MAFS 2026 EXPOSED: Everything you need to know about season 13’s breakout stars and chaos‑filled drama

Married At First Sight’s 2026 season is shaping up to be the most volatile, controversial and tightly controlled instalment in the franchise’s history.

The Daily Mail can exclusively reveal that producers were forced to introduce unprecedented measures, including weekly drug testing, tightened curfews and zero-tolerance behaviour policies when filming spiralled out of control just weeks into production.

Multiple insiders have described the upcoming season as a ‘crisis management nightmare’, with walkouts, disappearances, explosive dinner parties and egos clashing so hard that even veteran crew members were left stunned.

‘This cast treats it like the Olympics of drama,’ one production source said. 

‘If you thought last season was bad, you haven’t seen anything yet.’ 

The Daily Mail can also reveal that Channel Nine is on high alert after a filming period plagued by cast meltdowns, secret alliances, shock walkouts and off-camera incidents that pushed several participants to breaking point.

While viewers will be sold the familiar fairy-tale experiment when the series premieres, those behind the scenes say the reality was far messier. 

‘This was not a smooth shoot,’ one source added.

‘There were multiple moments where production genuinely didn’t know how things would land on screen because so much happened away from the dinner parties.’ 

Unlike previous seasons, where drama slowly builds, this year’s chaos reportedly erupted within days of the weddings.

Several couples are said to have clocked serious compatibility issues almost immediately, with explosive arguments unfolding before cameras were fully rolling.

‘There were honeymoon blow-ups that viewers won’t fully see,’ an insider claimed. 

‘Some arguments were so intense, production had to pause filming and step in.’

One bride allegedly threatened to walk before the first commitment ceremony, while another was left sobbing in her room after learning her new husband had already confided doubts to producers. 

What has Channel Nine on edge is not just what happened on screen, but what occurred once cameras stopped rolling.

Sources claim cast members formed cliques early on, with friendships and rivalries intensifying behind the scenes.

Some participants allegedly shared private messages, notes and even voice recordings that were never intended to surface.

‘Secrets were flying around that could seriously damage reputations if they ever came out,’ said a production source.

‘That’s what has everyone so on edge.’

Several participants are also believed to have continued feuding, while others have even patched up their friendships.

For the first time in the show’s history, contestants were subjected to regular drug tests during filming, with any positive result leading to immediate removal from the experiment.

The bombshell move followed a rogue weekend in which several cast members broke curfew, vanished mid-filming and sparked multiple fights.

‘Production had every reason to be furious. It completely blew up,’ an insider revealed.

Curfews were tightened again under new executive producer Kate Paul, with contestants warned their hotel key cards would be deactivated if they failed to comply.

An explosive internal email expressed ‘utter disappointment’ in the cast’s behaviour, accusing participants of disrespecting crew and production schedules.

Contestants privately labelled the rules ‘unfair’ and ‘ridiculous’, but insiders say there was no room for negotiation this year.

‘There was no bending. No special treatment,’ a source said.

‘Anyone who tried to storm off was reminded very quickly about breach of contract.’ 

The brides and grooms to look out for

Brides Gia Fleur, Bec Zacharia, Stella Mickunaite, Brook Crompton, and Alissa Fay are five names viewers won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

Gia and Bec’s feud will be at the centre of the dinner party chaos, driving up the drama factor every week.

‘They aren’t afraid of causing drama and were often praised by producers for making the show; Bec and Gia were told there would be no show without them,’ dished the spy.

Loud, fearless and completely unfiltered, Gia dominates every room she walks into.

‘She delivers drama effortlessly and doesn’t back down when challenged, making her impossible to ignore,’ a source told the Daily Mail.

Polished, sharp-tongued and socially connected, Adelaide-based bride Bec brings boss energy to every scene.

She knows her worth, says exactly what she’s thinking and has no patience for men who can’t keep up. Insiders say she lights up on camera. 

Blunt, emotional and intense, Stella wears her heart on her sleeve. She isn’t here to play games and demands chemistry from day one.

Her direct approach divides the group and guarantees fireworks at dinner parties. 

