🔥Home and Away Returns in 2026 – 🌊Summer Bay’s Comeback Date REVEALED & Two Fan Favourites Return!
As viewers look ahead to 2026, one question has been dominating conversations among Australian soap fans: when will Home and Away return, and who will be coming back with it? The good news is that the wait won’t be long. While many Australians will still be enjoying their summer break in January, Home and Away devotees can prepare for the show’s highly anticipated comeback, complete with emotional fallout, life-or-death stakes, and a wave of nostalgia.
Channel 7 has officially confirmed that Home and Away will return on Monday, January 19, 2026, airing at 7:00 p.m. on Channel 7 and streaming on 7plus. If the newly released trailer is any indication, the show is launching the new year at full throttle, promising intense drama and powerful emotional moments from the very first episode.
The series wrapped up its 2025 season on November 19 with a dramatic triple-episode finale that left viewers stunned. At the center of that finale was a devastating train derailment involving a party train heading to the Off the Rails music festival in Broken Hill. The train came off the tracks inside a tunnel, triggering chaos and fear as several Summer Bay residents were caught in the disaster.
Among those on board were familiar faces including Justin, Mackenzie, Remy, Abigail, Dana, Sunny, Lacy, Joe, and Eddie. True to Home and Away tradition, the episode ended without confirming who survived. The final moments were especially haunting, showing Remy and Mackenzie unconscious as the screen faded to black, leaving fans with unanswered questions and weeks of anxiety.
Adding another emotional layer to the cliffhanger, Eddie had proposed to Joe just moments before the crash. Joe hesitated and never gave a clear response—a moment that sparked heated debate among viewers, particularly fans invested in Joe’s connection with Tane. Any romantic tension, however, was immediately eclipsed by the unfolding catastrophe.
Looking ahead to the first episodes of 2026, it’s clear that the fallout from the crash will dominate the storyline. The trailer teases frantic rescue efforts inside the tunnel, with Levi Fowler and Tane Parata risking everything to help those trapped. Levi clashes with Constable Cash Newman over access to the site, while Tane ultimately defies police orders and enters the tunnel himself. Other chilling scenes include Sergeant David Langham overseeing the wreckage and paramedics loading what appears to be a body covered by a white sheet into an ambulance—though the show carefully avoids revealing who it is.
Beyond the immediate crisis, the trailer delivers a major surprise for longtime fans: the return of Brax and Ricky, portrayed by Steven Peacocke and Bonnie Sveen. The beloved couple last appeared on the show in 2016, and their comeback is being hailed as a huge moment for viewers who followed their journey closely. Brax, introduced in 2011 as part of the River Boys alongside Heath and Casey, quickly became a fan favorite. His romance with Ricky, who arrived in 2013, remains one of the show’s most cherished storylines.
Many of Brax and Ricky’s new scenes were filmed in Western Australia, and Ray Meagher, who plays Alf Stewart, has spoken warmly about reuniting with Steven Peacocke on set. He described their scenes as meaningful and reflective, touching on life choices and where Brax sees his future heading.
The trailer also confirms that familiar faces such as Roo, Leah, Marilyn, and John Palmer will continue into 2026, reinforcing the show’s strong sense of legacy. However, Meagher offered a subtle tease that left fans uneasy, hinting that Alf’s age—and issues like driving—could become an important storyline, sparking concern about what may lie ahead for the iconic character.
Following the announcement of the January 19 return date, social media quickly filled with reactions. Many fans expressed overwhelming excitement after nearly two months of waiting, especially those desperate to learn the fate of the train passengers. Others admitted the finale still haunted them, calling it one of the most intense endings the show has ever delivered.
The reveal of Brax and Ricky’s return was widely celebrated, with viewers describing it as a nostalgic gift that reconnects the show to its roots. At the same time, scenes of bravery from characters like Tane earned praise for capturing the heart of Home and Away—ordinary people risking everything for others.
As Home and Away heads into 2026, expectations are sky-high. With unresolved tragedy, heroic rescues, emotional reckonings, and the return of fan favorites, Summer Bay is once again poised to deliver gripping, heartfelt, and unforgettable storytelling.