While trashy reality TV shows are a staple of the US, the Love Island franchise actually originated in the United Kingdom. Before every day but ridiculously hot Islanders were shoved into a villa to "find love," the series started with celebrities doing the very same thing in Celebrity Love Island (2005). After just two seasons and a decade-long interlude, the show ditched its celebrity premise for the common folk and spawned the franchise behemoth that it is now.
If you're just getting roped into the drama, there is a lot to parse through. From the original UK series to the many international spin-offs, your best bet when it comes to tackling this franchise is release date order. This guide will break down everything you need to know. So, if you can't get enough of watching a group of strangers couple up and (probably) disappoint you in the long run, here is how to watch Love Island in order on Peacock, Hulu, and more.
Celebrity Love Island (2005-2006)
Truthfully, Celebrity Love Island isn't mandatory watching. In fact, most people outside of the UK probably didn't even realize it exists. The premise is what you'd expect from the series, but with single D-list celebrities as Islanders. The majority of them are models (Are we really surprised?) with a few actors, singers, and even Big Brother UK (2000) winner Kate Lawler thrown in the mix.
Patrick Kielty and Kelly Brook hosted in Season 1 before Fearne Cotton took Brook's hosting spot in Season 2. Despite dropping "Celebrity" from its title in the second season, Celebrity Love Island never quite found its audience. Disappointing ratings resulted in its cancellation. Still, it's a fun, trashy time for anyone wanting to see where the franchise began. While people outside of the UK might not know the show's celebrity cast, with the show's format, you don't really need to.
Love Island UK (2015-Present)
Nearly a decade after Celebrity Love Island's cancellation, the series received a revival, this time trading celebrities for everyday people looking for love and to test their competition skills. Familiar ITV2 presenter Caroline Flack started off as the host before her tragic death in 2020, which resulted in Laura Whitmore taking over the position until the mantle passed to Maya Jama in 2022.
While Love Island UK has faced its share of controversies, from concerns about diversity and body shaming to abusive male contestants and mental health, it remains a staple of British pop culture, especially among the millennial and Gen Z crowd. The unique mash-up of dating show meets reality competition series keeps the content fresh. Not to mention, all the fights, relationships, and cringeness provide hours upon hours of silly drama to get lost in. If you like other tropical-set reality TV shows that make dating their central premise, like Too Hot To Handle (2020) and Temptation Island (2019), then you'll adore Love Island and its many spin-offs.
Love Island USA (2019-Present)
For many Americans, 2019's Love Island, also known as Love Island USA, was their first exposure to the franchise. Nearly identical to the flagship British series, Love Island poses the burning question (apparently) on everyone's mind: What happens when hot singles get confined to a luxury villa and are forced to couple up for a shot at $100,000? The answer comes in the form of binge-worthy seasons stuffed with drama, betrayals, and all the expected controversies that go hand in hand with reality TV.
While Ariana Madix currently hosts the series, anyone starting from the beginning will get to know former hosts Arielle Vandenberg and Sarah Hyland, the latter of whom Modern Family (2009) fans will recognize. While there isn't much difference between Love Island USA and Love Island UK, those looking for more genuine connections might have better luck in the latter. Whether it's a cultural difference or not, the USA contestants tend to lean more toward competition and strategic partnerships as opposed to finding love… or even real connections.
Love Island Spin-Offs Available In The US
If you can't get enough of Love Island, you're probably eagerly scouring the internet in search of more international versions and spin-offs. The news here is both good and bad. While the show has upwards of 20 international spin-offs, at the time of writing, only Love Island Australia, Love Island South Africa, and Love Island España, in addition to the aforementioned Love Island UK, are available to stream in the US. However, there are a few supplemental spin-off series that can help fill the void.
Love Island Games, for example, offers audiences more time with previous Islanders, including some from international series. Love Island: All-Stars offers something similar, bringing back fan-favorite (and not so fan-favorite) Islanders for a second shot at finding love. And if you're one of those people who likes to check in with contestants after each season, Love Island: Beyond the Villa offers a more intimate look into the lives of various Islanders after they leave the show.
- Love Island Australia (2018-Present)
- Love Island South Africa (2021)
- Love Island España (2021-2022)
- Love Island Games (2023-Present)
- Love Island: All-Stars (2024-Present)
- Love Island: Beyond the Villa (2025-Present)
Love Island International Spin-Offs (Not Available To Watch In The US)
As mentioned, there are a multitude of international Love Island spin-offs. However, the ones listed below aren't available to stream within the US. While that's certainly a blow to true completionists or anyone wanting to experience the series through the lens of a different culture, its possible availability will change in the future. With Love Island still a juggernaut in the reality TV space, you can't rule it out completely. After all, RuPaul's Drag Race (2009) has the majority of its international spin-offs all available on WoW Presents Plus.
- Love Island – Heiße Flirts & wahre Liebe (2017-Present)
- Love Island Sweden (2018-Present)
- Love Island Norway (2018-Present)
- Love Island Suomi (2018-Present)
- Love Island Nederland & België (2019-Present)
- Love Island Hungary (2019)
- Love Island. Wyspa miłości (2019-Present)
- Love Island France (2020-2023)
- Love Island Italia (2021)
- Love Island Canada (2021-2023)
- Love Island Česko & Slovensko (2021-Present)
- Love Island Denmark (2021-Present)
- Love Island Greece (2022)
- Love Island Malta (2023-Present)
- Love Island Albania (2023)
- Love Island România (2023)
- Love Island Israel (2024)
- Love Island Nigeria (TBA)
- Love Island NZ (TBA)
