Days Recap: Days of our Lives Recap, February 16, 2026: Xander and Sarah move on with new valentines

On Days of our Lives today, Monday, February 16, 2026, Belle receives a Valentine’s Day invitation, Gabi and Philip grow closer, and Dimitri and Leo become a scheme team once again.

What happened on Days of our Lives

Dimitri and Leo on Days of our Lives. \Image: Peacock

At the police station, Leo affirmed that he believed in Dimitri’s innocence and that he wanted to help clear his name. They decided to go somewhere to talk where no one would overhear. Leo initially shot down Dimitri’s suggestion of Leo’s room. He eventually conceded, though, babbling that he had a chair as well as a bed.

Later, in Leo’s room, Dimitri took his seat in the chair, as promised. The duo agreed about Gwen’s culpability, but they also concluded that Vivian had been Gwen’s accomplice. Dimitri stressed he needed to go to Alamainia to get the necessary evidence. His ankle monitor, however, was a big roadblock. To Dimitri’s delight, Leo announced that he would be going to Alamainia as well.

Leo reasoned that he was an investigative journalist, so he would just be pursuing a story. He still felt guilty, though, because conspiring with Dimitri seemed like yet another betrayal of Javi. Dimitri seemed to feel bad about Leo’s distress. He gingerly sat beside his ex on the bed and told Leo he shouldn’t do anything that he didn’t want to do. Leo reiterated that he wanted to help Dimitri.

Leo and Dimitri shared a brief moment of levity when they thought back to Leo’s last scheme involving Europe…a scheme that had ended with a fake Madonna concert. Dimitri was amused and touched when Leo whipped out his phone and started searching for tips on how to remove an ankle monitor. Leo suggested Dimitri return home while he worked on a plan. Dimitri obliged, but not before sincerely thanking Leo. He hugged a pensive Leo, then left.

Chad and EJ give Valentine's gifts

Chad and Belle on Days of our Lives. \Image: Peacock

At Marlena’s place, Chad stopped by and presented Belle with a box of chocolate candies for Valentine’s Day. He had wanted to follow up on their dating app match, but explained that he would be briefly leaving town with his kids. Chad, with a side-eye toward Belle’s frozen dinner, suggested he take her out for a better Valentine’s night. After a small protest, Belle agreed.

At the DiMera mansion, Susan arrived as EJ was reading his copy of Wuthering Heights. She scolded him for spending Valentine’s Day alone, but perked up after he gave her a gift of banana peanut brittle, as she was his valentine. Susan gushed at her son’s thoughtfulness and reassured him she hadn’t really meant it as a personal insult when she’d referred to Stefano’s evil residing inside him. She reminded EJ that he also had a lot of good because he was hers as well. Susan talked about the Valentine’s Day gifts Roger and she had given each other, which proved to be too much information for EJ when Susan mentioned One Stormy Night, and declared she would soon be returning home to her love.

Susan and EJ on Days of our Lives. \Image: Peacock

Later, in Horton Town Square, things got awkward for EJ when he came across Chad and Belle on their date. Chad updated EJ on his plans to leave town. When Chad stepped away after he spotted Leo, Belle offered her condolences about Stefano. EJ and she had a cordial exchange, and EJ wished Belle well on her date. She watched him go with a touch of seeming regret.

Meanwhile, Chad calmed Leo about his temporary departure from Salem. He asked Leo to help steer The Spectator in his absence. Leo said he might need to work remotely because he had a top-secret story that had caught his attention.

Chad returned to Belle and promised to take her on a proper date when he came back, while Leo returned home and left a lovelorn phone message for Javi. Leo’s spirits were further deflated by Javi’s texted response, which read, “Until you’ve made up your mind, I don’t want to hear from you. It’s just too hard.”

EJ also returned home and made another call to someone about taking care of Vivian. He bristled when Dimitri arrived at the mansion and took his drink. EJ asked why his nephew was there. With a sip of the drink and a glance toward Stefano’s portrait, Dimitri coolly replied, “Rising from the ashes, of course.”

Moonlight in Miami

Gabi and Philip on Days of our Lives. \Image: Peacock

In Miami, Philip and Gabi entered their hotel room. As Philip busily outlined their potential plans, Gabi was visibly distracted, which caught Philip’s attention. She tried to brush off his questions, but his insistence that she could open up to him compelled her to confide her feelings about Stefan and his death. Philip was shocked but not entirely surprised to learn that Vivian had apparently kidnapped her own son. Following Gabi’s revelation about the forged divorce papers, Philip put the pieces together that Gabi was likely Stefan’s widow rather than just his ex-wife.

Gabi also confessed to Rafe’s claims that Stefan had died still loving her: a thought which haunted her. She wondered if he had died of a broken heart. Gabi apologized for talking too much about Stefan, but Philip remained sympathetic. He encouraged her to process her feelings however she needed and even offered to cancel their dinner plans. Gabi thanked him for being so understanding and accepting, which she admitted she had never really experienced before in a relationship.

Gabi decided she was done mulling over the past. She wanted to look toward her future…with Philip. With that idea in mind, she told Philip they were going out for a night on the town and, later, at the beach.

Brady and Sarah take a tentative step

Sarah and Brady on Days of our Lives. \Image: Peacock

At the Brady Pub, Brady admitted he had feelings for Sarah that he wanted to explore. He also wanted to set a “new normal” for Rachel and make his daughter – and her mother – understand that they couldn’t control his life. While Brady was hesitant about pursuing the relationship, partly because of Rachel, he confessed that he was more worried about ruining his friendship with Sarah should any potential romantic relationship not work out. Sarah related, but she had realized that she had more regrets in her life about the chances she hadn’t taken than the ones she had, even if they had ultimately ended in disaster.

Sarah believed Brady that she could miss out on something special if they didn’t take the chance on each other. She suggested an outing at a nineties-themed café and at a boba tea shop. With a smile, Brady agreed. They both hesitated at the prospect of someone they knew seeing them together and drawing conclusions. Both then concurred that if the relationship grew serious, they would go public with no apologies.

Xander takes a shot

Gwen and Xander on Days of our Lives. \Image: Peacock

At the driving range, Gwen continued her impromptu training session with Xander on his golf swing. Some suggestive innuendo ensued, and the duo decided on a break at the bench. Gwen surprised Xander with the disclosure that she’d once worked as a golf caddy. He joked that if he’d had her as an instructor, he would have picked up the game in no time. The discussion got heated when Gwen insinuated she had another way for Xander to work off his excess energy.

Gwen pulled back, though, recalling the last time that she had attempted to reconnect with Xander. He’d remained devoted to Sarah. Xander insisted a recent encounter with Sarah had changed his perspective, as he’d realized they would never happen again. While he admitted he would never love anyone quite like he had loved his ex, he wasn’t meant for the “celibate life” and had “needs.” Gwen invited him back to her place.

Later, at the DiMera mansion, Gwen – with Xander in tow – raced past EJ and up the stairs to her room. She and Xander shared a drink, some flirtation, a kiss…and then shared the bed.

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