Days of Our Lives 2026 Preview: Big Changes for Marlena, Sarah-Xander Turmoil, Kristen vs. EJ and More!
A new year means new drama and excitement and Days of Our Lives is heading into 2026 without slowing down one bit! With the soap having been picked up for two more years, head writers Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford are preparing to pen storylines that will take the venerable Peacock sudser through its 63rd season. And, as they promised in a new interview with TV Insider, the soap’s focus will continue to be “about family, friendship, mystery, and romance across multiple generations.”
Love and Danger
Marlena (Deidre Hall) has been struggling ever since losing her beloved husband, John (Drake Hogestyn), but a new storyline kicking off in early 2026 will give her something else to focus on, especially as the months go on and she receives some news that will change her life. And while the writers noted that the widow finding a new romance to heal her broken heart was possible, they added, “Marlena’s grief for John is consuming, and she is certainly not looking for love at this time.”
Alex (Robert Scott Wilson) kicked off 2026 by popping the question to Stephanie (Abigail Klein), but while they may start the new year planning to live happily ever after, there’s still the matter of her stalker that has yet to be dealt with, and that’s going to cause plenty of trouble for this pair in the coming months. And viewers can expect that the danger threatening Stephanie will also draw in her parents, Steve (Stephen Nichols) and Kayla (Mary Beth Evans).
Three’s a Crowd
Xander (Paul Telfer) still has feelings for Sarah (Linsey Godfrey), but she’s making every effort to move on from him and testing the waters with Brady (Eric Martsolf). As this new relationship continues to develop, Xander is left trying to figure out how to live his life without the woman he loves. And then, of course, there’s Sarah’s lingering feelings for her ex complicating things as well….
Leo (Greg Rikaart) and Javi (Al Calderon) kicked off their 2026 by tying the knot in a romantic New Year’s Eve ceremony, but the party was crashed by Dimitri (Peter Porte) — and the return of Leo’s ex is going to cause nothing but trouble. “Both Gwen [Emily O’Brien] and Dimitri are seeking revenge, and there will be fallout and collateral damage,” promised Cwikly and Ford.
Family Matters
The life-or-death crisis of being kidnapped together has brought the DiMeras closer together… aside from Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) and EJ (Dan Feuerriegel), who remain at each other’s throats. “Her anger at EJ over Rachel’s [Alice Halsey] stint in Bayview will continue to have major ramifications,” teased the scribes. Meanwhile, Rachel continues to grow closer to Sophia (Rachel Boyd) at the mental hospital, and in this case, two wrongs will definitely not make a right. Plus, EJ will find his plans turned upside down, and he will continue growing closer to Cat (AnnaLynne McCord) as her investigation intensifies.
Disapproving of Chad’s (Billy Flynn) involvement with Cat, Jennifer (Melissa Reeves) vowed to take custody of his children away from him. But after he was kidnapped along with the other members of her family. her stance appeared to soften. So what will happen to Thomas and Charlotte now? Cwickly and Ford previewed that Chad, Jennifer, and Jack (Mathew Ashford) “try to honor Abigail’s memory in a way that allows them to move forward.”
Johnny (Carson Boatman) isn’t entirely on board with Chanel’s (Raven Bowens) pregnancy, and the head writers tease that this particular couple is in for “a year of major ups and downs, joys and sorrows.” Paulina (Jackée Harry) and Abe (James Reynolds) will have to prove that they are stronger together when they face a challenge they were not prepared for. Plus, Theo’s (Tyler Joseph Andrews) life is about to change forever, and tragedy brings Shawn (Brandon Beemer) and Jada (Elia Cantu) back into each other’s orbits.
What DAYS stories are you most looking forward to, and what else do you hope Salem has in store for 2026? Let us know in the comments below!
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