Aniya Harvey and Carl Schmidt won Love Island USA Season 8 and took home the $100,000 grand prize.
How The Season Ended
Love Island USA Season 8 premiered on Peacock on June 2, 2026, and wrapped up with its finale on July 12, 2026. Ariana Madix hosted the season for the third time, with Iain Stirling returning as narrator. America voted for Aniya and Carl over three other finalist couples to decide the winning pair, based on reporting from MSN.
The Final Four Couples
Four couples made it to the last night of the competition. The public voted throughout the season to narrow the villa down to these finalists before the last vote decided the winner.
| Couple | Names |
|---|---|
| Winners | Aniya Harvey & Carl Schmidt |
| Runner-up | Trinity Tatum & Bryce Dettloff |
| Finalist | Melanie Moreno & Sincere Rhea |
| Finalist | Kayda Bosse & Zach Georgiou |
Two other couples, Kenzie Annis and Dylan Wrona, along with KC Chandler and Tierra Davis, were dumped from the villa just before the final four were announced, according to Deadline.
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Aniya And Carl’s Journey On The Show
Carl entered the villa as a Casa Amor bombshell. Aniya chose to stay loyal to another islander, KC Chandler, during Casa Amor rather than couple up with Carl at that time. Producers later brought Carl back to the villa through an America vote, and he and Aniya became one of the season’s most talked about couples afterward, based on details from Reality Tea.
How The Voting Worked
Throughout the final week, viewers voted through the Love Island USA app to decide which couple should win. On finale night, the winning couple both received envelopes, one holding the $100,000 prize and one holding nothing. The partner holding the money envelope then had to decide whether to share it with their partner, a moment that has become a signature test on the show, according to Wikipedia.
About This Season’s Cast
Season 8 was filmed in a villa in Fiji, following the show’s usual format of islanders coupling up, recoupling, and facing public votes throughout the run. Two contestants, Vasana Montgomery and Alannah Keyser, were removed from the show during the season after videos surfaced showing them using racist language, based on reporting from The Hollywood Reporter.
FAQ: Love Island USA Season 8 Winner Revealed
Q: Who won Love Island USA Season 8?
Aniya Harvey and Carl Schmidt were crowned the winners of Love Island USA Season 8, taking home the $100,000 grand prize after receiving the highest number of public votes in the finale.
Q: Why was Aniya and Carl’s win considered shocking?
Pre-finale predictions and betting odds heavily favored Trinity Tatum and Bryce Dettloff, with some forecasts giving them as much as an 84-86% chance of winning. Aniya and Carl were seen as strong contenders but not the clear favorites, so their victory caught many fans off guard.
Q: Who were the other finalists on Love Island USA Season 8?
The final four couples were Aniya Harvey & Carl Schmidt (winners), Trinity Tatum & Bryce Dettloff, Melanie Moreno & Sincere Rhea, and Kayda Bosse & Zach Georgiou.
Q: How was the winning couple decided?
The winner was determined entirely by America’s public vote through the official Love Island USA app, with fans voting for their favorite couple during the finale voting window.
Q: Did Aniya and Carl split the prize money?
Following Love Island USA tradition, one member of the winning couple is handed an envelope containing the $100,000 and must decide on the spot whether to keep it all or split it evenly with their partner.
Q: When did the Love Island USA Season 8 finale air?
The finale aired on Sunday, July 12, 2026, on Peacock at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
Q: Which couples were eliminated just before the finale?
Two couples were dumped from the villa on July 10, ahead of the finale: Kenzie Annis & Dylan Wrona, and Tierra “Titi” Davis & KC Chandler.
Q: Who hosted Love Island USA Season 8?
Ariana Madix returned to host for her third consecutive season, with Iain Stirling once again providing narration.
Q: Are Aniya and Carl still together after the show?
As of the finale, Aniya and Carl remained a couple, though like all reality TV pairings, their long-term status outside the villa will become clearer in the weeks following the show.
Q: How can I watch the Love Island USA Season 8 finale?
The finale and full season are available exclusively on Peacock in the United States.
