24 Rules You Didn't Know Love Island Contestants Have to Follow

For some contestants, Love Island may seem like a vacation, but there are still rules to follow in the villa.

Since its revival in the U.K. in 2015, the reality dating competition has remained a fan favorite across the globe. Viewers tune in every day to watch the drama unfold as the couples in the villa are tested with challenges, compatibility and new bombshell contestants to shake things up.

Over the years, the show has expanded outside of the U.K. and spawned versions in the United States, Australia and more, as well as the spinoff Love Island Games.

Though the rules within the Love Island villa are not widely available aside from how to apply to the show, past contestants of the reality show have shared behind-the-scenes information with their followers on social media. In their candid videos, they have given insight into how to apply to the show, their lack of access to the outside world, hygiene, food in the villa and more.

Here’s everything to know about Love Island's rules, including restrictions for islanders inside and outside the villa.

There are age restrictions to be on Love Island

In order to be a contestant — who are widely known as islanders on the show — there are age restrictions in place.

To be considered for the show, all contestants must be at least 18 years of age. These age restrictions apply to the Love Island UK application and the casting call rules for Love Island USA.

Islanders can apply to be on the show or be recruited by producers

There are two ways contestants can be cast on Love Island: they can apply to the show online or be recruited by producers, often through social media.

Phoebe Siegel, featured on season 4 of Love Island USA, shared the steps she took to be cast. In a TikTok video posted in January 2023, Siegel said that most of the cast from her season were recruited through social media, but she applied directly on the website. She also searched the Love Island hashtag on social media to connect with casting directors for the show.

Siegel received a call after she passed the application stage and went on to her first interview, which she described as a “casting video” that showcased the best parts of their interview and was shown to producers.

In total, Siegel said there were around six interviews with different people involved in the production, explaining in another TikTok video from January 2023 that those interviews included network executives and the producers of both Love Island UK and Love Island USA.

Islanders can only pack two suitcases

When contestants are cast on the show, they are limited to two suitcases of clothing for the duration of their time on the show, which can span up to eight weeks.

Samie Elishi, who appeared on season 9 of Love Island UK, revealed behind-the-scenes details about the show on her YouTube channel in April 2023, including how much attire islanders could bring with them.

At the time, she said they could pack two large suitcases weighing up to 50 lbs.

On Love Island UK, islanders were also given access to pre-loved fashion from eBay, with Elishi sharing that it got “refreshed” either every week or every other week.

Islanders can’t wear clothes or use makeup with visible logos

Inside the villa, islanders are limited in what clothing they can wear and what products they can use.

Siegel shared in a June 2024 TikTok video that talent managers and producers came to the contestants’ hotel rooms before appearing on the show and went "through every single item that’s packed” in their luggage.

“They do this because you are not to have any clothing ‘brands’ that are visible on the show,” she explained. “Same thing goes for makeup. All of your makeup gets black tape."

Siegel continued, "So if you bring a Charlotte Tilbury foundation, there's a black duct tape that goes over the brand, so anything that you see on the show isn't branded.”

Islanders are cut off from the “outside world”

When islanders are in the villa, they no longer get access to their personal phones and are given temporary phones that they can use in the villa with limited access to features.

Siegel shared in a different June 2024 TikTok that all Islanders “have no access to the outside world.” The former Love Island USA contestant explained, “You can’t Google, you can’t watch TV, you can’t access your socials, you can’t text anybody.”

As for what contestants could use their phones for, Siegel said, “Taking thirst traps, taking really cute videos ... besides taking pictures of each other and of yourself, the phone is used for receiving a text.”

Lucinda Strafford, a contestant on season 7 of Love Island UK, confirmed in an October 2021 YouTube video that there wasn’t much they were able to do with their devices. She shared at the time that islanders could text one another, but producers were able to see the messages. Strafford said there were no games on the phone, and they weren’t even able to lock their phone screens.

Islanders can’t listen to music in the villa

In addition to not having access to their phones or social media once they are in the villa, islanders aren’t able to do things as simple as read books or listen to music.

Mille Court, who won season 7 of Love Island UK, shared in a June 2022 YouTube video that islanders couldn't listen to music at all in the villa, except for a few occasions. She said that if they took a cab when leaving the villa for a date or group event, some drivers would play music for them.

Elishi also shared in an April 2023 video that other occasions where islanders could listen to music included during the heart rate challenge, during slow-motion dance scenes, as well as when guest artists would soundcheck before a party at the villa.

