Channel Nine has revealed all 20 brides and grooms set to walk down the aisle on Married At First Sight 2027. Next year's lineup includes former reality stars, business owners, athletes, beauty professionals, a government employee, a gothic fantasy writer, and a footballer who came terrifyingly close to losing his leg. The season features the show's first female same-sex couple since 2020 and a former Bachelorette contestant returning to television more than a decade after his first search for love.
Producers are reportedly thrilled with a cast selected with chemistry, confidence and conflict firmly in mind. "They know exactly what viewers want from MAFS," a source told Daily Mail. "They want romance, but they also want strong characters who are not afraid to speak up. This cast has plenty of that."
The new lineup arrives at a pivotal moment for the global franchise, with executives under pressure to move away from casting influencers and return the experiment to its original focus on relationships. Most of the new brides and grooms entered filming with modest social-media followings, with producers understood to have prioritised genuine storylines and relationship motivations over online popularity. However, according to insiders, viewers should not expect a quiet season.
Rob Harb and Sophie Vidal
Football player Rob Harb is described by friends as calm, measured and grounded, with a strong work ethic and an especially close relationship with his family. Though he may not be the loudest groom in the experiment, those close to him said he does not need to raise his voice to command respect.
Rob has been matched with tattooed bombshell bride Sophie Vidal, who has been described as sweet, relaxed and easy to get along with. However, those close to Sophie have warned that she also has a fiery side which is likely to emerge if somebody crosses her.
"She is very sweet and cool, but she can definitely be feisty when she needs to be," one friend told Daily Mail. On paper, Rob and Sophie appear to be one of the season's more grounded pairings, though the experiment has a habit of finding pressure points even in the calmest relationships.
Victoria Sellar and Shona Marino
Personal trainer Victoria Sellar and flight attendant Shona Marino are expected to become one of the most closely watched couples of the season. Their match marks the experiment's first female same-sex pairing since Amanda Micallef and Tash Herz appeared on the program in 2020. Shona works for Virgin Australia, has an outgoing personality and maintains an active presence on TikTok, while Victoria's life revolves around health, discipline and fitness.
Both women independently told producers they were open to finding love with either a man or a woman. Insiders have described Victoria and Shona as the wildcard couple of the season, although production sources insisted the pairing was created for genuine compatibility rather than as a television stunt.
"Both women were completely open about who they could see themselves falling in love with," one source said. "It is a big match for the show, but it was made for the right reasons."
Kayne Buik and Kristen Goedecke
Perth-based groom Kayne Buik previously appeared on Sam Frost's season of The Bachelorette in 2015. Then a 25-year-old former mining electrician, Kayne became known for his unconventional attempts to woo her, including a hip-hop dance, a failed yoga headstand, a Frosty Fruit and a cringe-inducing rap. His antics earned him a reputation as the season's gimmick guy, though Kayne insisted he had simply wanted to make Sam laugh and show her his spontaneous personality.
More than a decade later, Kayne works as an entrepreneur. He built the popular Hey Honey events brand and has amassed a sizeable TikTok audience by sharing dating content and observations about modern romance. "He has built an entire brand around singles, flirting and modern dating, so putting him inside the MAFS experiment is pretty perfect," one insider said. "He is confident, funny and very switched-on socially. He knows how to make people feel comfortable, but he also knows how to get attention when he wants it." Another insider added, "You don't cast someone like Kayne expecting him to sit quietly in the background."
Kayne has been paired with Adelaide real-estate agent Kristen Goedecke. Kristen is an award-winning property professional who is described as ambitious, successful and highly emotional. She was seen breaking down in tears shortly after arriving at the St George Sailing Club in Sydney for her wedding, becoming visibly overwhelmed while filming a piece to camera with producers.
James Alexander and Katherine Lennon
Sydney marketing professional James Alexander, known to friends as Jay, has a background in digital marketing and has worked with major brands to build online engagement and increase revenue. Friends describe him as polished, social and cheeky without taking himself too seriously, with a distinctive sense of style and a strong interest in fashion and music. James is also said to have fought hard to rebuild his life after experiencing difficult periods, developing enormous mental resilience in the process.
James has been matched with Katherine "Kat" Lennon, a nurse who previously worked in the United Kingdom during the Covid pandemic before recently relocating to Australia. Her practical, caring background gives her the ability to remain calm under pressure.
Bella Kajewski and Chris Colombo
Actress and model Bella Kajewski and direct fitness professional Chris Colombo are already being tipped as one of the season's hottest and potentially most combustible couples. Athletic, tattooed and intensely confident, Chris has a background in football, boxing and fitness. He is direct, uncomplicated, fiercely loyal and protective, but friends say he is also outspoken and unlikely to remain silent when something does not sit right.
