Get to know all 11 ‘I’m a Celebrity’ 2026 contestants

This summer’s I’m A Celebrity jungle adventure is returning with a cast that bring the perfect blend of grit, glamour and classic Aussie stoicism. Fresh from his Dancing With The Stars triumph in the U.S., beloved wildlife campaigner Robert Irwin is back on our screens to co-host the 2026 season alongside comedy royalty Lady Julia Morris. Their chemistry will set the tone for a season where nothing is off-limits, from creepy-crawly trials to heartfelt campfire-side confessions.

For the uninitiated, I’m A Celebrity is a reality TV series that drops famous people into the unforgiving wilds of Kruger National Park in South Africa, where comfort is scarce, and trials are brutal. Celebrities compete in gruelling challenges — often involving insects, heights and stomach-churning wildlife — to earn stars that translate into meals for their campmates and bragging rights for themselves. The last celebrity standing earns a cash prize for their chosen charity and, of course, the coveted title of King or Queen of the Jungle.

This year, the I’m A Celebrity cast leans into eclectic energy: from the BookTok heart-throb turned reality TV regular Luke Bateman, to international supermodel Rachel Hunter, and NFL royalty Mia Fevola, the cast promises as many surprises as there are spiders in the trials.

Robert Irwin sounded eager to move ahead from the joys of Dancing With the Stars when he quipped, “Get ready, celebs, we’re ready to tango! (Actually I’m not ready to tango).” He said he was looking forward to the change of scene. “Every year, the trials get bigger the stars get braver, and the jungle gets wilder. It’s going to be an unforgettable ride.” 

Meanwhile, co-host Lady Julia Morris said she was thrilled to be returning with Irwin’s star on the rise. “To get to present a show I love, alongside one of the biggest superstars in the world right now, is the purest of joys. 

Below, get to know the jungle-bound contestants of I’m A Celebrity and remember, two mystery contestants will join the gang tonight.

The Full 2026 Cast Of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here

Matt Zukowski

Image: Channel 10

Matt Zukowski might be best known for his short-lived marriage to Tammy Hembrow, but he’s a reality TV stalwart as a former contestant on Love Island Australia. The model and wrestler Zukowski announced his arrival in the jungle, joking about having watched dance TikToks instead of firemaking TikToks as he and Cyrell Paule struggled with their first survival task in the Elephant Graveyard. While he’s known as a reality TV bad boy, Zukowski showed appropriate humility and some self-deprecating humour when Cyrell Paul outwitted him during the fire lighting challenge. He defended himself: “I got it in the end, but technically it was my hand that lit the fire.”

Matt Zukowski is headed to the jungle to support his favourite charity, R U OK?, a national suicide prevention charity that encourages Australians to stay connected during difficult times.

Cyrelle Paule

Image: Channel 10

The self-titled “beauty and brains” of the intruders operation Cyrell Paul, is another reality TV veteran who rose to fame during her season of Married at First Sight. She has since developed an extensive resume, appearing on The Challenge Australia and The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition. Paule is supporting Dolly’s Dream, a charity focused on preventing bullying and supporting young people and their families.

Luke Bateman

Image: Channel 10

Former NRL player turned social media sensation and The Bachelor Australia alumnus, Bateman reversed out of footy and straight into fantasy-leaning book reviews before answering the call of the jungle. He shared on social media ahead of the Sunday premiere, “In some very exciting news, I’ll be trading the Australian outback for the African Jungle. I’m very excited to see what Robert and Julia have cooked up for me. I’m sure there’ll be some delectable food items and some fear-instilling trials.”

Bateman, who played 71 NRL games for the Canberra Raiders between 2015 and 2019, currently has 411,000 followers on TikTok after bursting to fame in April last year with book reviews. His debut novel is scheduled for release in 2027. 

Rachel Hunter

Image: Channel 10

The New Zealand-born supermodel is trading runways for rugged terrain, bringing her decades-long spotlight career to the trial gauntlet. “YES … I said YES. So here we go on this ride!” she wrote on Instagram, before admitting that she is “dreading the encounters with the animals.”

Rachel has shared that there’s a heartbreaking reason behind her decision to participate in the show. Her mum Jeneen Phillips, died of cancer in 2017. “She [my Mum] said, ‘I regret not being fully who I am, always worrying what people will think, what will people say.’ My grief became a real journey of inspiration for me,” she told Australian Women’s Weekly. “I need to be me, and I need to break the cycle of worrying about what others think,” she said in the same interview, explaining her decision.

Hunter, 56, was scouted on the beach at just 16 and became one of the most iconic models of the ’90s and 2000s. She was previously married to Rod Stewart and the pair share two children, Renee, 33, and Liam, 31. 

Mia Fevola

Image: Channel 10

Influencer and daughter of AFL great Brendan Fevola, Mia brings youthful fearlessness (and possibly some phobias) to the fore. The Fevolas are forming an I’m A Celebrity dynasty. Mia’s dad, Brendan, won season two in 2016, making her “jungle royalty”. The 26-year-old is a model, content creator, and makeup artist with a degree in marketing. And she’s no reality TV ingenue: she competed on Dancing With the Stars in 2025. 

Concetta Caristo

Image: Channel 10

Concetta Caristo is a much-loved radio host on Triple J’s breakfast slot, and there’s no doubt her easy banter will be appreciated if (and when) the camp’s morale dips. The 31-year-old Australian comedian has been on the stand-up circuit since 2019, becoming well known as a radio host in 2022. She announced her involvement with I’m A Celebrity Australia with a simple post to Instagram that read: Soooooooooooo .” 

Gary Sweet

Image: Channel 10

One of Australia’s most recognisable character actors, bringing unapologetic Aussie grit to the jungle challenges on I’m A Celebrity. Sweet is best known for hosting House Husbands, where his on-screen wife was played by none other than Julia Morris. 

Deni Hines

Image: Channel 10

Deni Hines is arguably Australian reality TV royalty, as the daughter of singer and Australian Idol host Marcia Hines. During the 1990s, Deni enjoyed a successful music career, originally making her mark in the 1980s, collaborating with the Rockmelons. In 2019, Deni made her reality TV debut on The Masked Singer. 

Nath Valvo

Image: Channel 10

This stand-up comedian will bring quick wit and an easygoing approach to adversity to the I’m A Celebrity Australia cast — the spice the jungle didn’t know it needed. Audiences will probably recognise Valvo from his appearances on Talking About Your Generation, Cheap Seats and Spicks and Specs. 

Rebekah Elmaloglou

Image: Channel 10

As a soap star with decades of TV experience, 51-year-old Rebekah Elmaloglou is poised to turn camp life into its own dramatic narrative. The actress has spent decades on Australian tv screens, and is known for her roles in Home and Away and E Street. In 2013, she moved into Ramsay Street, playing Terese Willis on Neighbours. 

Barry Williams

Image: Channel 10

American sitcom legend, best known as Greg Brady from The Brady Bunch, will be bringing nostalgia to the South African Jungle. The 71-year-old actor who played the eldest son in the much-loved ’70s sitcom appeared in the 2019 reality series, A Very Brady Renovation. He’ll be stepping into the South African jungle as himself for some tough trials. 

Dyson Heppell

Image: Channel 10

A former AFL star whose leadership on the footy field could translate to camp confidence, Hesson played for Essendon between 2011 and 2024 and was captain for six years. He has shared that he’ll be competing for his chosen charity, Very Special Kids.