Islanders
All 17 Seasons of ‘Love Island USA’ & ‘UK,’ Ranked From Worst to Best
We’ve got a text! And it’s all 17 seasons of Love Island UK and USA—ranked for your viewing pleasure.
The British version, which was actually a revival of a short-lived original run, debuted in 2015. Love Island soon became a global phenomenon, and America took notice. Love Island USA premiered in 2019 on CBS before moving over to Peacock for Season 4 and beyond.
We take this ranking responsibility very seriously, weighing all the key factors: fan-favorite contestants, swoonworthy romances, long-lasting relationships beyond the villa, and, of course, those unforgettable dramatic blowups. From coffee duties to LickGate, there’s always something to argue about in paradise.
As we set up our sunloungers for Season 12 of Love Island UK and Season 7 of Love Island USA, here are the best seasons of the romantic hit show.
Disagree with our ranking? Think your favorite season deserves the top spot? Let us know in the comments below!
Love Island USA, Season 7, Every Night Except Wednesdays, 9/8c, Peacock
Love Island UK, Season 12, Every Night Except Saturdays, ITV2
17. Season 3 (USA)
Winners: Olivia Kaiser and Korey Gandy
The main issue with Season 3 of Love Island USA was its isolated nature. Instead of a mix of public votes and Islanders’ choices, the Islanders alone voted for every dumping outside of recouplings. As a result, viewers felt like their opinions didn’t matter. This feeling was only amplified by the choice of winners: Olivia Keiser and Korey Gandy secured the grand prize after coupling up for the first time and ending a love triangle just days before the final. The other finalists were also a recently formed couple, making much of the season’s lead-up feel somewhat pointless.
That said, there were positives. The Hawaiian villa was easily the best setting we’d seen so far. The Islanders brought great main character energy, though unfortunately, the strongest personalities left too quickly. Season 3 also featured some of the most entertaining bombshells in the USA version, including Charlie Lynch and Bailey Marshall.
16. Season 1 (UK)
Winners: Jessica Hayes and Max Morley
While we’re often forgiving of a reality show’s first season—before fame and fortune cloud the search for love—we can’t in good conscience rank Season 1 any higher on our list. It has definitely aged poorly, with its simplistic villa design, limited challenges, and less polished editing. This was back when there was a smoker’s corner and some truly unhinged conversations, as ITV wasn’t too worried about its image. Another downside of Season 1 was the behavior of the male Islanders, which included misogynistic attitudes, possessive expectations of women, and some pretty mouthy language.
None of the couples lasted beyond the villa, but Jess Hayes and Hannah Elizabeth became fan favorites after the show. It also performed well enough to secure a renewal, so we can’t be too harsh on it.
15. Season 9 (UK)
Winners: Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan
A fever dream of a Love Island season, in the way that we don’t know if we actually watched it or just dreamed up something hella boring. What led to the demise of Season 9? The over-saturation of two seasons in the same year, the repetitive formula of the show, predictable challenges, and a lack of shocking twists. Many felt that it was over-produced and scripted…even for Love Island.
However, it is worth noting that this was the first season to have a Casa Amor couple win the show: Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan. They were an endearing pair and managed to break the Casa Amor curse. This was also the first season to be hosted by Maya Jama, who took over from Laura Whitmore, and has been a popular addition.
14. Season 4 (USA)
Winners: Timmy Pandolfi and Zeta Morrison
This season of Love Island USA brought many changes, all of which proved to rehabilitate the show after the lackluster Season 3. Host Arielle Vanderberg was replaced by Modern Family‘s Sarah Hyland (bring back Andy, and we’re really on board!). The show moved to Peacock. Love Island UK’s narrator, Iain Stirling, was brought over, and his sassy commentary proved to be exactly what was missing. The cast stirred up plenty of drama, both between couples and [ex] friends.
Deborah Chubb, Zeta Morrison, and Nadjha Day were fan favorites of the season. Season 4 also included the first set of siblings to compete on the show in the USA franchise, through Chazz and Bria Bryant. For the first time in Love Island USA, a former contestant made a comeback, as Mackenzie Dipman had previously appeared in the second season.
