Days Of Our Lives Comings & Goings 2026: Exits, Returns, New Arrivals, Recasts + Airdates

Days of Our Lives spoilers reveal that Salem can be a flurry of activity when it comes to new character arrivals and departures. Read on to see all the returns, exits, debuts, and more happening in 2026, below.

New Arrivals

It was recently announced that General Hospital alum, Sofia Mattsson, who played Sasha Gilmore on the ABC soap, started filming on Days of Our Lives in late March 2026. The actress is slated to appear in Salem in a mystery role sometime in early 2027.

Shocking Contract Changes

Off the cusp of the Sofia Mattsson announcement, the closing credits of Days revealed in late March 2026 that Galen Gering (Rafe Hernandez) and Elia Cantu (Jada Hunter) had been taken off contract and dropped down to recurring status.

Stunning Exits

Michael Roark, who entered Salem in October 2025 as the Jeremy Horton recast, is set to leave the show on April 29. As of this writing, there’s no news as to whether the show intends to recast the role.

Marissa Reyes, who entered the role of Arianna “Ari” Horton in May 2025, exited Days on March 26.

Meanwhile, Alice Halsey, who played Rachel Black since April 24, 2025, left the soap. She was cast as the lead in Netflix’s revival of Little House on the Prairie and is slated to play Laura Ingalls. Halsey’s last appearance was on March 5.

Billy Flynn, who played Chad DiMera, exited the role, with his last appearance on the soap being the February 17 episode.

As Days films months in advance, Flynn left the show in 2024, surfacing on The Young and the Restless as the Cane Ashby recast on June 16, 2025. He started on the soap in September 2014.

In addition, Cary Christopher left the role of Thomas DiMera on the February 17 show, as did Autum Gendron, who played Charlotte DiMera.

It was announced in January 2026 that Rave Bowen (Chanel DiMera), Carson Boatman (Johnny DiMera), Tate Black (Leo Howard), and Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) are all exiting Salem in the near future.

While their final airdates have not been revealed, fans should expect them to leave the canvas sometime in late 2026 or early 2027.

Recast City

With all the above exits, there’s a slew of recasts to look forward to! Conner Floyd is entering the role of Chad DiMera on April 21, 2026.

In addition, actress Vico Escorcia is joining the Peacock cast as Ari Horton during the week of April 6-10.

Young actress Lorelei Olivia Mote entered the role of Rachel Black on March 17, 2026, while Nikki Crawford joined the soap as the Lexie Carver recast on March 6.

Bombshell Returns

Joy Wesley, played by AlexAnn Hopkins, is slated for a shocking return as of April 24. How caught off guard will Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson) be when he realizes he’s a dad? As fans know, Joy left Salem pregnant with his child and hasn’t been heard from, since.

Eli Grant returned to Salem during the February 3 episode to help Rafe with his investigation in Alamainia, but also brought some good news with him: that he and Lani Price-Grant, played by Sal Stowers, would be returning home … for good!

While fans have seen the couple pop in now and again over the years, they officially left the little town in 2022.

Wes Rasmey made an explosive return in February 2026, reprising his Owen Kent role after a 16-year absence from the soap.

Owen Kent ended up being the person stalking Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) – not Jeremy Horton – as everyone believed.

While it was brief, it was still lovely when Louis Sorel reprised her devious role of Vivian Alamain during the week of January 26, 2026. Sorel has been playing villainess on the soap, on and off, since 1992.

What do you think of DOOL’s casting news so far in 2026? Catch the popular Peacock soap daily for all the exciting moments and visit SS often for the best Days of Our Lives updates, spoilers, and news.