For fans of dating reality shows, this summer is shaping up to be one of the busiest yet. Love Island UK and Love Island USA are both returning for new seasons within just one day of each other, meaning fans who want to watch both live are signing up for a serious commitment. Each series has been growing in popularity, and 2026 looks set to be the biggest year yet for both shows.
Whether you are a longtime fan of the UK original or a newer viewer who discovered the franchise through the American version, here is everything you need to know about watching both shows this summer.
When Do Love Island UK and Love Island USA Start in 2026?
According to British tabloid The Sun, Love Island UK season 13 is set to kick off on Monday, June 1, just one day before Love Island USA launches its season 8 on Tuesday, June 2. Last year, there was at least a week's gap between the two shows' premieres, making this year's near-simultaneous launch a new challenge for fans of both series.
Love Island UK season 13 will reportedly see Maya Jama return to the Spanish island of Mallorca for her fourth year as host, while Love Island USA season 8 will welcome Ariana Madix back to Fiji for a third year. Neither series has yet revealed cast details or episode counts, though historically Love Island UK runs longer, with recent UK seasons clocking in at around 49 episodes compared to around 37 for the US version.
What Are Viewers Signing Up For?
Juggling two versions of Love Island is not quite the same as keeping up with two episodes of The Bachelorette per week. Both shows air new episodes every night, which means watching both live requires sitting through two to four hours of reality TV drama daily for approximately two months straight. Many fans choose to watch one live and catch up with the other at a later date, but for those who want to experience both in real time, the commitment is considerable.
How Can Viewers Watch Love Island UK in the US?
Love Island UK season 13 is set to stream on Hulu and Disney+ in the US, where all 12 previous seasons are also available. However, US viewers will not receive episodes at the same time they air in the UK. Per Forbes, last year Hulu had a three-day delay behind the original UK air dates.
Love Island UK will stream on ITVX without any delay for those who wish to avoid social media spoilers. Accessing ITVX from the US requires a VPN, with options such as NordVPN available for this purpose.
How Can Viewers Watch Love Island USA Live?
Love Island USA will stream every night at 6 p.m. PT and 9 p.m. ET. The show is a streaming original, available on both its Premium and Premium Plus subscription tiers.
With both shows launching within 24 hours of each other, this summer is set to test the limits of even the most committed reality TV viewer, as they will have to choose between multiple new episodes and potentially miss out on key moments from each series.
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