Trending Now: I’m A Celebrity viewers hit back over ‘disappointing’ change in 2026 season: ‘Very strange’ – Fans React

The 2026 season of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! kicked off on Sunday night and it’s a big deviation from previous instalments. Usually, the show is done live and viewers get to have a say in who stays and who goes during the elimination episodes.

But this year, it’s all pre-recorded. A poll of hundreds of Yahoo Lifestyle viewers found 80 per cent preferred it when it was live, with many saying it didn’t have the same vibe.

“Very strange move to pre record this new series. No opportunity for live voting etc. Disappointing,” said one person.

“Excited I’m Celebrity is back still disappointed that it’s pre recorded this season,” added another.

“Wait is this season really pre-recorded? If so, wtf?” wrote a third.

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Why is I’m A Celeb pre-recorded this year?

The reality TV show’s co-host, Julia Morris, told Yahoo Lifestyle that doing it this way meant the whole production was much smoother.

“The live show can be quite a high-level cluster of full-brain explosion,” she said.

“I think having the luxury of a whisper of more time gave us a chance to really like work on some jokes and work on some physical comedy.”

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How will a pre-recorded season affect the show?

The daily shows and eliminations have already been filmed, which means viewers won’t be able to have their say on who stays and who continues.

“What is going to happen is that the celebrities will choose each other, which creates a really interesting dynamic,” Julia said.

Additionally, the finale has also already been filmed. This isn’t uncommon on reality TV shows, but producers have to film multiple endings with the remaining contestants, who all have to pretend they’ve won.

“There’s a certain vulnerability in that as most performers will still have whispers of self doubt,” Julia said.

Aussies will still be able to vote for their favourite campmate for the finale, and whoever has the most votes will have the version they filmed winning shown on TV.

“I think there’s so many nice and interesting changes to get us really just peaking about what the celebrities have to do and how they have to do it,” Julia added.

“Viewers will scream at the television when their favourite goes out. I like that element of you just don’t know what’s coming.”

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The contestants were flown over to the African continent in late November to film the series over several weeks.

When the show first aired in Australia, the celebrities were in the camp for 45 days.

This trend continued until the fourth season, with the fifth seeing them only in the camp for 33 days.

Last year’s season, which was the 11th instalment, was only 28 days and it’s unclear how long they’ll be in the jungle for the 2026 version.

Who is going into the jungle for I’m A Celeb 2026?

We got to see almost all the celebs for this season during the first episode, however there are still a few more who are yet to enter the jungle.

Here’s who will be competing to be named the king or queen of the jungle and win $100,000 for their chosen charity:

• Logie-winning actor: Gary Sweet

• ’90s pop star: Deni Hines

• Rugby Romeo: Luke Bateman

• Stand up star: Nath Valvo

• Jungle Princess: Mia Fevola

• Radio queen: Concetta Caristo

• AFL A-lister: Dyson Heppell

• Soap royalty: Rebekah Elmaloglou

• International model: Rachel Hunter

• Hollywood sitcom star: Barry Williams

We still don’t know who the “reality bad boy” will be, or the “reality bridezilla”.

As for who will be the last three remaining contestants, Julia said it will be a rollercoaster of a journey.

“There are favourites of mine I thought probably could have taken [the crown] that left or lost the challenge,” she said.

“I think the final three are incredibly worthy for three very different reasons. And the final three really, really, really liked each other.”

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