TV

'MAFS AU' is back with 20 new brides and grooms for an 'explosive' season and a world first

Here's when and where to watch in NZ.

Bring on the brides and grooms, ‘Married At First Sight AU’ is back on our screens next month!

A whole new lineup of lovers are ready to tie the knot and dive into the social experiment filled with plot twists, testing their relationships with total strangers.

‘MAFS AU’ season 12 is already promising to be the most explosive yet, with moments never seen before in the history of the show.

“The drama begins straight from the weddings, where bombshells are dropped at first sight, shaping relationships for the entire experiment. Instant sparks fly for some, and others hit the friend zone,” a media release says.

This year, some of the strongest couples at the end of the experiment will face their biggest challenge in the brand-new twist - ‘Final Test Week’.

It's an international MAFS first, where the participants are hit with the classic question: “Is the grass greener on the other side?”

But before the chaos really begins, let’s meet the cast of singletons ready to get hitched - and there are a few Kiwis in the mix.

‘Married at First Sight AU’ 2025 brides and grooms include:

Paul | 30

“Frenchman Paul moved to Australia 11 years ago with his family from Nice on the Côte d'Azur. He's a hopeless romantic who feels like he has exhausted all dating avenues.”

Awhina | 30 

“An outspoken life of the party, Awhina is one of this year's most opinionated brides. Proud of her New Zealand heritage, she calls her twin sister Cleo her best friend. Awhina jokes that her future husband will have to learn pretty quickly that her and Cleo come as a package deal.”

Tony | 53

“Tony runs a fishing charter business and spends every day on the boat. Happiest on the water, the only thing missing from Tony's life is having someone to share that happiness with. Tony has been married twice and misses the joy and connection that comes with married life.”

Jacqui | 29 

“Jacqui is a certified yoga teacher, has a double degree in law and finance with first-class honours in law, and is a model, having won the title of Miss New Zealand in 2012.”

Jeff | 39

“Electrician from Victoria - Raised by a single mum who worked endlessly to provide for him and his brother, Jeff calls her his hero. Seeing how tough it was for her has made him realise he wants to meet the right woman to start a family with.”

Katie | 37

“Dominant and bold, Katie often feels like she scares off potential suitors. She is a highly successful CEO of a chain of restaurants that donates half its profits to charity.”

Elliot | 35

“Well-travelled, confident and blunt, straight-shooter Eliot knows exactly what he wants in a partner. Aspiring to have a nuclear family, Eliot is looking for a traditional relationship where he is the provider.”

Morena | 57

“Vivacious, larger-than-life Morena is proof that age does not define you. Becoming a DJ at 53 gave her a new lease on life – she gets paid to dress up, dance and meet different people on a weekly basis.”

Billy | 31 

“Billy is the quintessential English chap, having moved from England to Perth with his family 15 years ago. A self-proclaimed mummy's boy, Billy calls his mother his best friend.”

Ashleigh | 34

“Fun, energetic and loveable, Ash teaches dancing at her Gold Coast studio. She is currently living with her sister and nephew in a house full of animals.”

Carina | 31

“Hailing from a large traditional Italian family, Carina is one of five siblings and the only one not married. She feels the pressure to tie the knot, and her mother even has a checklist of qualities for the man she should marry.”

Dave | 36

“At a whopping 200cm tall (6' 7"), Dave, a loveable friendly giant, is giving love another shot after an engagement that ended a year ago. Having lost himself in that relationship, Dave has spent time working on himself and is ready to dive headfirst into the MAFS experiment.”

Rhi | 34 

“Fresh from a seven-year relationship, and admitting she has never really been in love, Rhi is now realising what qualities to look for in a partner.”

Ryan | 36

“Ryan describes himself as a warrior who wants to get the most out of life. Ryan has dated a lot of Sydney women and is sick of putting effort into dates that aren't reciprocated.”

Jamie | 28 

“Jamie comes from a big Greek family, embodying the typical Greek character traits. Every week at church her dad prays for her to find a husband, ‘a good Greek boy’ to settle down with.”

Sierah | 31

“A tough upbringing has made Sierah fiercely independent and self-sufficient – she doesn't rely on anyone and, therefore doesn't put up with any nonsense. She has extremely high standards and is not interested in dating apps, making it hard for her to meet people.”

Lauren | 37

“Lauren knows she can come across as standoff-ish. Lauren knows what she wants and won't settle for anything but a real man – a man that is instinctively masculine, chivalrous, and takes the lead.”

Adrian | 30 

“Adrian grew up in a large, vibrant Greek family, the eldest of five children including an identical twin brother and twin sisters. He gives himself a perfect ten for looks and personality, so he doesn't lack confidence.”

Jake | 30

“Self-confessed nerd Jake is a high school PE teacher from Perth. He loves to watch YouTube, anime, play computer games, and is a huge karaoke fan. With his quirky style and love for a party shirt, Jake describes himself as a ‘golden retriever’, full of energy.”

Tim | 38

“Tim has had heartbreak. He was close to proposing to his girlfriend before she suddenly ended the relationship, after which he took a year to work on himself and recover.”

This new season marks 10 whole years since 'MAFS AU' first dropped in 2015, so it’s no surprise things are looking to be even more “explosive” this year.

It all kicks off on Monday, February 3rd on ThreeNow, before treating us to new eps at 7pm every Sunday-Wednesday, weekly.