The latest Young and the Restless comings and goings for 2026, including returns, exits, recasts, and first airdates.
The latest Young and the Restless comings and goings for 2026, including returns, exits, recasts, and first airdates.
Track the latest Young and the Restless comings and goings for 2026, including cast returns, exits, recasts, and confirmed first airdates. As Genoa City continues to shift, this page keeps up with the biggest casting changes fans need to know about. Don’t forget to return daily just after 4 PM EST to read the Canadian day-ahead recaps.
Latest Y&R Casting News
Stay up to date with the newest casting changes on The Young and the Restless. From surprise returns to major exits and recasts, here are the latest updates affecting Genoa City in 2026.
New Head Writers!
Big news! Read about the new co-head writers of Y&R. Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor.
Exits, 2026
Lucas Adams & Tamara Braun exit August, 2026
Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun will exit as Noah and Sienna make their way back to LA, so they can have a life without running into Matt Clark daily. Noah assured his mother it wasn’t forever and there’s no word on when they will be back.
Noah tells Sharon (Sharon Case) the news on Monday, August 3, 2026. Look for a new manager of The Shadow Room the same week.
Returns, 2026
Christopher Cousins makes a return to Y&R in July
Christopher Cousins returns to Young and Restless as Martin Laurent. He’ll be seen talking with Traci (Beth Maitland) on the July 22nd episode.
Tricia Cast returns to Young and Restless this summer
Tricia Cast will make another Y&R appearance as Nina Webster this summer. We last saw Nina in November, 2025 when Christine was getting married to Danny.
According to Lauralee Bell (Christine), who posted a photo of the duo with Beth Maitland (Traci) in the CBS dressing room, she’s returning soon. The caption reads, “I hit the jackpot today working with @bethmaitlanddqb and @triciacast. Love you both!
Jade Harlow has joined the cast of Young and the Restless as Marie Kirkland. The role is recurring and begins Monday, August 10. According to Soap Digest, she’s a woman who arrives in Genoa City to start fresh.
Harlow is known for her role on Passions as Jessica Bennett. Since then, she has played Sheryl Connors on Days of our Lives and portrayed Lianna Ramos on The Bay. Some will know her for her primetime work in Sharing Christmas, Murder on the Cape, Bound by Blackmail, Christmas on the Ranch, and Criminal Minds.
Eileen Davidson is back as Ashley, July 2026
Eileen Davidson will return to Y&R as Ashley Abbott, when she hears some dire news. Read the Y&R spoilers for more about that. Watch for her return July 10, 2026.
Josh Griffith Steps Down as Head Writer of Y&R
Headwriter of Young and the Restless, Josh Griffith, is stepping down, according to TV Insider.
Cast and crew were informed today of the news, though there is no word yet on who will replace the seven-time Daytime Emmy winner.
He teased what was coming for 2026 on the CBS soap, saying, “You’ve got to just keep that momentum going. It’s going to be a very exciting, suspenseful, and romantic winter and spring. It’s going to be jam-packed with intrigue, mystery, suspense, and love. We have some fun surprises up our sleeve for 2026.”
Jere Burns debuts as a doctor on June 15, 2026
Reported June 11: Jere Burns debuts on Y&R as Dr. Laurence Markham on June 15, 2026. Burns portrays Diane’s doctor in a multi-episode arc, according to TV Insider. Other than at the Y&R crossover to the Beyond The Gates event the week of June 8, which was filmed well before these scenes were, viewers haven’t seen Diane since May 14, when she left Jack a voicemail. She wanted to find a way forward. We suspected in the Y&R spoilers that Patty (Stacy Haiduk) had something to do with her disappearance.
Jere Burns is known for FBI, Foxhole, NCIS: Los Angeles, Dead to Me, Suits, Breaking Bad, and a list of various other roles that span all the way back to 1988-1992, when he was Kirk Morris in Dear John, a role he worked on with Susan Walters, who portrayed Mary Beth Sutton.
Lauren Koslow, who portrays Kate Roberts Brady on Days of our Lives, will be cast as Jill Abbott temporarily since Jess Walton is not available for filming due to scheduling conflicts. Koslow will appear on the show in five episodes, starting June 25, 2026.
TV Insider stated, “The casting marks a full-circle moment for Koslow, whose first major acting break came on Y&R. In 1984, then-producer Ed Scott spotted her in an acting class, leading to an audition for the role of Lindsey Wells. In a bit of soap symmetry, one of Koslow’s primary scene partners was Brenda Dickson, who played Jill at the time.”
