Days of our Lives Recap Jan 1: Gwen plots as a groom is missing, Johnny devastates Chanel

In the Days of our Lives recap for Thursday, January 1st, 2026, Salemites prepare for Leo and Javi’s wedding, as Lucas advises Ari, and one of the grooms is missing.

Days of our Lives Recap

Leo and Javi lay in bed, anticipating their wedding. Leo wondered if Gwen was being sincere, then worried about his vows being perfect. Javi could understand how worried Leo was, and that the last time he was at a wedding, it was Dimitri’s.

Leo rambled about how he’d married for blackmail and then for a green card scheme. He didn’t think he deserved Javi. Leo worked himself up into panic mode, and Javi encouraged him to go talk to Marlena.At his office, Rafe shook Cat’s hand and congratulated her on a job well done for her part in finding the DiMeras. She promised to follow the rules moving forward.

Cat showed Rafe a death certificate that Vivianhad just signed. They thought Stefan might have faked his death while the DiMeras were kidnapped, and was helping Peter. For Gabi’s sake, though, he hoped Stefan was really dead.

Rafe shared that, according to the forensics team, the bones didn’t belong to Stefan, but they were still running tests. Cat wondered if the bones belonged to Stefano. She pointed out that Peter said he had to move his sarcophagus to make room, but Rafe noted that it was empty and his remains had never been found.

Rafe had to leave for the wedding. He said that he was happy for his cousin and would be supportive of him, but since he was marrying Leo, he was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Gabi came to the DiMera mansion and found Gwen, who was on cloud nine in excitement about the wedding. Gabi admitted she didn’t finish Gwen’s dress because she was upset about Stefan. Gabi told Gwen that she thought he was dead.

Gabi told Gwen that Vivian confirmed it, which she mocked, but shared some tears with Gabi. Gwen said she felt like she loved Jake long ago but was mourning him all over again.

Gwen choked back tears and told Gabi not to bother with the dress. She staunchly asked Gabi to leave so she could get ready for the wedding. Once alone, Gwen called EJ and told him she was sorry about Stefan. When she hung up, she mused to herself that EJ would find out what she was about to do, but she would rather ask for forgiveness than permission.

At the pub, Ari and Roman were happy to see Marlena. When Marlena asked Ari about the wedding, she grimaced. When Marlena tried to empathize, Ari told Marlena that if she really knew how she felt, she wouldn’t be friends with Leo or be the officiant at his wedding.

Marlena explained that she hadn’t forgotten what Leo did to her dad, but she had forgiven him. She said that she’d seen the man that Leo had become and had another perspective. Ari noted that others like Roman and her dads had as well. 

As Marlena told Ari that it’s sometimes easier to forgive someone who has hurt you than it is to forgive someone who has hurt people that you love, Lucas approached their table and agreed.

Lucas just wanted to say Happy New Year and goodbye as he was heading to the airport with his mom. When Ari walked him out, he asked if they’d been talking about Leo. Lucas told Ari that he didn’t like what Leo did either, but it was a long time ago, and it wasn’t healthy to hold on to her anger.

Lucas suggested that Ari be happy for Javi, set aside her resentment for Leo, and have a good time at the wedding. 

Chanel and Johnny tried to soothe Trey, who was fussy again. When Johnny asked how he could help, Chanel suggested not going to the wedding. Chanel urged Johnny to go on his own to the point that he wondered if she didn’t want to be around him. “Maybe I don’t,” Chanel snapped.

Chanel told Johnny it was hard to be around him because she knew he wasn’t happy about her pregnancy. Johnny clarified he didn’t say he wasn’t happy; he admitted he was scared. Chanel told him that her pregnancy felt like it was meant to be. “What if it’s not?” Johnny asked.

Johnny told Chanel that all of their parenting dreams had already come true and that he and Trey needed her. “If it were up to me, I wouldn’t go ahead with the pregnancy,” Johnny admitted. Chanel was devastated.

Johnny wasn’t suggesting an abortion, but he did want to listen to the doctors. He said that if there was even the slightest chance that her cancer could come back undetected, then it wasn’t worth the risk to Trey or him.

Hurt, Chanel angrily told Johnny that a life was growing inside of her body, and it was her choice what happened — and to her, the risk was worth it.

Johnny tried to make her feel better, but Chanel said she wanted space and told him to go to the wedding.

Leo went to the pub and told Marlena anxiously that there wasn’t a single person whose life he hadn’t wrecked by just being in it. He loved Javi so much that he wondered if he could show him by not marrying him.

As someone who’d married five times, Marlena advised it was wedding jitters because he felt vulnerable. “I believe the greatest gift you can give someone is your love,” Marlena. She added that it was reciprocated and offered to help work on his vows.

Leo continued to struggle until Roman came over to the table. He said Marlena had tried, and now it was his turn. Roman gave Leo a shot, and he downed it. After Leo went outside to get some fresh air, Roman and Marlena joked about betting on whether or not the wedding would happen.

Marlena confided to Roman that she wasn’t stressed about the wedding; it was the strike of midnight at the club. “The beginning of a whole new year without John in it,” she cried. Roman told her how loved she was and that everyone would be there for her. “I don’t know what I would do without you,” Marlena said tearfully. “You’ll never have to find that out,” Roman promised.

Ari went home and told Javi that she didn’t like Leo, but if he made Javi happy, then she was happy, too. Javi was thrilled and hugged her.  When Gabi came home, she told Javi she had his something old, new, borrowed, and blue. 

Gabi gave him an old photograph of their parents and a new, blue pocket swatch. As for something borrowed, she gave him her mother’s pumpkin empanada recipe. 

Javi thanked Gabi and Ari for being part of the most important day of his life, and then they did a group hug. Rafe came home and gave Javi a traditional gift to give to Leo, symbolizing his giving his heart to his spouse.

As Javi and the Hernandez family arrived for the wedding, Johnny called to say that Trey wasn’t feeling well and they weren’t coming. Javi was disappointed because they hoped that Trey wouldn’t be there, but understood. Javi was more worried that Leo wasn’t there yet.

As Marlena arrived for the wedding, she saw Marlena. She told her that she was honored to get an invitation. As Ari and Gabi arrived and said that Chad was on his way to be the best man, Marlena wondered if anyone had seen Leo. They all said no, and Marlena said, “Oh dear,” as Gwen looked guilty.