13. Season 6 (UK)
Winners: Paige Turley and Finn Tapp
Okay, credit where credit’s due: This was a tough season to nail. It marked the first-ever winter edition of Love Island, and let’s be honest—this show screams summer. We’re used to watching it with a sunburn, an aloe vera tube in one hand and a frozen cocktail in the other. Watching it in a hoodie while they parade around in bikinis in the southern hemisphere? Not quite the same vibe.
It was also the first season hosted by Laura Whitmore, following the tragic death of Caroline Flack. Viewers had a hard time adjusting; we’d only ever known Caroline, and some of our gripes may have been tangled up in that loss—and, let’s be real, some winter-induced crankiness.
That said, the season did give us a few standout couples with genuine chemistry, including winners Finn Tapp and Paige Turley, and fan favorites Siânnise Fudge and Luke Trotman. It was also one of the rare seasons where a post-show romance bloomed: bombshells Molly Smith and Callum Jones started dating after filming wrapped—and actually made it work.
12. Season 1 (USA)
Winners: Elizabeth Weber and Zac Mirabelli
It took four years for Love Island to make its way across the pond, and the first U.S. season wasn’t without its issues. First off: the weather. Instead of the scorching sunbathing we were used to, we watched Islanders wading through rain puddles. Yep—genius producers chose to film in Fiji during its rainy season.
Elizabeth Weber and Zac Mirabelli took home the first Love Island USA crown after connecting at first sight and sticking together throughout the show. But their love was a little too saccharine for viewers, who instead gravitated toward Ray Grantt and Caro Viehweg—their love/hate dynamic made for far more compelling television.
Something felt missing this season, and a big part of that was the absence of Casa Amor. A proven game-changer in the UK version, it was inexplicably left out—first rainy Fiji, now this? Let’s just say Season 1 left plenty of room for improvement.
11. Season 11 (UK)
Winners: Mimii Ngulube and Josh Oyinsan
It shouldn’t have taken until Season 11 for Love Island to crown its first Black couple as winners, but it did. While we’re disappointed it took this long, we’re proud that Mimii Ngulube and Josh Oyinsan broke that barrier. Their journey wasn’t exactly smooth sailing, and some claimed the couple won more because of Mimii’s status as a fan favorite than their compatibility. Mimii and Josh confirmed their breakup two months after leaving the villa. Shorter than usual, we’ll admit.
This season also made headlines for featuring an actual celebrity: Joey Essex (of The Only Way Is Essex fame) entered as a bombshell on the very first night. A standout moment was the Day 1 challenge, which determined their initial couplings and was unbeknownst to the Islanders. The girls ranked the boys from “Most to Least” boyfriend material, and the boys did the same for the girls. Their couple pairings were then based on how each contestant was ranked in both lists—plot twist!
10. Season 2 (UK)
Winners: Cara De la Hoyde and Nathan Massey
In later years, Love Island would be criticized for feeling overly produced, but Season 2 was still in its heyday of raw, cringeworthy moments. Its winners, Cara De La Hoyde and Nathan Massey, had a sweet and genuine love story that blossomed into marriage and a family outside the villa.
The rest of the cast had quite the journey, both in and out of the villa. Season 2 featured the show’s first queer couple, with Sophie Gradon and Katie Salmon. Zara Holland was stripped of her real-life title of Miss Great Britain after having sex on camera. Malia Arkian was removed from the villa just hours after arriving for getting into a physical altercation. Tragically, Sophie Gradon died by suicide in 2018, followed just 20 days later by her partner. Her death left a lasting mark on Season 2’s legacy and raised urgent questions about the aftercare provided to reality TV contestants.
9. Season 10 (UK)
Winners: Sammy Root and Jess Harding
The running online joke for Season 10 was “the producers are producing!” Let’s dig into that. First off, there was a strong and unique cast, which brought very different dynamics to the show. Gone were the days of copy-and-paste personalities. In particular, viewers adored the hilarious Whitney Adebayo and the quick-witted Scott van-der-Sluis.
Secondly, gone were the screaming matches of previous seasons. This isn’t to say there were no conflicts, as that wouldn’t make for great reality television. But rather, they were handled in compelling, heated discussions rather than loud rows. We have a feeling this was both instigated and managed by the producers.