This won’t cause an impact for Koslow in taping at Days and Walton will return next time her character is on canvas as schedules permit.
Chris Wenchell appears May, 2026
Chris Wenchell appears on Young and the Restless as a dealer that Nick (Joshua Morrow) buys fentanyl from in Chancellor Park. Look for him the week of May 11. Wenchell has been seen in shows such as The Rookie and FBI: Most Wanted.
Shemar Moore and Vivica A. Fox Return April, 2026
Viewers can be on the lookout for Shemar Moore and Vivica A. Fox to return to Y&R the week of April 6. Moore returns to Genoa City as Malcolm Winters and Fox returns as Stephanie Simmons, a character who was on the CBS show from 1994-1995. At the time, she was a medical student.
The duo begin taping on Tuesday, February 17 and will air starting in April for a multi-show arc. The press release reads, “In the episodes, Malcolm Winters (Moore) and Dr. Stephanie Simmons’ (Fox) surprising return has shocking and lasting implications for the residents of Genoa City.”
For those who didn’t watch back then or who forgot, they were a couple on the show for a hot minute. They’re back for three episodes and then Moore returns later in April to film more to wrap things up.
Beth Maitland returns to Y&R as Traci Abbott the week of March 30, 2026
Beth Maitland is back as Traci Abbott in scenes with Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) and to help Jack (Peter Bergman) through a crisis during the week of March 13, 2026. She’ll be seen throughout March and April.
Michael Damian and Lauralee Bell return as Danny and Christine on March 24, 2026
Watch for Michael Damian (Danny Romalotti) and Lauralee Bell (Christine Romalotti) to return to Y&R on March 24, 2026. Take a look at the Canadian day ahead recap to see what happens with their scenes.
Tina Casciani is back to Young and Restless to portray Riza Thompson, a role Casciani debuted in May of 2019. Watch for her starting March 23. She’ll be seen during the Vegas scenes when Adam and Nick try to hunt down Matt Clark.
The actress has appeared in movies such as Role Models, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, and The Intern.
Christel Khalil exited Y&R January 7. As we reported below, she had a baby and is back on screen during the week of March 9. The spoilers tell what happens and who she’s with in the scenes which begin on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Stacy Haiduk (Patty Williams) is returning to Young and the Restless once again after 10 long years of being away. Haiduk left the role in 2015 when Patty escaped Fairview mental facility. She returned to Genoa City and was presumed dead in an explosion. She took off with Ian Ward and was institutionalized after. There are no other details about the return, with this story, other than it’ll be “filled with mystery and suspense,” according to Josh Griffith.
For newer viewers or those who need a refresher, check out the TV Insider post.
Haiduk has been portraying Kristen DiMera and Susan Banks on Days of our Lives for 8 years. She’s not leaving that role; she’s just pulling double duty. Look for Patty’s first appearance on Friday, March 6. She’ll be in scenes with Jack (Peter Bergman) on the yacht.
As reported earlier, Christel Khalil (Lily) exited Y&R on January 7. She’s back taping as Lily Winters and we will see her on March 26.
The actress had a baby and posted a photo doing hip-ups with the baby strapped to her chest.
Roger Howarth brings Matt Clark back April 1, 2026
Roger Howarth was last seen as Matt Clark locked in a closet before he got an off-screen sendoff to prison on January 19.
It’s been almost a month since we saw him last and now, Howarth’s back taping at Y&R. We’ll see Matt back starting on April 1, 2026.
Recasts
Ethan Ray Clark’s new gig on Y&R as Dominic January, 2026
There’s a new Dom in Genoa City.
Ethan Ray Clark joins the Y&R cast as Domnic Winters.
He’s first seen on January 23rd. Clark took over from twins Rainn and River Ware, who played the role from 2021 to 2024. He’s recast is to make him old enough so he can speak in a new storyline when Mariah (Camryn Grimes) kidnaps him.
Exits
Christel Khalil’s maternity leave started on January 7, 2026
Christel Khalil will be exiting Y&R for a while, starting the week of January 5. The actress is pregnant and has not confirmed this or the birth of her baby. In the episode dated January 7, she tells Cane she’s leaving to see her kids.
No word on a return date yet though mat leave usually lasts anywhere from a month or two. We’ll update here in this article with more information when we learn more. Lily’s seen on a call with Devon, telling him she’s leaving GC tonight.
