Reality TV still knows how to stop the scroll, and this week entertainment news Ireland had one clear talking point: the latest Love Island finale ratings. Virgin Media has now confirmed just how many viewers in Ireland tuned in to watch the winning couple crowned, underlining the dating show’s staying power across both traditional TV and streaming.
On the night, fan favourites Lorenzo Alessi and Julia Majchrzak were announced as the 2026 winners, finishing ahead of runners-up Kavan Murphy and Jasmine Muller, while Simba Kudyiwa and Angelista Gunda placed third. Along with the title, the winning pair also took home the £50,000 prize, split equally.
Love Island finale delivers a solid result in entertainment news Ireland
According to Virgin Media, the Series 13 final drew an average audience of 281,000 viewers on Virgin Media Two, making it the broadcaster’s strongest Love Island finale audience since 2022. The finale, broadcast on Monday 27 July, averaged 183,000 viewers, reached a 19% share of viewing, and peaked at 213,000 viewers during the live transmission.
In a statement, a Virgin Media spokesperson said the final also performed exceptionally well with younger viewers, especially women aged 15 to 34, where it secured a standout 78% share of viewing.
That kind of performance keeps the show firmly in the mix for Irish entertainment news, particularly as audiences continue to split their attention between scheduled broadcasts and on-demand platforms.
Streaming numbers added to the finale buzz
Beyond the overnight TV audience, the finale generated 144,000 streams on VM Play to date, showing that TV and streaming Ireland now go hand in hand for major reality formats. Virgin Media also said the full season has so far delivered more than 10.4 million streams across live and catch-up viewing.
That digital momentum matters. In today’s streaming news Ireland landscape, success is no longer measured by linear figures alone. Programmes that can drive conversation online while pulling strong VOD numbers remain especially valuable to broadcasters.
Why the series remained one of the biggest entertainment stories Ireland watched this summer
The broadcaster added that more than 1.9 million viewers watched some part of Love Island Series 13 across the season, reaching 40% of the available TV population in Ireland. Meanwhile, audiences consumed 170.8 million minutes of catch-up content across the main show and related spin-offs.
Those figures help explain why Love Island continues to dominate trending entertainment Ireland and reality TV Ireland coverage every summer. The format is built for daily conversation, social clips, recaps and fan reactions, making it a natural fit for modern pop culture Ireland habits.
- Average finale audience: 281,000 viewers on Virgin Media Two
- Broadcast average: 183,000 viewers
- Peak audience: 213,000 viewers
- VM Play streams for the finale: 144,000
- Total season reach: 1.9 million viewers
- Season VM Play streams: 10.4 million
While UK ratings for the final reportedly dipped year-on-year, the Irish figures suggest the franchise still holds major appeal locally. For anyone following celebrity news Ireland, Love Island Ireland-adjacent chatter, or broader TV news Ireland, these numbers tell a simple story: audiences are still invested.
As far as entertainment news Ireland goes, this is another reminder that Love Island remains one of the most bankable summer brands on screen. Strong youth engagement, healthy streaming totals and a season-long reach in the millions show the format is still connecting with Irish viewers where it matters most.
Image Courtesy: EVOKE
Credit/Courtesy for the Article: EVOKE
