Filming for Married At First Sight 2026 is officially underway.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal the cast for Season 13 has finally been locked in, despite behind-the-scenes setbacks, with production now in full swing across Sydney.

On Monday, a glamorous bride was spotted arriving to film her wedding at The Eveleigh, in Sydney’s CBD.

The brunette beauty – whose identity is yet to be revealed – turned heads in a a figure-hugging off-the-shoulder white gown, delicately detailed with floral accents along the neckline.

Clutching a vibrant bouquet of fresh blooms, she confidently made her way through the cobbled precinct as cameras rolled on her dramatic arrival, marking the official start of wedding week.

Filming for Married At First Sight 2026 is officially underway

Daily Mail Australia can reveal the cast for Season 13 has finally been locked in, despite behind-the-scenes setbacks, with production now in full swing across Sydney

According to insiders, the new season almost didn’t make it to the altar on time after multiple cast dropouts and a last-minute casting scramble left producers racing to fill key roles.

‘Producers were scrambling behind-the-scenes right up until filming started,’ one well-placed source told Daily Mail Australia.

‘There were multiple cast dropouts and several roles had to be urgently filled at the last minute.’

Despite the early chaos, production is now in full swing, with all eyes on whether this season will live up to its explosive predecessors.

‘It was touch and go there for a few weeks,’ one well-placed source revealed.

‘They had some big personalities pull out just days before filming, and others were cut late in the process due to vetting. But they’ve managed to secure a strong final cast – and the cameras are now rolling.’

Despite the bumpy pre-production period, filming is now in full swing.

Backstories, bucks and hens nights have already been filmed, with weddings currently underway and honeymoons expected to follow in the coming days.

 On Monday, a glamorous bride was spotted arriving to film her wedding at The Eveleigh

Clutching a vibrant bouquet of fresh blooms, she confidently made her way through the cobbled precinct as cameras rolled on her dramatic arrival, marking the official start of wedding week

While the show’s signature drama is usually saved for the dinner parties and commitment ceremonies, this year’s brides and grooms are wasting no time.

One bride has already raised eyebrows after a fiery outburst before filming, accusing her bridesmaid of trying to upstage her on her wedding day.

‘She was overheard yelling on her balcony in between takes – it was a whole moment,’ one source dished. ‘She’s wild – think Jamie [Marinos] – just with years of experience.’

Another insider teased that filming has already produced ‘some of the strongest matches we’ve seen in years’ – along with a few early red flags.

‘There are couples with instant chemistry, and others who are clearly mismatched from the start. The tension is building – and we’re only in the early stages.’

Producers are said to be particularly proud of this year’s mix of personalities – which includes creatives, professionals, tradies, and even a few wildcard entries that are sure to get viewers talking.

‘It’s a really bold cast. There’s a lot of diversity in age, culture, and life experience,’ one source said.

‘You’ve got a couple of big online personalities, a groom who’s been in the headlines before, and some really grounded people just looking for love.’

The sighting marks the beginning of wedding week for the new season – which, according to insiders, almost didn’t make it to the altar

After a strict vetting process was introduced this year to avoid off-screen scandals, the casting team had to move quickly to replace last-minute dropouts.

‘They’re still walking a fine line – they want drama and standout characters, but no reputational nightmares. It’s a tightrope.’

With weddings being filmed across multiple locations around Australia and honeymoons about to begin, the pace is picking up – and producers are confident they’ve landed a winning mix.

Experts John Aiken, Mel Schilling, and Alessandra Rampolla – have also returned to the experiment, with sources claiming they’ll take a more hands-on approach than ever before.

Channel Nine is expected to premiere the new season in late January 2026.