Finally, there was an excellent plot twist when Molly Marsh was brought back to the villa for the Casa Amor segment, and she reignited things with Zach Noble.
8. Season 3 (UK)
Winners: Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies
Season 1 might have been the official start to the show, but Season 3 was when it really found its groove. It introduced Casa Amor, which has been a staple of Love Island since this point, to test loyalty and obviously stir up some tension. There was strong chemistry between the cast members, both romantic and platonic, and several key figures have gone on to find success. Winner Kem Cetinay embarked on a successful media career, and fellow winner Amber Davies is gracing the first West End cast of The Great Gatsby. Olivia Atwood is a beloved presenter, and her on-screen match Chris Hughes recently appeared in Celebrity Big Brother and is in a highly-scrutinized relationship with JoJo Siwa.
One major strength of the season was in runner-ups Camilla Thurlow and Jamie Hewett, who went on to get married and start a family—talk about a success story!
7. Season 2 (USA)
Winners: Justine Ndiba and Caleb Corprew
The running joke during Season 10 was, “The producers are producing!” And honestly, they were. First off, the cast was strong and refreshingly unique, bringing a range of personalities that broke the mold of previous seasons. Gone were the days of copy-and-paste Islanders. Viewers especially adored the hilarious Whitney Adebayo and the quick-witted Scott van-der-Sluis.
Secondly, the explosive screaming matches of earlier seasons were noticeably toned down. That’s not to say there wasn’t conflict—this is reality TV, after all—but the drama played out through sharp, heated discussions rather than full-blown shouting matches. It felt intentional, like the producers were steering the vibe in a new direction.
And finally, there was an iconic plot twist: Molly Marsh returned to the villa during Casa Amor and reignited things with Zach Noble—cue the chaos.
6. Season 4 (UK)
Winners: Jack Fincham and Dani Dyer
Season 4 is the cilantro of Love Island seasons: You either love it or hate it. Over at Swooon? We’ll take extra cilantro, thanks. The source of this divisive reputation? Megan Barton Hanson and her on-again, off-again relationship with Wes Nelson. Megan’s a bold personality who, since the show, has openly discussed her sex work, bisexuality, and plastic surgery—something not every viewer was ready for at the time.
Megan and Wes ultimately placed fourth, while first place went to Dani Dyer and Jack Fincham, who won with a whopping 79.66% of the public vote. Yes, that Dani Dyer—as in the daughter of Rivals actor Danny Dyer. The couple were adorable fan favorites and lasted eight months post-show.
This season truly cemented Love Island as a cultural juggernaut, with fiery clashes, shocking twists, and undeniable romantic chemistry. Several contestants went on to become household names, including Casa Amor’s Kaz Crossley.
5. Season 5 (USA)
Winners: Hannah Wright and Marco Donatelli
Back in Fiji, baby! Many fans of both franchises felt like Season 5 was the first U.S. season that truly felt like Love Island—and dare we say it, even rivaled the UK version. That feeling was boosted by the addition of footballer Scott van-der-Sluis, who had previously appeared on Love Island UK Season 10.
Producers also introduced Movie Night, a fan-favorite feature from the UK version that famously triggered the explosive Faye and Teddy row. It delivered similar chaos in Fiji—much to viewers’ delight.
Hannah Wright and Marco Donatelli took home the win, having coupled up on Day 2 when Hannah entered as a bombshell. They dropped L-bombs during their time in the villa and continued their romance off-screen. Despite a cruel April Fool’s breakup that had us—and Hannah—briefly panicking, the couple got engaged in May 2025.
4. Season 5 (UK)
Winners: Amber Gill and Greg O’Shea
What a season. Where do we even begin? Chances are, you’ve been waiting this whole list to hear about Molly-Mae Hague—widely regarded as the ultimate Love Island success story. She and Tommy Fury became a power couple both on and off-screen, eventually getting engaged and welcoming a daughter.
Another standout from Season 5? Maura Higgins, the fiery Irish contestant who said exactly what she thought… and then some. Her most iconic moment? Confronting Tom Walker after he made a sexist comment about her right before they were meant to enjoy some long-awaited alone time. Legendary.
