Love Island (American TV series)
American dating reality series
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Love Island (also known as Love Island USA outside of the United States[5] and domestically starting with season 4) is an American dating reality show based on the British series Love Island. The series was originally announced and commissioned in 2018, by CBS, and premiered on July 9, 2019, where it aired for its first three seasons. The series was then sold to Peacock starting from the fourth season.[6] The show is presented by Ariana Madix and narrated by Iain Stirling. The show was previously hosted by Arielle Vandenberg for its first three seasons and Sarah Hyland for its fourth and fifth seasons.[7][8][9]
| Love Island | |
|---|---|
| |
| Also known as | Love Island USA |
| Genre | Reality |
| Based on | Love Island by Richard Cowles |
| Presented by | |
| Starring | Love Island contestants |
| Narrated by | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 8 |
| No. of episodes | 238 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Production locations | |
| Cinematography | Quinn Jessop |
| Production company | ITV Entertainment |
| Budget | $30 million[4] |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | July 9, 2019 – August 15, 2021 |
| Network | Peacock |
| Release | July 19, 2022 – present |
| Related | |
The series has achieved greater success on Peacock. The show notably broke viewership records during its sixth and seventh seasons, becoming the #1 reality series in the U.S. across all streaming platforms, with 434 million minutes viewed, according to Nielsen data.[10][11] The series is notable for strategically utilizing social media to promote the show, with clips often going viral across varied platforms, leading many critics to label it a "pop culture phenomenon."[12][13][14][15] As a result of its success, Peacock green-lit a spin-off titled Love Island: Beyond the Villa, which premiered on July 13, 2025.[16][17]
The eighth season premiered on June 2, 2026.[18]
Format
Love Island involves a group of contestants, referred to as Islanders, living in isolation from the outside world in a villa, constantly under video surveillance. To survive in the villa the Islanders must be coupled up with another Islander, whether it be for love, friendship, or survival, as the overall winning couple receives $100,000. On the first day, the Islanders couple up for the first time based on first impressions, but over the duration of the series, they are forced to "re-couple" where they can choose (or be chosen) to remain in their current couple or swap and change.
Any Islander who remains single after the coupling is eliminated and "dumped" from the island. Islanders can also be eliminated via a public vote during the series. The public can vote for their favorite couple or who they think is the most compatible through the Love Island app available on smartphones. Couples who receive the fewest votes risk being eliminated. Occasionally, twists may occur where the islanders must eliminate each other. During the final week, the public vote for which couple they want to win the series and take home the prize.
Whilst in the villa, each Islander has their own phone with which they can only contact other Islanders via text – or receive texts informing them of the latest challenges, dumping, or re-coupling. Islanders and couples take part in many games and challenges. Some Islanders are also sent on dates outside the villa, or can win dates by winning challenges. Occasionally, a pair of islanders are chosen to be sent to The Hideaway, where they are able to spend one night together apart from the other couples.
Hosts
- Color key
| Roles | Season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| Main Host | ||||||||
| Arielle Vandenberg | ||||||||
| Sarah Hyland | ||||||||
| Ariana Madix | ||||||||
| Aftersun Host | ||||||||
| Maura Higgins | ||||||||
| Sophie Monk | ||||||||
| Ciara Miller | ||||||||
| Tefi Pessoa | ||||||||
| Narrator | ||||||||
| Matthew Hoffman | ||||||||
| Iain Stirling | ||||||||
Production
Development
On February 22, 2006, it was announced that an American version of Celebrity Love Island was in development at MyNetworkTV, but the show was not produced.[19][20] On August 8, 2018, it was reported that CBS acquired the rights to an American non-celebrity version of the series from ITV Studios and Motion Content Group with David George, Adam Sher, and David Eilenberg serving as executive producers.[21] Simon Thomas, Mandy Morris, Ben Thursby, Richard Foster, and Chet Fenster later joined the series as additional executive producers in addition to the original three.[22] Arielle Vandenberg was later announced to be hosting the series.[23]
The first season of Love Island ran from July 9, 2019, to August 7, 2019. It was filmed at Villa Takali,[24] in Fiji. The show was renewed for a second season on August 1, 2019, while the first season was still being broadcast. On January 27, 2021, it was announced that the show was renewed for a third season, this time taking place in Hawaii.[25] On May 13, 2021, it was announced that the third season would premiere on July 7, 2021.[26] On February 23, 2022, the series was renewed for a fourth and fifth season and moved to Peacock in summer 2022. The fourth season took place in California.[27] On November 16, 2023, Peacock renewed the series for a sixth and seventh season. With the sixth season premiere on June 11, 2024, there were new twists and turns, including a new host. Previously, Love Island USA was hosted by Sarah Hyland, whereas season six and seven were hosted by Ariana Madix in the all new villa located in Fiji.[28][29] On March 13, 2026, Peacock renewed the series for season eight with a premiere date set for June 2, 2026.[30]
