Married At First Sight sex expert Alessandra Rampolla reveals why the 2026 brides are the show’s most ‘feisty, combative and toxic’ EVER

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You’re right to think Married At First Sight‘s upcoming 2026 season is being promoted as its most dramatic yet – it very well might be.

Sexologist Alessandra Rampolla told the Daily Mail that people are experiencing significant disruption and stress from multiple sources.

As someone who’s been following this social experiment for years, let me tell you, this season was intense. We’ve seen drama before, of course, but this time it felt different. It wasn’t just a couple of people causing trouble; the whole group really struggled with their emotions and relationships. Even those of us who study human behavior were surprised by how quickly things escalated and how widespread the issues became. It really pushed everyone – cast and experts alike – to their limits.

I’ve been involved with this show for six years now, and looking back, I’ve noticed that in some seasons, only a couple of contestants really drove the dramatic storylines,” she said.

This season features a large ensemble cast, meaning the drama isn’t focused on just one character. Several people face intense and exciting conflicts throughout the season.

According to Alessandra, that is exactly what sets MAFS 2026 apart.

‘It’s going to be nice and varied in that sense, which really adds to the series,’ she explained.

‘Ultimately it’s about observing behaviour and relating to what the participants are going through. 

Finding love is a deeply human experience. It means opening yourself up to vulnerability and navigating unexpectedly challenging situations – things no one can truly prepare for.

I’m so excited about the 2026 cast! From what I’ve heard, they’re all incredibly genuine people, not afraid to really open up and show their true feelings on camera. It sounds like it’s going to be a really raw and honest season, and I can’t wait to see them all shine.

She said they’re incredibly brave for sharing such honest and powerful feelings with us, and that it will be wonderful.

‘They’re lovely in casting… then dinner parties happen’

Even though things often seem chaotic while filming, Alessandra says there weren’t any clear red flags during the actor selection process.

‘I never know during casting,’ she admitted. 

I just adore them when they’re auditioning. They really connect with me – they seem so polished, full of hope, and you just know they’re going to be good people, that they’ll act with integrity. It’s incredibly appealing.

It’s strange seeing how they behave at parties sometimes, and it makes me think, ‘Who are they, really?’ I remember talking to you a while back, a few months ago.

Alessandra said participants present their best selves early on.

‘During casting, they come with hopes and dreams. It’s much more positive,’ she said. 

People don’t usually predict they’ll have a terrible reaction and then start yelling at the person they’re with. It doesn’t make sense until you actually witness it happening.

That is why, she believes, calling out behaviour during the experiment is so important.

‘Oftentimes participants don’t recognise these behaviours in themselves,’ she said. 

‘And that’s where MAFS has value, beyond the drama and the train wrecks we all love to watch.’

When asked if a certain type of personality tends to have the most difficulty on the show, Alessandra answered directly.

She explained that people who aren’t willing to be open, honest, and vulnerable will likely face difficulties.

It really feels like we’re all facing this together. If I’m being open and honest about my own struggles, I hope others will feel comfortable doing the same.

She noted that the group starting in 2026 was especially good at identifying and addressing people who weren’t fully expressing their feelings.

She explained that whenever anyone hesitated or didn’t follow the group, they were immediately criticized and pressured to conform.

Alessandra shared that a major problem among the cast this season was their focus on immediate connection with each other.

She confirmed that attraction can definitely develop over time, but expressed confusion about why people focus so much on immediate chemistry in studies.

She pointed out that many real love stories develop slowly.

She explained that love often develops from a strong friendship – from really knowing someone and feeling comfortable and safe enough to be yourself.

‘That comes with time and trust, and then you get the sparks.’

Alessandra believes the idea of instantly falling in love, often shown in movies, can actually harm genuine connections.

‘Because they’re married at first sight, people assume it has to be love at first sight,’ she said. 

We believe in establishing a commitment before developing the relationship – it should happen in that order, not the other way around.

‘I absolutely think a slow burn can turn into a really intense, delicious fire,’ she added. 

However, many people struggle with this and end up holding themselves back, because they get discouraged if they don’t experience positive results immediately.

This season, difficulties with closeness were a big issue for many couples, often because they were measuring their relationships against those of others.

Many people were upset about not having sex often enough,” Alessandra explained. “Seeing other couples become more intimate created pressure for them to do the same.”

She said comparison is natural but dangerous.

She explained that comparing your relationship to others creates unnecessary pressure and can be damaging.

It’s also about learning to cope with those differences, because you’ll inevitably encounter other couples who do things in their own way.

The group experiment, she said, intensifies those feelings.

She explained that people don’t typically discuss every detail of their relationships with friends daily. The environment of the show, she added, makes reactions much stronger than they would be in normal life.

What surprised Alessandra most was how some participants handled rejection.

She explained that they often struggled to control their feelings. They had trouble dealing with situations rationally, letting raw emotion take over, and their deep-seated insecurities were always visible in how they reacted.

She believes viewers will clearly see that many blow-ups are driven by fear rather than malice.

Viewers will likely recognize the behavior as stemming from insecurity, but those involved often don’t realize it themselves in the moment.

Some grow, others do not.

‘Some gain perspective, others sadly leave with no perspective on their own behaviour,’ she said. 

It’s relatable because everyone makes mistakes. We’re not perfect, and it’s especially true when we’re dealing with emotions, particularly when those feelings are on display for others to see.

Alessandra explained that there was no shortage of difficult moments on the couch.

‘There were a number of situations that were difficult,’ she said. 

As a long-time supporter, I’ve often been frustrated to see even our team – the experts in the field – not always treated with basic respect. Sometimes, we actually had to point out when people were being rude or dismissive, even in how they spoke to us directly. It was disheartening, but necessary to address.

She noted that people were behaving poorly, as is common, and that many were quick to criticize others.

As for which confrontation was the hardest, she laughed.

She laughed, saying, “It’s hard to pick just one—there are so many good options!” She suggested I wait until I’d finished watching the whole season before making a choice.

‘The women are feisty… and sometimes toxic’

When asked directly about the cast, Alessandra did not shy away from the truth.

Many of this year’s brides are assertive and quick to argue, which is causing a lot of conflict, she explained. She acknowledged there’s a definite element of negativity in some of these situations.

She added that what makes 2026 different is the gender split.

As a longtime observer, I’ve really noticed a shift. It’s honestly surprising to see so many women now being called out for negative behavior, because for the last few years, it was mostly men who were getting attention for that kind of thing. It feels like a real change in the dynamic, and it’s definitely something I’ve been thinking about.

However, she was quick to stress it is not one-sided.

‘It’s not all the women and it’s not all the men,’ she said. ‘There is salvation.’

In fact, she said the grooms surprised her.

She was pleasantly surprised by how calmly and confidently some of the men handled things, saying it was reassuring to see.

‘It’s just as important to highlight good behaviour as bad behaviour.’

Love, growth and grenades

Despite the chaos, Alessandra insists real love does emerge.

‘We do find love,’ she said.

As for what she hopes viewers take away from MAFS 2026, Alessandra said growth is the real prize.

She explained that even if a relationship doesn’t end with love, you can still learn and grow from it. She also noted that challenging times often connect to old hurts or vulnerabilities.

But she warned not everyone evolves.

Sometimes, there’s no progress at all,” she explained. “They just attack quickly and then vanish. We’re going to experience that as well.”

One thing is guaranteed.

‘Audiences are going to be very enthralled,’ she said. ‘It’s an explosive, fabulous season.’

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2026-02-01 15:20