Meanwhile, with a massive TikTok following and a strong sense of self, Alissa arrives camera-ready and confident.

She speaks her mind and quickly establishes herself as a central figure among the brides. 

As for the grooms, Scott McCristal, Danny Hewitt, Filip Gregov and Luke Fourniotis will be four names audiences won’t be forgetting.

Scott brings alpha confidence with a softer side beneath the bravado. 

Insiders say he surprises people and becomes more complex as the season unfolds.

Disciplined, traditional and deeply serious about relationships, Filip isn’t one to get involved in the drama.

His rigid standards and blunt honesty put him on a collision course with several brides.

Smooth, confident and self-aware, Danny’s past player reputation follows him into the experiment. He talks a big game and attracts attention almost immediately, both good and bad.

Quietly emotional with a tragic backstory, Luke earns sympathy early. His vulnerability, mixed with moments of withdrawal, makes him one of the season’s most intriguing grooms.

The most controversial figures

These cast members are expected to divide viewers and dominate online debate.

Blunt, uncompromising and unapologetic, Chris Nield rubs people the wrong way almost instantly.

His refusal to soften his opinions puts him directly in the firing line with both brides and experts.

Meanwhile, together and individually, self-proclaimed ‘boss babes’ Gia, Bec, Brook and Mel challenge authority, call out behaviour and refuse to stay quiet.

Their confidence is polarising, with some cheering them on and others branding them confrontational and ‘mean girls’. 

‘The self-proclaimed boss babes that come together, they are incredibly dominant in the experiment,’ relationship expert John Aiken told Daily Mail.

‘They call both men and women out – and sometimes the language is incredibly confronting and at times very hurtful.’

Meanwhile, Mel Akbayir is also set to raise eyebrows. 

Unfiltered and emotionally driven, Mel’s fairytale expectations will soon collide with reality.

Her reactions and expectations often escalate situations, which will make her one of the most talked-about brides this year.

The fan favourites

Warm, direct and grounded, Melbourne-based mum of one Rebecca Zukowski earns instant goodwill. 

Insiders say she is universally liked on set and often becomes the emotional backbone of the group.

‘She’s the first one to call out bulls**t. She’s emotional. She is fun. She is kind and loves the girl band,’ spills the insider.

‘Rebecca is loud, and imagine Jamie Marinos from last year but on steroids, that’s Rebecca.’

Farmer Luke’s vulnerability, grief and quiet sincerity resonate strongly with viewers.

Luke’s struggles feel real, not performative, which earns him sympathy.

Energetic, self-aware and quietly resilient, Rachel Gilmore’s journey strikes a chord with audiences who recognise her dating fatigue and longing for stability. 

Who will cop it from the experts the most? 

Daily Mail can reveal that experts John Aiken, Alessandra Rampolla and Mel Schilling are taking no prisoners this year.

While almost every bride and groom will cop a well-deserved grilling from the experts at one point, insiders tell Daily Mail that Steve Powell, Grayson McIvor, Gia, Mel, Alissa and Danny will find themselves directly in the experts’ crosshairs week after week.

Emotional overreactions and rigid expectations mean Mel is repeatedly pulled up for accountability.

According to the spy, Steve’s age, life experience and resistance to compromise become sticking points during commitment ceremonies.

Meanwhile, Grayson’s old habits and past behaviours resurface, forcing uncomfortable confrontations on the couch.

Alissa’s confidence sometimes borders on defensiveness, which the experts repeatedly push back against.

Lastly, Danny’s so-called ‘charm’ is repeatedly questioned, with experts probing whether his growth is genuine or surface-level.

The runaway bride who quit days into filming

One of the season’s biggest bombshells comes courtesy of a glamorous bride who abruptly quit the experiment just days after tying the knot.

Described as ‘outspoken and fearless’, the bride reportedly clashed with producers before booking herself a one-way flight home.

‘She was actually getting along with her groom,’ a source revealed. 

‘But she hated being bossed around. The pressure and the money she was losing just weren’t worth it.’

Producers begged her to stay, promising future opportunities, but she refused.

‘She’s the kind of bride viewers won’t forget, even after walking,’ the insider added.