Maura Higgins was announced as the host for the Love Island USA Aftersun in season six.[31] Sophie Monk joined as the new host of Aftersun for season seven, though Higgins returned as host for the last episode.[32] Eyal Booker filled in for Monk as the Aftersun host for a single episode during the season.[33] On May 11, 2026, it was announced that Summer House star Ciara Miller and Tefi Pessoa would be co-hosting Aftersun for season eight.[34]
Broadcast
Love Island opened with a 90-minute premiere on July 9, 2019, and aired every weeknight through August 7, 2019, for a total of 22 episodes in its first season.[35][36] In addition to the CBS broadcasts, the series is simulcast on CTV in Canada,[37] with the second season also airing in Australia on the 9Now streaming platform. In the United Kingdom, it also aired on ITVBe in 2019 then later ITV2 in 2020. ITVBe acquired its third season.[citation needed]
Series overview
| Season | Islanders | Days | Location | Host | Episodes | Originally released | Winners | Runners-up | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | Network | |||||||||
| 1 | 25 | 30 | Fiji | Arielle Vandenberg | 22 | July 9, 2019 | August 7, 2019 | CBS | Elizabeth Weber & Zac Mirabelli | Alexandra Stewart & Dylan Curry | |
| 2 | 31 | 40 | Las Vegas, Nevada | 34 | August 24, 2020 | September 30, 2020 | Caleb Corprew & Justine Ndiba | Cely Vazquez & Johnny Middlebrooks | |||
| 3 | 34 | Nīnole, Hawaii | 29 | July 7, 2021 | August 15, 2021 | Korey Gandy & Olivia Kaiser | Kyra Lizama & Will Moncada | ||||
| 4 | 32 | Santa Barbara, California | Sarah Hyland | 38 | July 19, 2022 | September 1, 2022 | Peacock | Timmy Pandolfi & Zeta Morrison | Isaiah Campbell & Sydney Paight | ||
| 5 | 33 | Fiji | 37 | July 18, 2023 | August 27, 2023 | Hannah Wright & Marco Donatelli | Kassy Castillo & Leonardo Dionicio | ||||
| 6 | Ariana Madix | 37 | June 11, 2024 | August 19, 2024 | Kordell Beckham & Serena Page | Leah Kateb & Miguel Harichi | |||||
| 7 | 30 | 37 | June 3, 2025 | August 25, 2025 | Amaya Espinal & Bryan Arenales | Nicolas "Nic" Vansteenberghe & Olandria Carthen | |||||
| 8 | TBA | TBA | TBA | June 2, 2026 | TBA | TBA | TBA | ||||
Contestants
Ratings
| Season | Timeslot (ET) | Episodes | First aired | Last aired | TV season | Avg. viewers (millions) | Avg. 18–49 rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Viewers (millions) |
Date | Viewers (millions) | ||||||
| 1 | Weeknights 8:00 p.m. | 22 | July 9, 2019 | 2.61[38] | August 7, 2019 | 2.54[39] | 2018–19 | 2.19 | 0.47[40] |
| 2 | Weeknights 9:00 p.m. | 34 | August 24, 2020 | 1.89[41] | September 30, 2020 | 2.03[42] | 2019–20 | 1.82 | 0.41[43] |
| 3 | Sundays, Tuesdays–Fridays 9:00 p.m. | 29 | July 7, 2021 | 1.86[44] | August 15, 2021 | 1.64[45] | 2020–21 | 1.65 | 0.37[46] |
Spin-offs
Love Island Games (2023–present)
A spin-off, Love Island Games, premiered on Peacock in November 2023.[47] Following the conclusion of the sixth season of the American version, it was announced in August 2024 that the series had been renewed for a second season.[48] On May 11, 2026, it was announced that the series would return for a third season.[49]
Love Island USA: Aftersun (2024–present)
In June 2024, it was confirmed that a new spin-off show, Love Island: Aftersun, would air during the sixth season.[50]
It airs live on Saturday and includes celebrity guests and former Islanders from Love Island USA and international seasons. The programme was originally hosted by former Love Island UK contestant Maura Higgins. It was reported that Love Island Australia host Sophie Monk would fill in for Higgins as host for season 7, though Higgins returned as host for the last episode.[51] Eyal Booker took over for Monk as guest host for one episode.[52] On May 11, 2026, it was announced that Summer House star Ciara Miller and Tefi Pessoa would be co-hosting Aftersun for season eight.[53]
Love Island: Beyond the Villa (2025–present)
In April 2025, it was announced that Peacock greenlit a new spinoff consisting of the season 6 islanders. The show premiered on July 13, 2025 and followed the islanders as they chase their dreams, explore new relationships, and face the realities of fame, without the villa walls. The cast included JaNa Craig, Aaron Evans, Miguel Harichi, Leah Kateb, Kaylor Martin, Connor Newsum, Serena Page, Kenny Rodriguez, Olivia Walker, and Kendall Washington. Other former islanders made appearances as well.[54]
In November 2025, the show was renewed for a second season featuring season 7 islanders. The cast included Amaya Espinal, Andreina Santos-Marte, Belle-A Walker, Bryan Arenales, Chris Seeley, Clarke Carraway, Coco Watson, Gracyn Blackmore, Hannah Fields, Iris Kendall, Jeremiah Brown, Pepe Garcia-Gonzalez, Taylor Williams, and TJ Palma.[55]
