Julia Majchrzak, 26, and Lorenzo Alessi, 28, have been crowned the winners of Love Island UK 2026. The pair took home the £50,000 prize during the live final on Monday, July 27, beating runners-up Jasmine Muller and Kavan Murphy, while Angelista Gunda and Simba Kudyiwa finished in third place.
A Historic Final and Series Twist
The 13th series of the dating show concluded with a historic first for the UK franchise: only three couples remained in the final. This outcome followed several shock twists during Sunday’s episode, including the return of ex-islanders who voted to dump a couple from the villa. While four couples—Lorenzo and Julia, Jasmine and Kavan, Simba and Angelista, and Yasmin Hadlow and Tommy Stagg—were initially in contention for the crown, the field was narrowed before the finale.
The eight-week series featured 32 islanders and utilized high-stakes gameplay from the start. Early in the competition, bombshells George Knight and Yasmin were given the power to dump day-one contestants Samraj and Ellie Chadwick, though it was later revealed the two were not leaving the show but were instead sent on dates with new arrivals.
The Journey of the Winners
The couple became favorites to win after returning from Casa Amor. According to reports, public support grew because viewers felt Julia had not been treated well by other islanders, specifically during a feud with Lola Deal regarding Julia’s flirting with Sean during Casa. At one point, Julia and Lorenzo were voted the favorite couple and given the power to dump another pair, though Lola and Sean chose to volunteer themselves for dumping.
Runner-Up and Third Place Details
The other finalists also navigated complex villa dynamics:
- Jasmine Muller and Kavan Murphy: 27-year-old fashion business owner Jasmine was attracted to the “aura” of 21-year-old Kavan. Viewers noted the unique dynamic of the pair, as Kavan was revealed to be the brother of day-one contestant Aidan Murphy. Kavan returned from Casa Amor with bombshell Charleen Murphy but eventually reunited with Jasmine.
- Simba Kudyiwa and Angelista Gunda: Simba, who celebrated a birthday in the villa, told Maya Jama that his first priority after leaving the show was to celebrate nurse Angelista’s 25th birthday on Tuesday.
Post-Win Plans and Public Reaction
Following the announcement, a shocked Julia thanked the voters and revealed her plan for the prize money: she wants Lorenzo to move in with her after leaving the villa. Former contestant Sean Fitzgerald also praised the pairing on Aftersun, stating the two were well suited to each other.
While the live audience and former islanders celebrated the win—with Lorenzo being lifted high by his peers—the reaction online was mixed. Some users on X described the finale as “awful” and “boring.” Additionally, some viewers on Reddit had previously alleged that producers may have favored the couple, pointing to frequent product placements for brands such as Nescafe and Solero in scenes featuring Julia and Lorenzo.
The show is expected to return in January for an All Stars edition, which may include contestants from this season. This follows the precedent of previous winners, such as Toni Laites and Cach Mercer, who have transitioned into other reality roles, including a commentary role for Laites on the spin-off The Debrief.
