Summer Bay is plunged into chaos when Home And Away returns to TV screens on Monday, picking up moments after last year’s explosive cliffhanger that left multiple lives hanging in the balance. The long-running series wrapped up 2025 with one of the most dramatic finales in its 38-year history, when a party train carrying several residents derailed inside a tunnel on its way to a music festival in Broken Hill.
Viewers will finally learn the fate of those on board when the show resumes at 7pm on Monday. Among those trapped inside the wreckage are Justin (James Stewart), Mackenzie (Emily Weir), Remi (Adam Rowland), Abigail (Hailey Pinto), Dana (Ally Harris), Sonny (Ryan Bown), Lacey (Sophea Pennington), Jo (Maddison Brown) and Eddie (Stephen Madsen). Rescue crews will be racing against time as the damaged train threatens to collapse, while David (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor), Cash (Nicholas Cartwright), Levi (Tristan Gorey), and Tane (Ethan Browne) arrive to help.
As the situation deteriorates, Tane defies police orders to go into the tunnel in a desperate bid to save lives, risking everything for those he loves. Appearing on The Morning Show ahead of the premiere, stars Ada Nicodemou, Stephanie Panozzo and Jessica Redmayne teased the drama that lies ahead but refused to reveal who makes it out alive. “We’re not going to say anything to spoil it,” the trio said, confirming only that their characters were not on the train.
For Nicodemou’s character, Leah, the emotional fallout is immediate. She receives a devastating phone call informing her that her husband Justin is in a critical condition. “Leah doesn’t know whether Justin’s going to make it,” Nicodemou revealed. This comes at a tricky time for the couple, who have been struggling with communication issues impacting their relationship. “So, there’s a lot to come with Leah and Justin,” Nicodemou said.
Meanwhile, Redmayne’s character, Harper, faces major turmoil of her own this season, with her fractured relationship with her mother taking centre stage. A Place To Call Home star Sara Wiseman joins the cast as Harper’s mum, whose arrival is already causing trouble in the Bay. “It always was, and it always will be, I guess, for Harper. But it was extraordinary to work with her.”
Adding to the excitement of Monday’s return, 2026 also brings the return of fan favourites Brax (Stephen Peacocke) and Ricky (Bonnie Sveen), who will reunite for a Western Australia event in partnership with Tourism Western Australia. With high-stakes rescues, emotional fallout and major returns ahead, the series is promising one of its biggest seasons yet.
