks throughout the season.
Executive producer Lewis Evans hinted at the unprecedented twist while speaking to Radio Times and other press. 'We're doing something that we've never done before in the history of Love Island. We're going to take a big risk and we hope it pays off,' he said, adding that more surprises are in store as the series progresses.
The OG line-up for this year's series includes a student, a teacher, a model and a real estate videographer. Evans also teased new challenges and a revamped villa space with more beds, hinting at additional bombshell arrivals.
Love Island returns on Monday 1 June at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
