MAFS 2026 Episode 5 Recap: Bisexual bride gets a surprise at the end of the aisle and feisty maid-of-honour disapproves of groom's job

There's nothing better to round out your weekend (and give you something to chat with in the office tomorrow) than MAFS on a Sunday night – and it's back!

While most of this year's couples are now getting steamy, or not even Lukewarm (sorry) on their honeymoons, four more singles are about to get married.

Tonight, we've got a bisexual bride who is getting more than one surprise on her wedding day and another pair whose wedding may be derailed before it's even begun – thanks to the groom's eyebrow-raising vows.

Stream every episode of Married At First Sight for free on 9Now

Stella and Filip's wedding

Lithuanian bride Stella makes a grand entrance on the back of her motorbike, and unlike fellow participant and speed demon Scott, she's not flipped off by any random members of the public.

A good start!

She's a 32-year-old who moved to Australia completely solo almost a decade ago. She's built herself a life in Sydney and is looking for a partner to share and grow a family with.

Groom Filip looks up to his parents' 40-year marriage and wants to experience the same type of love.

The 38-year-old's family moved to Australia from Croatia when he was one and hopefully that's not the only reason these two were matched. The Baltics and the Balkans are different things!

Filip runs a YouTube channel where he does "personal development coaching" helping other tradies and men struggling with fitness and mental health.

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He's qualified to do so because two years ago he partied every weekend and then realised it sucked. Now, he's sober, #fitspo and looking for the love of his life.

First, he'll have to get past Stella's protective bridesmaid, Leila.

"I had this dream that I was confronting him," she says. We've seen enough MAFS weddings to know that's one dream that will definitely come true.

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As Filip waits for his bride to arrive, Leila makes inquiries that simply cannot wait.

Like, what's his star sign?

Once Stella arrives, it's his friends' turn to ask the make-or-break questions like, um, does she wake up early?

They bond over a 4.30am alarm and I feel sick.

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Stella starts to sob before she's even said a word of her vows, which speak to her journey from small-town Lithuania to hopefully finding love with us all watching.

Filip's start off just as great until he says one word: "YouTube".

Stella doesn't even blink but her friend Joe is very concerned and we have a feeling he's about to make it very known!

It's not long before Joe is telling all of Filip's mates about the groom's red flags and they have to concede that mentioning YouTube in televised vows is a little unusual.

But it's just because Filip is really passionate about health!

Unfortunately, it's a Lithuanian wedding tradition to drink vodka and that doesn't work with his two years of sobriety.

Stella is the only one in the room who seems cool with him opting out which feels ... awkward.

Leila admits she's also "questioning things" and who better to question about said things than Filip himself?

After sharing her fears with Stella, she pulls him aside to interrogate. Sorry, I mean chat.

"I'm gonna get straight to the point – are you here for the right reasons?" she says.

He defends his decision to talk about how important his YouTube and coaching is to him and doesn't like being misjudged for it.

Stella jokes that she is called "feisty Aistė" in reference to her Lithuanian name, but I think Leila's looking to steal the nickname because yikes, it gets a little intense!

"I'm going to stop you just for a second," Leila tells him. "You're irritated, it's okay".

Filip reckons he's "very calm" but Leila tells him to breathe.

"You're getting really worked up, I can feel it," she continues.

There's nothing quite like being told you're mad when you're not. It is, ironically, maddening.

After much back, forth and breathing exercises, they put on fake smiles and pretend that conversation came to a satisfying end.

Julia and Grayson's wedding

This year's final bride, Julia, will have more than one surprise waiting for her when she walks down the aisle. She is marrying a stranger, of course, but the bisexual bride also has no idea if that stranger will be a man or a woman.

EXCLUSIVE: MAFS bride Julia answers biggest question about her bisexuality: 'I've dated all kind of flavours'

Julia is a former journalist turned "confidence and charisma consultant" – oh, the places I could go! – and wants an emotionally intelligent and secure partner.

Right on cue, a blond man is walking out of the surf running his fingers through his hair. Always a strong start.

His name is Grayson, a 34-year-old businessman who had to pivot after devastating injuries ruined his dreams of playing professional AFL.

He labels himself emotionally intelligent, confident and secure which sounds really bloody good, but to be fair, this is MAFS and we should all reserve judgment.

One big tick in his favour is that he's besties with Johnny, of successful MAFS 2021 couple Kerry and Johnny fame.

READ MORE: Are MAFS' Kerry and Johnny still together? From marriage to babies, Season 8's real-life love story

Julia's clueless about the gender of her match but as they finally lock eyes, she knows she got her wish of an immediate spark.

"He is absolutely divine, so warm, he had this kindness in his eyes," she says.

The feeling is mutual and after they exchange their vows, Grayson tells her he's "stoked".

The sweetness continues into their photoshoot and then the reception, which is where Julia opens up about her sexuality.

"I'm 35 so I have dated all kinds of different people, I'm actually bisexual," she tells her new groom.

Thankfully, he responds exactly how she hoped he would.

"I don't think about it at all, I don't see people for their sexuality. It doesn't bother me whatsoever," he says.

They end the night with a romantic chat amongst the twinkling lights of Sydney Harbour.

Both are on the exact same page - and seal it with a kiss!

With that, the weddings are done and dusted!

You know what that means? It's time to return to the brick warehouse we know and love.

Polish the plates, hide the knives, the first Dinner Party of the year is here! I know I don't have to tell you to tune in, you wouldn't bloody miss it would ya!?

Married At First Sight continues Sunday at 7pm and Monday to Wednesday at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Stream every episode of Married At First Sight for free on 9Now

MAFS: After The Dinner Party starts Wednesday February 18 only on Stan.

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