Married At First Sight (MAFS) 2026 has kicked off, and Mel Akbay is one of the 2026 brides hoping to find her happily ever after.
Mel Akbay is a romantic at heart who’s chasing that fairytale ending. Feeling the pressure of time and worried she’s being left behind, Mel admits she wants nothing less than the “perfect ending”.
Read on to find out everything we know about MAFS 2026’s Mel.
Who is Mel, and what does she do?
Mel Akbay is a 28-year-old bride originally from Canberra who now lives in Sydney, where she works as a public servant (which might explain her hopes for a picture-perfect future.) According to her Channel 9 bio, Mel describes herself as bubbly, funny and cute.
However, as she edges closer to 30, Mel admits she’s starting to feel the pressure, questioning where she’s at in life and whether love is slipping through her fingers. Now stepping into the MAFS experiment, she’s hoping this bold leap could finally deliver the fairytale she’s been waiting for.
What is Mel looking for in a partner?
Mel’s been single for six years but hopes to change that with a stint on MAFS. She said that prior to the experiment, she went on a lot of dates, but found that men in her age bracket didn’t want to settle down.
Mel didn’t go into detail about the exact qualities she’s looking for in a man in her Channel 9 bio, instead cryptically saying she’s looking for a ‘blue’ man for her ‘pink’ self. So, does she herself even know what qualities she really wants in a partner? We’ll have to watch to find out!
Who does Mel get married to on MAFS?
Mel is tying the knot to Luke on MAFS. A trailer has already teased that Mel is left stranded at the altar, so what is it that holds Luke up? And, will he show up at all? All the answers to these questions will be revealed in the second episode of MAFS 2026.
MAFS 2026 airs Monday – Thursday on Channel 9 and 9Now.
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