As Salem drifts through that fragile space between Christmas calm and New Year’s reckoning, Days of Our Lives reminds viewers of one unshakable truth: peace never lasts. The week of December 29, 2025 through January 2, 2026 promises a volatile blend of romance, betrayal, power struggles, and emotional reckoning—setting the stage for a new year soaked in both hope and bloodshed.

From a wedding that feels destined for chaos, to a life-and-death decision inside the DiMera orbit, to quiet acts of forgiveness that may finally heal old wounds, Salem closes out the year with its most explosive chapter yet.

A Wedding on the Brink: Leo, Javi, and the Shadow of Dmitri

All eyes turn to what could be the most unpredictable wedding Salem has seen in years: Leo Stark and Javi Hernandez preparing to say “I do.” On the surface, it’s a joyful affair—bright, hopeful, and officiated by none other than Dr. Marlena Evans, lending legitimacy to a union many never expected Leo to achieve.

Marlena speaks of two beautiful souls, and while Javi’s sincerity is unquestionable, Leo’s history makes those words feel both aspirational and dangerously optimistic. Weddings in Salem are never just about love—they are battlegrounds, invitations for unfinished business to crash the party.

And sure enough, one name looms large over the celebration: Dmitri von Leuschner.

Dmitri’s rumored return sends a chill through Leo’s happiness. Their past was twisted, intense, and unresolved—built on obsession as much as affection. Dmitri isn’t the type to toast from the sidelines. If he shows up, it won’t be for closure—it will be to reclaim what he believes is his.

Is Javi truly Leo’s future, or merely a placeholder in a story that Dmitri refuses to let end? By week’s end, the legality—and emotional survival—of this wedding may already be in question.

The DiMera Death Watch: EJ vs. Kristen Over Peter Blake

If the wedding brings chaos, the DiMera mansion brings something far darker.

Peter Blake lies unconscious in a hospital bed, sustained by machines, his fate hanging in the balance. For longtime fans, Peter’s name carries decades of menace, manipulation, and unresolved terror. And now, his life—or death—rests in the hands of two people who despise each other almost as much as they fear him: EJ DiMera and Kristen DiMera.

EJ, ever the pragmatist, sees Peter’s condition as a threat waiting to wake up. His stance is chillingly clear: pull the plug. To EJ, this isn’t murder—it’s containment. A dead Peter can’t expose secrets, upend power, or challenge EJ’s hard-won control of the DiMera empire.

Kristen, however, is torn in a way viewers rarely see. Haunted by history and guilt, she knows Peter is dangerous—but ending his life crosses a line she may never return from. If she lets him die, she becomes judge, jury, and executioner. If she saves him, she may be unleashing her own worst nightmare.

What neither of them realizes is the most terrifying possibility of all: Peter may already be aware. Hearing every word. Absorbing every betrayal. And if—or when—he wakes up, his vengeance will be surgical, personal, and devastating.

This decision will fracture the DiMera family in ways that echo well into 2026.

Love That Endures: Steve, Kayla, and the Meaning of Home

Amid the power plays and blood feuds, Days offers a reminder of why viewers have stayed for decades: love that survives everything.

Steve “Patch” Johnson and Kayla Brady shine as Salem’s emotional anchor this week. A mistletoe kiss, a shared laugh, a quiet understanding—these moments aren’t filler. They are proof that some love stories endure amnesia, danger, distance, and time itself.

In a town where loyalty is often transactional, Steve and Kayla remain steadfast—a grounding presence as the world around them threatens to spiral.

Alex, Stephanie, and a Gift That Changes Everything

Elsewhere, Alex Kiriakis makes a surprising emotional move toward Stephanie Johnson with one final gift before the year ends. What appears romantic at first carries deeper implications. Is Alex trying to fight for her—or finally let her go?

Stephanie senses the shift, intrigued but cautious. Alex’s vulnerability feels real this time, and that makes it far more dangerous. This gesture may set off a New Year’s Eve moment that complicates both their hearts just when clarity felt possible.

Tony and Anna: Calm Before the Storm

The joyful reunion of Tony and Anna DiMera offers another brief moment of warmth. After Tony’s kidnapping ordeal, seeing them reunited feels earned—but Salem doesn’t offer happy endings without consequences.

Who orchestrated Tony’s abduction? And why let him return so easily?

History suggests this is merely the calm before a carefully calculated storm—one that could involve DiMera shares, hidden leverage, or secrets Peter Blake hasn’t revealed yet.

A Hospital Collision Sparks a New Beginning

In a hospital hallway, fate intervenes as Chad DiMera literally collides with Cat Greene. Awkward, messy, and unexpectedly charged, their encounter feels like the start of something slow-burning and significant.

Chad is still haunted by Abigail’s absence, weighed down by grief that refuses to loosen its grip. Cat brings warmth, but also baggage of her own. Their connection won’t erase the past—but it may finally allow Chad to step forward, even if it hurts.

Quiet Healing: Maggie, Xander, and Forgiveness at Christmas

The emotional heart of the week unfolds quietly through Maggie Horton, Sarah, and Xander Cook.

Maggie’s absence from the town square Christmas tree speaks volumes about her grief over Victor. Yet it’s Xander who surprises everyone—standing before Victor’s portrait, humbled and remorseful, and later presenting Maggie with a deeply personal gift: a restored portrait of the man he wronged.

This isn’t manipulation. It’s repentance.

For Maggie, the gesture doesn’t erase the pain—but it cracks the door to forgiveness. In Salem, that may be the rarest miracle of all.

Final Prediction: A Threat Rings in the New Year

As the clock ticks toward midnight, all signs point to one chilling possibility: Peter Blake wakes up just in time for New Year’s Eve.

And his first words won’t be gratitude.

They’ll be a promise of war.

With weddings unraveling, alliances shifting, and old wounds reopening, Days of Our Lives enters 2026 poised for devastation—and viewers won’t want to miss a second.

In Salem, love may save you…
But power always demands a price.