Islanders don’t know what day or time it is in the villa

While islanders have access to a phone in the villa, Siegel revealed on TikTok that the date and time displayed on phones were “fake.” She said her phone was set to the same date every day that she was in the villa and that contestants “go a little crazy” over it.

Other former islanders have shared the same, including Chloe Burrows, who appeared on season 7 of Love Island UK. In a September 2021 YouTube video, Burrows joked that she “didn’t know whether I was coming or going” and said she only knew that they would have to wake up “really early” and would try to gauge the rest of the day based on the sun.

Boys and girls are separated at lunch

Lunchtime at the villa is not co-ed on the show: Lochan Nowacki, a contestant on season 10 of Love Island UK, said in a September 2023 YouTube video that the boys and girls were separated at lunch.

“I can understand why they do these things because they want to save the chat,” Nowacki said. “That was frustrating ... The time when you eat with people is the time when you're really conversing, getting to know everyone, not just your girlfriend, your partner. So that was a shame.”

Alcohol is limited for islanders

There are strict limitations on how much alcohol can be consumed on Love Island. Contestants are limited to one drink per night, and that drink can only be wine, prosecco or beer — not liquor.

Elishi confirmed the rule in her April 2023 YouTube video, sharing that on most nights, islanders could only have one drink and on a “very rare occasion,” could be given two. However, she noted that “it’s impossible to get drunk on that show” and that islanders are not allowed to share their drinks with one another.

In a June 2024 TikTok, Siegel said that contestants on her season of Love Island USA were only given one drink per night. They were able to choose between a glass of white or red wine and it was “not a generous pour.” Still, when her group won a challenge in Casa Amor, they had a party with drinks that included drinks with liquor but said they were “completely watered down.”

Smoking is restricted in the villa

In the early seasons of Love Island UK, smoking was commonplace for contestants in the villa, but the sight became rarer as the series continued.

Metro reported in January 2023  that while smoking cigarettes is not banned, islanders cannot smoke inside the villa and can only do so in a “designated smoking area” due to past complaints from viewers. ITV confirmed to the outlet that vaping follows the same rules.

The whole villa is filmed

Privacy in the villa is practically nonexistent: Rosie Seabrook, a contestant from season 9 of Love Island UK, said in a March 2023 YouTube video that the cameras in the villa were “never off,” adding, “You are quite literally filmed 24/7. Even on a down day, you’re still mic'd up, you’re still filmed.”

Court shared in her June 2022 video that there were approximately 74 cameras throughout the villa, and there weren’t any rooms that islanders weren’t filmed, including the bathroom. However, she said it worked primarily as a security camera in case of a medical incident in the bathroom.

Elishi pointed out in her April 2023 video that there was one specific area of the villa that didn’t have cameras: the kitchen pantry. She noted that only one islander was allowed in the area at a time, sharing that she heard that “some stuff happened in the pantry with a couple before” that caused the rules to change.

Islanders share a bathroom in the villa

In another TikTok, Siegel opened up about sharing a bathroom with all her fellow contestants on season 4 of Love Island USA.

In the video, she said it “wasn’t a good situation,” with the islanders all using one shower and a bathroom with four sinks outside. Siegel explained that it was common for the girls to shower together because they “didn’t have a lot of time to get ready.”

She also revealed that during Casa Amor, there was only one toilet in the villa and several portable toilets at the back of the house.

Court said the bathroom situation during her season was “awkward” in her June 2022 video. In her villa, she said there was one upstairs in the main bathroom of the house and an outside shower in the garden, which was relegated solely for the men in the house to use.

Islanders can’t leave and return to the villa

Once islanders are in the villa, they can’t leave until the show is over unless they are dumped from the island or choose to leave of their own volition.

There are a few exceptions to the rule, which include the islanders getting the chance to go on dates outside of the villa, when they leave for challenges and during Casa Amor.

Islanders have a set bedtime

In the villa, islanders have a strict bedtime to accommodate the filming schedule.

Court said in June 2022 that all contestants are told when it's time to go to bed. She noted that on occasions, their bedtime “would be really late,” and she’d “be so tired.”

Islanders have to make their own breakfast

On Love Island, it’s tradition for the men to make coffee or tea for their couple in the villa — or the woman they have their eye on — but they are also responsible for making their own breakfast.

Court said in June 2022 that while it’s rare for the islanders to be shown eating on the show, they had to make their own breakfast.