And then there was Curtis Pritchard, who told his then-partner Amy Hart that he couldn’t cuddle her in the mornings… because he had to make everyone coffee. “He’s just such a nice guy!” Amy’s brutal response? An unforgettable takedown: “I feel like I was an acceptably average placeholder until you found someone better. You did, and then she coupled up with someone else, so you came back to your backup plan. I was your backup plan.” She also called him “a compulsive liar.” Ouch.
Surprisingly—or maybe not, given all the chaos—it was Amber Gill who ultimately won the season alongside Greg O’Shea. But the victory was short-lived: Greg allegedly dumped her over text just weeks later, losing more than half a million Twitter followers in the process. Hey Alexa, play “Karma.”
3. Season 7 (UK)
Winners: Liam Reardon and Millie Court
Season 7 is generally agreed to be a strong one, packed with FIERY CHARACTERS—yes, we’re looking at you, Faye Winter, and that infamous meltdown. But the season was ultimately let down by its finale, when Millie Court and Liam Reardon took the crown over fan favorites Toby Aromolaran and Chloe Burrows. Millie and Liam hit rough waters post-Casa Amor after it emerged Liam had been unfaithful, and viewers just didn’t buy the reconciliation. Many also felt producers failed the cast by not stepping in during Faye and Teddy Soares’ heated argument—something that could’ve protected both of them.
It’s also worth noting this was the first summer season after the pandemic, so expectations were sky-high and pressure to deliver was real. Maybe that’s why cast care slipped? Or perhaps there was just a bit too much booze on offer? No one knows for sure, but Season 7 struggled to satisfy both viewers and contestants alike.
Outside the villa, Liam and Chloe kept things going for nearly a year before their eventual breakup.
2. Season 6 (USA)
Winners: Serena Page and Kordell Beckham
This was the first year Love Island USA quietly, and almost unanimously, took the crown as better than Love Island UK, a day we never thought we’d see. Let’s break down the success. First up: Vanderpump Rules and Scandoval victim Ariana Madix stepped in as host. The winning couple, Serena and Kordell, took viewers on a wild roller coaster ride. Serena famously chose to sleep outside during Casa Amor, only to be dumped at the firepit when Kordell returned with Daia McGhee. The blow up that followed is now legendary in Love Island lore. Casa Amor also sparked drama between Kaylor Martin and Aaron Evans after he lied about the extent of his dalliances with fellow contestant Daniela Ortiz-Rivera.
This season’s heart rate challenge was one for the books. Instead of taking themselves too seriously and attempting sexy lap dances, the contestants just had fun with it. Kordell put on a nerdy lisp, and Leah delivered some sharp medical one-liners as a nurse.
This might just be the most beloved cast in Love Island history—so much so that they landed a spinoff. Love Island: Beyond the Villa will premiere this summer on Peacock, following some of your favorites in Los Angeles as they navigate life post-villa.
1. Season 8 (UK)
Winners: Ekin-Su Cülcüloglu and Davide Sanclimenti
Who could forget the season that gave us the iconic line, “You are a liar, actress, go the f**k out?” Ekin-Su Cülcüloglu and Davide Sanclimenti didn’t just win best couple of Season 8—they brought the best entertainment of any season. The season was packed with crawling on the floor antics, sneaky kisses, fiery blowups, and more. It also set its winners up for success, with the pair landing their own short-lived travel series. More recently, Ekin-Su appeared on Season 2 of The Traitors. They broke up about a year after filming wrapped, and Ekin-Su returned to Love Island: All Stars, this time coupled up with Curtis Pritchard.
Another major highlight was Tasha Ghouri, the show’s first deaf contestant, a dancer and model who wears a cochlear implant. While we’re still waiting for proper body diversity on the show, this was a meaningful step forward. Tasha has also enjoyed great success since her time on the island. We can’t talk about Tasha without mentioning her on-screen partner Andrew Le Page, who delivered the unforgettable line, “I guess I licked her tit or whatever.” Try saying that with a straight face… We dare you.
Season 8 also played a little All Stars by bringing back Adam Collard, the season’s only person of real notoriety, which shook up the dynamics in a big way.
