We’ve reached the point of the experiment where the apartments need some deep, deep saging.

So, it’s time to pack bags and head out. It’s Retreat Week!

But first, Rachel’s giggling! I know that’s not exactly news, but her reason is.

She and Steven have been “fooling around” and to celebrate, we’re punished by a flashback of that deeply, deeply uncomfortable Intimacy Week rejection.

Love that for us.
But, let’s see how long these giggles last. (Nine)
At last night’s Commitment Ceremony, Joel chose to leave – but he’s still sitting in his apartment. And no, there’s no giggling.

Juliette’s “stay” has kept them in the experiment for another week and she begins it with a much-needed apology.

Joel pledges a fresh start.

Juliette gives Joel a sincere apology

At Alissa and David’s, their first blip has come thanks to the word “unstimulated”.

But after Alissa pledges to fill her own cup with some self-care, and stop saying “unstimulated”, all is well again.

Not as well as it is for Stella and Filip, but that’s an impossible bar.

Following last night’s dancing around it, it’s finally L-bomb time.

“You are different and special, and I am in love with you,” Filip says.

Filip finally tells Stella he is in love with her

The Retreat begins the way it does every year: with a completely unnecessary running race from the grooms in order to secure the biggest room.

Once everyone’s settled, Steven calls Danny “daddy” while he is pushed on a swing, and that’s not even the most shocking moment.

Tensions simmer as the participants arrive to Couples Retreat

Juliette and Joel are not only civil, but affectionate.
SERIOUSLY, WHO IS THAT? (Nine)
The first night begins with Rachel and Steven and Stella and Filip’s updates, and everyone’s very happy.

Too happy. I’m suspicious.

…Ah, there it is. Bec’s just told Steven she’s so glad he and Rachel have … well, she uses a term I definitely cannot type. This is going to be fun to try to dance around!

Steven is horrified by Bec’s crudeness.
Imagine telling us yesterday that poor STEVEN would be central to the retreat scandal. (Nine)
So, Bec, what else is there to do but repeat that vulgar phrase, again, as part of a toast to the entire group!?
Big mistake! (Nine)
The group immediately clocks that Rachel is upset, and Sam suggests Bec apologise.

Rachel explains that Bec took something she vulnerably shared and turned it into a joke.

Rather than say sorry, Bec fires up at Rachel.

“You are very, very quick to turn,” Bec says to her.
Wait, what? (Nine)
As Rach removes herself from the discussion, Bec yells that Steven making moves is all thanks to Danny’s advice anyway.

Bec makes a toast about Rachel and Steven

“She pops off so quickly, I’m over it,” Bec reacts.

Apparently Rachel is “going off her head nuts” by … walking away? Interesting definition!

Bec doubles down that her crude toast was ‘just a joke’

The next morning, Rachel is still upset by the vulgarity, but also by Bec’s reaction to being called out for it.

Meanwhile, Bec reckons Rachel should “get a personality”.

The men get in a workout, successfully pretending there is no drama that will soon have all of Australia debating the term “fing-” nope, sadly I still can’t type it out.
Great depth, Scotty. (Nine)
This whole thing has inspired Bec to start a business selling merch featuring the vulgar term that really hurt her friend Rachel’s feelings.

We don’t think it’s a good business model but alas Bec asks Gia and Juliette if they’d be interested in getting some merch.

Firstly, no they would not. Secondly, oh Bec this is going to go so bad for you.

I simply cannot imagine a better time for a girls’ night, can you?!

Bec either pretends she truly believes everyone’s in a good mood and there won’t be any drama, or she’s entered a state of delusion.

In Pictures

In pictures: Every explosive moment from the MAFS 2026 Couples Retreat
Offensive jokes and off-camera betrayals
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We start off positively: with Juliette saying nice things about Joel for once, and Joel over at the boys’ night doing his best Borat.

It doesn’t take long for there to be tears, though.

And they’re … Stella’s?
Well, it’s at least a change of pace from the finger thing. (Nine)
Turns out being in love has brought up abandonment issues for her.

All her self-preservation is telling her to keep distance between her and Filip to avoid getting hurt, so she’s trying to work through that post-L bomb.

Stella confesses her ‘fear of abandonment’

She dries her eyes because after five minutes of talking about something other than Bec and her awful toast, it’s time to get back to that.

Rachel tells the group how Steven helped her through it, bringing them even closer, and Bec is clearly thrilled for them:
THRILLED. (Nine)
“Rachel’s hard work to be friends with. Aren’t you happy I even mentioned you in my speech?” she tells cameras.

Rachel tells Bec how she felt, but Bec defends herself, practically everyone around the table agrees that her comment was inappropriate.

Gia jumps in because of course she does!

“When are you going to be accountable for repeated behaviour?” she asks.

Bec becomes fed up with Rachel’s emotions

She says it’s hard to believe Bec supports Rachel and Steven’s relationship when she’s continuing the poke fun, like her poolside merch suggestion.

Ah, that came back to bite her in record time!

Bec’s on her 400th apology of the season, and everyone wonders if she’s sick of it yet.

Turns out she is, so she leaves, interrupts boys’ night and pulls Danny away to vent.
Bloody Mary x MAFS – a crossover I didn’t know we needed! (Nine)
She gives Danny a dramatic enactment of the night, complete with a Rachel impression and Gia represented as a fire-breathing dragon.

Danny isn’t impressed by the women “ganging up” on his wife, so they decide to pull Rachel and Steven aside to talk it out.
No one has ever been more excited for anything. (Nine)
Rachel is pissed to be pulled out of girls’ night, which has turned into a feel-good goss fest in Bec’s absence.

For the 89th time in this 90 minutes of television, Bec claims her comment was not said with malice – never mind the fact that no one has claimed it was.
This is going well. (Nine)
Danny tells Rachel she’s made a mountain out of a molehill by “kicking off”, which leads Rachel and Steven to wonder how leaving the situation fits the definition of that.

Bec reveals an off-camera conversation she had with Steven, and this is news to Rachel.

She feels “betrayed” and excuses herself from the conversation.

Bec and Danny confront Rachel and Steven

But that’s far from the end of this retreat drama.

Tomorrow, the fallout continues – Bec feels isolated, Gia and Juliette stir the pot and there’s plenty more yelling.

Strap on in!