Bella holds a previous IMDb credit for playing "a tart" in the TV movie The Celebrant and enters the experiment with around 10,000 Instagram followers, making her the most-followed bride identified in the early stages of filming. She is socially connected, confident and friends with several adult-content creators. Sources indicated that Bella and Chris were getting along extremely well during early filming, though their two strong personalities give the match all the ingredients for either enormous chemistry or spectacular conflict.
Tim Bates and Sarina Monastirli
Brisbane café owner Tim Bates, 31, previously competed on Million Dollar Island in 2023 and is understood to be very comfortable in front of the camera. Friends have described him as the type of hospitality operator who remembers regular customers, knows their coffee orders and makes everybody feel welcome.
Tim is paired with Sarina Monastirli, a writer with an interest in adult gothic and dark fantasy who also comes from a theatre background. She entered the experiment with only about 180 Instagram followers. The newlyweds have already been spotted together on the Gold Coast during their honeymoon, with early indications suggesting the relationship was progressing well.
Connor Rogers and Leanne Rosario
Footballer and Dating Naked: UK veteran Connor Rogers enters the experiment after surviving a catastrophic knee injury suffered during a match in 2025. Connor was tackled from behind while taking a shot at goal, causing his knee to buckle and hyperextend, severing the artery behind his knee and cutting off circulation to his lower leg. The lifelong Carlton supporter suffered damage to his ACL, PCL and MCL and was diagnosed with compartment syndrome. Doctors transplanted a vein from his left leg to restore blood flow, though he was warned amputation remained a significant possibility.
Connor has been paired with professional makeup artist Leanne Rosario. Leanne is also a reformer Pilates instructor and owner of Soflo Studios in Melbourne.
Steven Hiles and Sarah Jane Comben
Sydney hospitality operator Steven Hiles is an energetic, approachable and street-smart business owner who was previously involved with venues including Hunter Wine Bar in Mosman and the White Horse Hotel in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Steven is now a partner in two Play Zone venues, one in Melbourne and another on the Gold Coast, alongside business partners former Strip Search winner Darren Sutton and Brownlow medallist Dane Swan. Steven previously made headlines after being spotted on a date with Australian actress Nicky Whelan and entered filming with approximately 2,900 social-media followers. He has been matched with Sarah Jane Comben, who has so far remained one of the season's more mysterious brides.
Lily Holics and James Smith
Bondi larrikin James Smith is described as friendly, larger than life and likely to become the life of any Dinner Party. His determination was on full display when he agreed to complete a triathlon despite never having attempted one: the swim was brutal, the bike leg went wrong and the run left him in serious pain, but James refused to stop.
James has been matched with Queensland beauty Lily Holics, who works for the Australian Government's Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Kodie Wyatt and Wintah Cunnington
Cosmetic nurse Kodie Wyatt, 31, entered the experiment with just over 1,000 Instagram followers and experienced an uncertain beginning after becoming spooked by paparazzi on her wedding day. The ordeal made her question whether joining the show was the right decision, but her anxiety began to lift after she reached the ceremony and saw her groom.
Kodie has been paired with Wintah Cunnington, a father of two from the Byron Bay region who previously worked as a coal miner. Wintah is committed to his faith, devoted to fitness and exceptionally close to his sisters, with friends describing him as genuine, relaxed and easygoing with considerable emotional depth.
Production Overhaul and Panel Changes
Channel Nine executives spent months analysing viewer feedback following the 2026 season. Sources said participants underwent extensive background investigations, social-media audits, reference checks and detailed psychological assessments before being approved. "The brief has completely changed," one insider said. "They are still looking for people with personality because nobody wants boring television. But there is a much bigger focus on finding people who actually want relationships and have genuine reasons for doing the experiment, rather than people chasing followers."
"The audience has been saying for a while that they miss the genuine love stories," another source said. "They want couples they can actually invest in instead of watching endless scandals play out on Instagram." Another industry insider added, "The chemistry still has to work and they still need people who aren't afraid to speak their minds. But there is a huge difference between someone who is entertaining and someone who is simply going to become a liability."
Following the death of relationship expert Mel Schilling, producers are preparing to introduce a new expert alongside returning panellists John Aiken and Alessandra Rampolla. Daily Mail understands relationship coach Brigitte Zonta, better known publicly as Dr Lurve, is set to join the panel, although Channel Nine has not formally announced the appointment.
