MAFS Australia: couples, experts, and all the drama in one place

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You marry a stranger, the experts intended it that way and the rest of the country watches how it turns out. Usually not well. MAFS Australia has been one of our most read reality shows for years, and the thirteenth season (2026) was one where even the experts said it was mainly about arguments and hardly about love. Here you can read what happened, who is still together, who the experts are, and who will stand at the altar in 2027.

How does Married at First Sight Australia work?

The idea fits on a beer coaster: experts match two people who have never seen each other before, they marry at the altar and then the experiment begins. In the Australian version, it revolves around the wedding itself, family and friends, living together, dinner parties, and commitment ceremonies, where the experts question and guide the couples. At the end of the season, you choose at the final vows whether to continue together. A few weeks later, the reunion follows, with another dinner party and a final ceremony.

Danielle Heerkens, who has been following each season for us for years, previously wrote that the format has been adjusted since season 5 and that resulted in the best seasons: with altar, party, families, living together, dinners, and commitment ceremonies. Looking for something in the same vein? Check out the dating reality shows or to Love is Blind: Netherlands.

Stricter casting and no second chances

For season 13, the rules have been tightened. According to reports, participants had to go through stricter screening: no criminal background and no involvement in lawsuits. This came after the scandals of the previous year. Executive producer Kate Paul is also said to have stated that there will be no ‘second chances’ in 2026, so no new matches for couples who break up early. One couple saw the writing on the wall before the start: Micah Lomu and Ankita Karungalekar were reportedly removed from the cast after an internal investigation of the show. The exact reason has not been fully shared. Want to read more? That's in MAFS 2026: already scandals, strict casting and no second chances.

Season 13 (2026): all couples and how it ended

In the Netherlands, the season aired from February 27, 2026, on Videoland. On paper, there were a few couples with a chance. In practice, the arguments won. Below is the overview, followed by what happened with each couple.

Brook Crompton and Chris were also part of the season; they will be discussed below at the dinner party.

Stella and Filip: the fairy tale that didn't last

This was the couple everyone hoped for. Filip went down on one knee at the final vows, with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background, and Stella initially thought he was tying his shoelace. The couple chose to have a wedding in Croatia, Filip's homeland, because Stella's family from Lithuania and his family in Europe could easily attend. They wanted to marry around the first anniversary of their MAFS marriage, possibly in July 2026. Here you can read about their wedding plans.

In July 2026, it was over after eight months. Stella wrote a heartfelt message on Instagram, without mentioning Filip by name: “It would be easy to tell this story by determining who was right and who was wrong.” According to people around them, Filip made the decision due to differing expectations for the future. Australian media cited distance, work, and finances. Note: those reasons come from anonymous sources, the couple has not confirmed them themselves. Stella says she did not see the breakup coming and that Filip ended their engagement over the phone. She claims she was actually planning to move to Melbourne. Previously discussed in MAFS Australia’s Filip and Stella have broken up and Stella did not see the breakup with Filip coming at all.

Rachel and Steven: the joke that changed everything

They also chose each other at the final vows, but the differences turned out to be greater than expected. Communication remained difficult and they disagreed on humor and boundaries. At the reunion, Rachel said that Steven had come to Melbourne a week earlier to say that he could not be the man she deserved. At the dinner, he put his ring back on and said it was not over for him. A day later, expert John Aiken got the truth out of him: he did not want to continue. Rachel first got hope and then a second blow.

Earlier in the season, an argument arose between Rachel and Bec after Bec made a joke about the intimacy of Steven and Rachel. Viewers initially sided with Rachel. Later, unused footage surfaced online showing Steven making a similar joke himself, which did not sit well with many fans. Read MAFS Australia 2026: fans booing, these images show the real Steven.

Alissa and David, Bec and Danny, Gia and Scott

• Alissa and David: David was described as sweet and reliable, but Alissa had doubts. At the reunion, David said that Alissa had constantly criticized him during the experiment. There was no reconciliation.
• Bec and Danny: Bec wanted it badly, Danny absolutely did not. The arguments escalated and at the final vows, Danny pulled the plug. Bec was left alone during the last confrontation with the experts, where she was shown a compilation of what Danny had said behind her back. After the broadcast, she lost her job. You can read that story in MAFS Australia scandal has repercussions: participant loses job after misconduct on TV.
• Gia and Scott: the relationship was under pressure from the start. Scott is now in a new relationship with Brienna Stockdale, a model and cosmetic nurse from Gold Coast. Gia is pregnant with her second child with boyfriend Alan Wallace, known from Love Triangle. The birth is expected in early January 2027. Gia shared this in an interview with Woman’s Day Australia and already has a ten-year-old daughter, Willa. Read the news.

The dinner party of episode 12

If you have to know one episode, let it be this one. Brook Crompton left the show a day before the dinner party and flew to the Gold Coast. Chris was visibly upset. Then she came back with the words “Surprise, bitches.” Together with Gia and later also Bec, a group formed that mainly brought others down, especially Stella, Alissa, David, and Filip, the quietest participants of the season. The group imploded itself when Brook and Gia brought a rumor about Danny to the table. Bec then walked away emotionally. All the details are in MAFS Australia S13 completely derails.

The reunion: group chats, leaked messages, and men walking away

The reunion was filmed four weeks after the final vows. Only Brook and Chris were absent: Brook stayed away because she had just discovered she was pregnant. Later it turned out she was back together with her ex Harry, with whom she is engaged and expecting a child.

