Love Island is heading towards its biggest night of the summer, with Casa Amor and Movie Night now firmly behind the islanders and the race to the final well underway. As the remaining couples continue to test their connections, the pressure is mounting inside the villa.
New bombshells, surprise dumpings, and public votes are all still to come, but viewers are already wondering when the ITV2 dating series will come to an end. Thursday's (9 July) episode introduced another twist as new bombshells Elicia and Ethan made their entrance.
Shortly after arriving, the pair were given the chance to shake up the Villa by inviting six islanders on first dates, putting several established couples under immediate pressure and hinting that more drama could lie ahead.
Elsewhere, tensions continued to simmer between Lola and Julia after Lola made it clear she wasn't ready to move on from Julia's Casa Amor behaviour. Julia tried to explore a connection with Sean while he was away from the main Villa, leaving Lola struggling to put the episode behind her despite Sean choosing to remain with her.
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The fallout is expected to continue, while Friday's (10 July) instalment will see another public vote put islanders at risk of being dumped from the competition. With the villa becoming increasingly crowded and the finish line drawing nearer, fans are naturally asking one question: when is the Love Island final?
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ITV has yet to confirm an official date for the 2026 finale, with bosses keeping details under wraps for now. However, the show's schedule offers a strong indication of when viewers can expect the series to conclude.
Love Island has followed an eight-week format in recent years, meaning this year's final can be expected to take place on Monday, 27 July, if the programme sticks to its usual pattern.
The live final traditionally sees the last four couples compete for the £50k prize before the public crowns this year's winners through a final vote. The ending looks a little different to earlier seasons.
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ITV has permanently scrapped the show's famous "Split or Steal" twist, which saw one member of the winning couple decide whether to share the prize money or keep it for themselves. Instead, the £50k prize is now automatically split between the winning pair.
The final itself is usually broadcast as a 90-minute live special hosted by Maya Jama from the Villa, with the finalists reflecting on their journeys before the public vote is revealed. As for who could make it that far, several couples appear to be in contention, although plenty can still chance before finale night.
Lola and Sean have remained one of the stronger partnerships since coupling up at the start of the series, though Julia's arrival has tested their relationship and created fresh uncertainty over whether they can go the distance.
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Kavan and Jasmine also look like potential finalists after rebuilding their romance following Casa Amor. Kavan briefly explored a connection with Charleen before deciding he wanted to reunite with Jasmine, but some viewers remain unconvinced following Jasmine's earlier connection with Lorenzo.
Angelista and Simba are another couple hoping to strengthen their relationship before the final weeks, with both aware they still have plenty to prove if they want to win. Elsewhere, Ellie and Finley's future has become less certain after Elicia's arrival.
The pair had found happiness together following Ellie's failed romances with Aidan and Tommy, and they appeared to be on solid ground. However, Finley admitted he was still interested in getting to know bombshell Elicia, leaving Ellie worried their relationship could be under threat.
Elicia also caught Lorenzo's eye, despite his connection with Julia, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already unpredictable Villa.
Love Island continues this Friday (10 July) from 9pm on ITV2.
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