Peacock renews 'Love Island USA' for Season 9 with Ariana Madix returning as host

Peacock has renewed Love Island USA for a ninth season, extending a run that has made the dating competition the streamer's No. 1 original reality series. The announcement came August 26, as the record-breaking eighth season winds toward its reunion special. Emmy-nominated host Ariana Madix will return to the villa for Season 9, according to a statement from the network.

"Following a record-breaking summer," Peacock said in the release, "Peacock announced a season nine renewal of the hit cultural phenomenon Love Island USA." The statement added, "Emmy-nominated host Ariana Madix set to return." Madix, 42, had hinted earlier this month that her hosting role was secure.

"I do [see that]. And obviously I can't speak yet to what's going to be happening next season," she told Us Weekly. "We did announce already that I will be hosting Love Island Games next year." The franchise's spinoff, Love Island USA: Beyond the Villa, which follows former contestants after their time in Fiji, has also been renewed for a third season.

Before the next season begins, fans will see the Season 8 reunion. In one exchange from the teaser, Kenzie Annis stops mid-sentence to tell Melanie Moreno, "You just rolled your eyes," and Moreno replies, "Yeah." Moreno also clashes with Sol Dean, who dated Moreno's partner Sincere Rhea during the season.

"You're just a liar," Moreno says to Dean, who shoots back, "It's not about you right now. It's about me and my experience." The teaser also shows winner Tierra "Titi" Davis and her partner Carl Schmidt sitting side by side. When Madix asks if Carl can "handle" Aniya in terms of sexual chemistry, the 23-year-old quips, "I fear he can."

KC Chandler and Davis present a united front, while Moreno and Rhea sit next to each other with no indication of their current relationship status. Love Island USA is produced by ITV Entertainment. Season 8 became the show's most-watched original season ever, with more than 18 billion minutes viewed, according to Deadline.

The series previously received a two-season renewal covering Seasons 8 and 9, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.