Home and Away’s 2026 season is officially locked in — and the show is wasting no time launching viewers straight into a storm of danger, heartbreak, and long-awaited returns. The new year in Summer Bay begins with a massive, pulse-pounding storyline built around a catastrophic train crash and the comeback of two of the show’s most iconic characters: Brax and Ricky.

The series is set to make its explosive return on Monday, January 19, 2026, airing at 7:00 p.m. on 7 and 7Plus. When the first episode hits screens, it picks up right at the very moment the 2025 finale ended — deep inside the wreckage of a party train that had derailed while traveling through an isolated tunnel on its way to a Broken Hill music festival. Viewers were left in total suspense as the screen cut to black, leaving the fate of multiple fan-favorite characters hanging by a thread.

Now, as the 2026 premiere opens, chaos has only intensified. Emergency crews are already on-site, fighting their way through twisted metal and unstable rubble while the entire tunnel structure threatens to break down even further. Several of Summer Bay’s most beloved residents are still trapped inside the mangled train carriages, surrounded by choking smoke, falling steel, and rapidly disappearing time.

Among those caught in the nightmare are Justin, McKenzie, Remy, Abigail, Dana, Sunny, Lacey, Joe, and Eddie, all struggling to survive as rescuers hustle to reach them. Every moment counts, and with the risk of another collapse growing by the minute, the situation becomes more dangerous than anyone could have imagined.

Outside the tunnel, David, Cash, Levi, and Tane work frantically to coordinate the rescue mission. But saving lives proves to be far from straightforward. Conditions inside the tunnel worsen with each passing moment, turning every attempt into a life-threatening gamble. Even the most seasoned responders begin to realize that not everyone may make it out alive.

For Tane, the tension reaches a breaking point. Unable to stand by and watch others risk their lives while his loved ones remain buried in the wreckage, he disregards protocol in a split-second decision. He charges into the dangerous crash site alone, a move that is both heroic and reckless. Show insiders hint that his actions will launch a major character arc that stretches far beyond the opening episodes, with consequences that will ripple throughout the season.

But the disaster is only part of what makes this return one of the most highly anticipated in the show’s history. In a shocking twist years in the making, Daryl “Brax” Braxton and Ricky Sharp finally return to Home and Away. Their comeback takes place during a large-scale Western Australia event storyline produced in collaboration with Tourism WA — making it not only a dramatic plot point but also a visually striking new chapter for the show.

This marks Brax and Ricky’s first appearance since 2016, and fans have been buzzing ever since rumors of their return surfaced. Actor Steve Peacocke, who portrays Brax, recently admitted that stepping back into the iconic role after nearly a decade felt daunting. “I still get nervous,” he shared, adding that despite the pressure, the timing felt right and he was thrilled to be back with castmates he deeply admired.

Their storyline is set to finally uncover the answers viewers have waited years to learn: where Brax and Ricky disappeared to, why they stayed away, and what secrets they’ve been carrying all this time. Their reintroduction promises emotional reunions, unresolved tensions, and revelations that could shake Summer Bay’s foundations once again.

As Home and Away moves into its 39th year on air, the message is clear: the 2026 season isn’t holding back. From gripping rescue sequences and intense emotional turns to shocking homecomings and long-buried mysteries finally coming to light, the show is gearing up for one of its boldest and most unforgettable openings ever.

The train disaster sets the tone for a season filled with danger, courage, heartbreak, and hope — and the only question remaining is: who will survive, and how will Summer Bay be changed forever?