Days of Our Lives Recap August 27: Ari Overhears EJ and Johnny’s Secret as Stephanie Wakes Up In Theo’s Bed

TL;DR: In today’s Days of our Lives recap for Thursday, August 26th, 2026, Holly confronts EJ over the Titan loan, Ari and Aaron settle back into the dorm, Paulina learns the name of Johnny and Chanel’s baby, Alex tries to save his marriage to Stephanie, and Ari overhears EJ and Johnny discussing their secret.

Days of our Lives Recap August 27

In the square, EJ greeted Holly, who seemed sort of frosty with him, but she wouldn’t come out and say why. She brought up how he was the only one who believed she was clean when she said she was. EJ agreed and noted that he also helped her with Mrs. Choi.

Holly blasted EJ for calling in the Titan loan, which could cause her family to lose everything. EJ said the Kiriakises could pay their debt, but Holly told him he knew that wasn’t possible. After Holly stormed off, EJ called Rita and told her that the Kiriakis mansion had an offer. He told her to find out everything he could so that when they lost everything to him, it included the house.

Ari Moves Back To The Dorm

At the dorm, Aaron helped Ari move back in. He teased that they had the room alone, but Ari told him Holly could be back any moment. Ari teased that he was only thinking of playing a video game. Ari and Aaron talked about their moms; Ari wasn’t talking to hers yet, while Aaron wished he could talk to his.

Later, Ari and Aaron did play video games and were making out when Holly returned. She offered to leave, but they told her not to. They chatted for a bit, but Ari had to go to her internship at DiMera — without a purse this time.

Alone, Holly and Aaron talked about how they both missed Tate, with him moving out and working at the gym all the time. Aaron had a new roommate, who already created a chore list for him.

Paulina Finds Out The Baby’s Name

At the hospital, Johnny and Chanel marveled at their new daughter and recapped the difficult delivery. Johnny told Chanel how proud he was of her. Paulina dropped by to see the baby and saw the name tag on the crib: Olivia Alexandria DiMera. 

Chanel asked if Paulina was okay with the name. She told them it was wonderful and was sure Theo and Abe would love it, but when they weren’t looking, she grimaced. Speaking of Lexie, Paulina commented that only two people knew about Lexie. 

Chanel caught on that Johnny was keeping something, and while Paulina was out of the room, he told Chanel that EJ had asked him not to tell anyone Lexie was with him. Chanel didn’t seem to fully understand the situation but told Johnny she wasn’t mad at him; later, she told her mom that she worried what other secrets he’d tell for his father.

Theo came in, and Johnny said that he had to go to the office as the baby came early, and he still had some things to tie up before going on paternity leave. Paulina asked Theo how Abe was doing. Theo suggested she check in on him herself.

Theo revealed that Lexie told Abe that she would be at peace knowing he was cared for by Paulina after she died. Paulina was surprised; she told Theo that if Abe wanted to talk, he needed to make the first move.

Alex Tries To Get His Marriage On Track

At the Kiriakis mansion, Alex brought Kelsey over so Bonnie could babysit overnight while he worked on his marriage. Alex went to Jada’s apartment, but Stephanie wasn’t there, so he started texting her.

Meanwhile, Stephanie woke up in Theo’s bed. She tried to sneak out, but Theo woke up, so they talked about the night before. Stephanie and Theo agreed they both just didn’t want to be alone.

Theo related her sleepover to the one he did on her couch. However, Stephanie asked Theo not to tell anyone she spent the night.

Alex and Stephanie met at the pub, and he apologized for how hard things had been. He promised it wouldn’t be like this forever, and said he was going to step up to make things better. Alex shared that he was really worried that Stephanie was leaving him, but she assured him she was not.

Alex surprised Stephanie with a hotel spa and a restaurant reservation that they’d been trying to get into for a year. They were about to head to Chicago when Bonnie called and said Kelsey wouldn’t stop crying, had a fever, and was tugging at her ears, a sure sign of an ear infection.

When Alex hung up, Stephanie told him that she understood, as it wasn’t anyone’s fault, and felt bad that Kelsey was hurting. She encouraged Alex to go take care of Kelsey. They kissed outside before he left, and Theo spotted them across the square; he shook his head.

Ari Gets An Earful

Johnny went to DiMera, as did EJ. Johnny was upset with his father and the secrets he’d been dragging him into. EJ insisted that he’d seen Holly and she was only upset about the Kiriakis home being up for sale. 

Johnny didn’t believe him, but EJ kept saying that Holly had no idea what they’d done. Neither of them realized that Ari was listening at the door.

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