The bride who disappears for 14 hours

Another unnamed bride triggered a full-scale production emergency after vanishing from set for more than 14 hours without warning.

‘She left at 7am and didn’t return until after 9pm,’ a source said. ‘Producers were checking hotels, restaurants and walking the streets. No one knew where she was.’

The bride in question eventually returned, but not before threatening to quit the experiment altogether.

Crew members have since described the season as an ‘uncontrollable wildfire’.

The bride left high and dry after her groom is axed

Cricket presenter Ankita Karungalekar was left blindsided after her groom Micah Lomu was abruptly removed from the experiment following an internal investigation.

Despite Ankita telling producers she felt ‘100 per cent safe and comfortable’ to continue, she was not offered a second match.

‘There are no second chances this year,’ an insider confirmed.

Both Ankita and Micah were told they were no longer required on set and did not attend the first dinner party.

Dinner parties pushed to breaking point

The infamous dinner parties are already being described as some of the most explosive in the show’s history.

At one event, producers reportedly stormed onto set and warned the cast they would film until sunrise if participants failed to deliver.

‘They delivered,’ a source said.

Another dinner party ended after just two hours, following a meltdown so intense that producers were forced to physically separate cast members.

‘The experts were speechless,’ an insider said.

‘They’ve been doing this since season one and had no idea how to recover.’

A season of egos and TikTok fame dreams

Insiders say many participants arrived believing MAFS was still a guaranteed gateway to influencer stardom.

‘The reality is very different,’ one source said.

‘The conditions are brutal, and the emotional toll is enormous.’

Some contestants allegedly spoke openly about post-show deals, while one groom quit the experiment entirely to ‘protect his brand’.

Digital marketing expert Adrian Falk says the fame game has changed dramatically.

‘Audiences are savvier, brands are pickier and social media creators don’t need TV anymore,’ he said.

‘For some contestants, the gamble just isn’t worth it.’

Trailblazing storylines and boundary-pushing cast

Season 13 will also break new ground with the introduction of a bisexual bride whose openness about her sexuality reportedly sparks major conflict with her groom.

‘She refuses labels,’ an insider said. 

‘He doesn’t know how to take it, and it becomes a huge argument.’

The series will also feature same-sex couple Sam Stanton and Chris Robinson.

Relationship expert John Aiken says viewers should brace for fearless brides and unfiltered confrontation.

‘They will call people out,’ he said. 

‘That’s going to make for very fiery dinner parties.’

He added that several cast members bring a ‘TikTok dating style’ to the experiment – fast, blunt and unapologetic. 

Experts promise love amid the chaos

Despite the off-camera mayhem, the experts insist love still exists.

‘There are surprise love stories this year,’ John Aiken revealed. 

‘Some couples who looked perfect on paper completely fell apart, while others – no one expected – actually made it.’

Alessandra Rampolla described the cast as ‘very spicy’, while Mel Schilling warned that strong opinions will clash just as often as they unite.

‘There’s drama, heartache and love,’ John added.

‘And we deliver all of it.’

Why Channel Nine are staying quiet

Despite whispers already circulating online, Channel Nine has remained tight-lipped, releasing only carefully curated teasers and glossy promotional shots.

According to insiders, the network is determined to control the narrative ahead of launch, wary that leaks could overshadow the show’s premiere.

‘They know how explosive this season is,’ said a source close to production.

‘They don’t want the biggest moments spoiled before viewers even tune in.’

‘Usually by this point, there are individual promos for their standout stars. And this year, there’s nothing.’

Behind the scenes, crisis plans are reportedly in place should participants go rogue once the season airs.

‘There’s a real fear of tell-all interviews and social media spills,’ the insider added. 

‘Everyone has been reminded of their contracts.’

A season that will divide viewers

If insiders are to be believed, viewers should brace for a season that pushes boundaries and sparks debate long after the final vows.

‘This one will divide people,’ a source said.

‘Some will call it the most addictive season yet. Others will question whether the experiment has gone too far.’

Married At First Sight returns February 2 on Channel Nine at 7.30pm