Though they had to figure out their first meal of the day, lunch and dinner was provided to the islanders. Court said the catering service varied from day to day, but she wasn’t “keen on it at all” and “didn’t like the food.”

Bombshells get to watch some of the episodes before they enter the villa

Islanders may be cut off from the outside world without access to their phones or social media, but there is a minor loophole for bombshells. These new contestants are welcomed throughout the season to shake up things in the villa.

Prior to the bombshells entering the villa, Burrows said on an April 2023 episode of her podcast Chloe vs The World that they are able to watch all of the episodes of the series except the episode from the day before they are sent in and have to provide their top three choices from the current pool of contestants.

Islanders receive one day off a week for a “chill day”

Despite being filmed seven days a week, islanders are given one day per week to wind down.

Court said in June 2022 that the producers would tell them when it was a “chill day,” sometimes halfway through a day when they were filming. On those off days, she said that islanders “didn’t have to do anything” but would occasionally get picked to do hair tutorials or more often than not, would spend time in the pool.

Another perk of a “chill day” included getting takeout for the villa. Court said they would always request McDonald’s but occasionally pizza too.

When it was an off day for islanders, they couldn’t “talk about anything gossipy” and had to save their chats about their fellow contestants for when the cameras were rolling again. This meant that men and women couldn’t share beds, and the girls would have to bunk with one another.

The show is unscripted, but producers encourage islanders to have "certain chats"

Elishi confirmed in April 2023 that Love Island is “not scripted at all,” noting that the islanders can “say everything how we want to say it.”

However, producers encourage contestants to “have chats” with certain islanders to keep the pace and plot of the show going.

“If they didn't encourage us to go and talk to your couple or someone you're having an argument with or anything like that, then there would be no show,” she said. “You do get encouraged to have certain chats, but what's said within them chats is completely up to you.”

Islanders have to make their beds every morning

Love Island might feel like a getaway for certain contestants, but the villa still has chores to do.

Elishi said in April 2023 that the islanders have to make their own beds every morning, though that job was often relegated to the boys. On off days in the villa, the boys and girls would alternate every other week to split the responsibility.

Islanders can request groceries

In addition to having lunch and dinner provided, islanders get access to whatever snacks they want while in the villa.

Elishi said in April 2023 that they could “request groceries,” including snacks. Her personal favorite? Shortbread cookies and bagels.

Islanders have a specific time to get ready

When islanders have to get ready for an event in the villa, they are given a set amount of time that varies from night to night.

Strafford said in October 2021 that sometimes they were given half an hour, other times an hour or even an hour and a half.

She noted that the timing would depend on “whether the producers have something lined up to happen early on that night,” adding that they were “always left in the dark" about what was going to happen.

Islanders have “mandatory morning debriefs”

Jay Younger, a contestant on season 8 of Love Island UK, revealed on X in July 2022 that he “hated these mandatory morning debriefs” on the show.

When asked by a fan if the producers told the islanders to sit down and share how everything was going, Younger confirmed, simply replying, “Yes.”

Contestants can’t have active social media profiles while they are in the villa

In addition to being unable to access social media on the show, islanders can't have active social channels while in the villa.

During past seasons, when contestants would go on the show, they would have a friend or family member manage their social media channels for them while they didn’t have access to their phones.

However, those rules were changed for Love Island UK. In December 2022, ITV and Lifted Entertainment released a statement sharing that ahead of season 9, there would be updated rules to protect the islanders and their loved ones from “the adverse effects of social media” by pausing all social media activity on their accounts while they remained in the villa.

Additionally, all islanders would “receive enhanced training around behaviour in relationships.”

Contestants who are dumped from the villa don’t go home immediately

While islanders can get dumped from the villa in the blink of an eye at recoupling ceremonies, they don’t leave the premises immediately.

To avoid spoilers, season 3’s Jonny Mitchell told HuffPost U.K. in July 2018 that the islanders who are eliminated from the show must be kept secret. In order to prevent news of which islander was sent home from spreading, the network has a “lockdown villa in the middle of nowhere” where they would remain for a few days without access to their phones.

Chris Hughes from the same season told the outlet that after leaving the villa, contestants also met with the psychologist who briefed them before the show began and was available on-site throughout the series.

“Once we spoke to our friends and family, we all had our own little slots where we’d go just outside the villa and sit in a cabin with her, in her office,” he said. “We had individual chats to make sure everything’s ok. Everyone who comes out of the show comes out into a different life. So it’s important that she treats everybody individually which she did.”