• Danny, Bec, and Steph: Steph told Bec beforehand that she and Danny had been in contact after the experiment and showed the messages. Bec completely lost it. Danny angrily walked away from the dinner and reportedly blocked Steph later backstage.
• Gia and Bec: the experts showed a compilation of the most intense moments. Gia admitted: “Bec and I were probably the biggest instigators of drama.”
• Experts: Mel Schilling and Alessandra Rampolla spoke out about the lack of ‘sisterhood’. This season was more about fights, gossip, and alliances than about love.

The complete overview is in MAFS Australia 2026 reunion: all the drama and arguments in a row.

Still friends? Bec, Gia, and Alissa

During the season, group messages leaked in which Bec spoke harshly about Alissa and her partner David. Much was beeped or censored in the broadcast, but according to Alissa, the content was even worse. She called the messages “sickening” and said: “No one could’ve topped what Bec said.” Bec and Gia blocked each other on social media. Still, Bec and Alissa now appear together in TikTok videos. Whether that is lasting peace or reality TV peace, no one knows. Gia and Bec are not friends yet. Read the full story.

Season 14 (2027): the new ten couples

Filming has started in Sydney and Channel Nine is set to air the season in February 2027. When it will come to the Netherlands is still unknown. The full cast has not yet been officially confirmed by Channel Nine: the twenty names (ten couples) come from revelations by Daily Mail. Treat them as leaked. Notably: the first female couple since Amanda Micallef and Tash Herz in 2020.

All the details are in MAFS Australia 2027: these are all the participants and couples of the new season.

The experts: farewell to Mel Schilling, welcome Dr Lurve

Mel Schilling

Before Mel Schilling became famous, she worked as a coach and behavioral expert. On the panel, she was the calm, warm, empathetic expert who did not judge but tried to understand why people do what they do. Since 2021, she was also on Married at First Sight UK and moved with her family to England, first Brighton, later London. She met her husband Gareth Brisbane in 2011 through eHarmony. Together they had daughter Maddie.

At the end of 2023, Mel was diagnosed with bowel cancer, which she was open about. On February 17, 2026, she announced that she was leaving the Australian version after twelve seasons because family and health had to come first. She remained connected to the British version. Mel Schilling passed away on March 24, 2026, at the age of 54. Season 13 was the last with her. Read Mel Schilling: everything you want to know about this mega beloved MAFS expert, her farewell from the Australian version and This is Maddie, the daughter of Mel Schilling.

Brigitte Zonta (Dr Lurve)

For season 14, Brigitte Zonta, known as Dr Lurve, would join John Aiken and Alessandra Rampolla. Channel Nine has not officially confirmed this yet, but several Australian media report it. Zonta is a psychologist and relationship coach with a Master of Coaching Psychology from the University of Sydney and a postgraduate diploma in psychology from the University of Wollongong. She completed Clinical Training Levels 1 and 2 in the Gottman Method for couples and is listed as Principal Psychologist at her practice Sanare Wellness. Producers emphasize that she does not replace Mel but brings her own voice. More in This is Brigitte Zonta, the new MAFS Australia expert replacing Mel Schilling.

Which MAFS couples from previous seasons are still together?

Things rarely go well at MAFS, but it happens. These are the couples from our overview of June 2025 who were still together then.

Separated among others Jack and Tori (season 11), since March 2025. The complete overview can be found in MAFS Australia: these couples are still together in 2025. For season 13, after Stella and Filip, no one is left. See also MAFS Australia 2026: which couples are still together?.

What are you watching next?

Prefer more dating chaos without Australian sun? On our hub Movies & series you will find Love is Blind: Netherlands and more explanation on titles, cast and explanation. Or see what's currently on Netflix and streaming .

Read more

• MAFS Australia 2026: which couples are still together?
• MAFS Australia 2026 reunion: all the drama and arguments in a row
• MAFS Australia S13 completely derails: episode 12 is the most toxic Dinner Party ever
• MAFS Australia 2026: fans booing, these images show the real Steven
• MAFS Australia scandal has repercussions: participant loses job after misconduct on TV
• MAFS Australia 2026: are Bec, Gia, and Alissa suddenly friends??
• MAFS Australia's Stella and Filip choose Croatia for their wedding
• MAFS Australia’s Filip and Stella have separated (and this is what we know so far)
• MAFS Australia: Stella did not see the breakup with Filip coming at all
• MAFS Australia: Gia is pregnant with her second child
• MAFS Australia 2027: these are all the participants and couples of the new season
• This is Brigitte Zonta, the new MAFS Australia expert replacing Mel Schilling
• Mel Schilling: everything you want to know about this mega beloved MAFS expert
• Mel Schilling quits as expert on Married at First Sight (MAFS) Australia
• This is Maddie, the daughter of Mel Schilling
• MAFS 2026: already scandals, strict casting and no second chances
• MAFS Australia: these couples are still together in 2025

New on Amayzine about MAFS Australia

• MAFS Australia: these couples are still together in 2025
• MAFS Australia: which couples are still together in 2025
• MAFS Australia: these couples are still together in 2025
• MAFS Australia: which couples are still together in 2025
• MAFS Australia: these couples are still together in 2025
• MAFS Australia: Deze stellen zijn nog steeds samen in 2025

Frequently asked questions about MAFS Australia

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