HOME AND AWAY’S explosive finale sets stage for a huge year in 2026

Home and Away closed out 2025 earlier this week with one of the most dramatic cliffhangers in its 38-year history, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.

A catastrophic train derailment en route to a music festival in Broken Hill put multiple Summer Bay residents in danger, including Justin, Mackenzie, Remi, Abigail, Dana, Sonny, Lacey, Jo, and Eddie.

When the series returns in January, the rescue operation is in full swing. David, Cash, Levi, and Tane navigate the wreckage, racing against time to save their loved ones.

Tane’s decision to defy police orders and enter the tunnel adds even more tension—will heroism come at a tragic cost?

Dana’s fate hangs in the balance as Home and Away’s cliffhanger finale leads into an explosive 2026 (image – Seven)

Home and Away’s 2025 season delivered solid growth for Seven, with an average total TV audience of 965,000 per episode, representing a 5% increase on the previous year.

The series also continues to perform strongly on 7plus, averaging 231,000 viewers per episode across live streaming and on-demand platforms—a 33% rise compared to 2024.

Wednesday night’s movie-length finale drew more than 1.4 million Australians across both TV and streaming, with 7plus viewers up 73% on the same episode last year.

In 2026, fans can also look forward to the highly anticipated return of Brax and Ricky, who join the show’s special Western Australia event in partnership with Tourism Western Australia.

Fan favourites Bonnie Sveen and Stephen Peacocke return for a Western Australia special, kicking off what promises to be an unforgettable 2026 in the Bay

Julie McGauran, Seven’s Director of Content, Scripted, said:

“Home and Away reaches more than three million Australians every week, and is rapidly growing its audience among younger demographics and on 7plus.”

“Fans are in for a big start to 2026, with the fate of many Summer Bay residents hanging in the balance, and the return of Brax and Ricky through our Western Australia special event.”

The show has proven it remains a cornerstone of Australian television, combining powerful storylines with characters who resonate with viewers across generations.

Importantly, when it returns in 2026, Home and Away will be Australia’s only weeknight soap, with Neighbours set to wrap next month for the final time—the second time in as many years the iconic series has concluded.

With audiences and streaming numbers on the rise, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the biggest years in Home and Away’s history.