Days Recap: Days of our Lives Recap, January 26, 2026: Rolf makes a breakthrough

On Days of our Lives today, Monday, January 26, 2026, EJ greets a most unwelcome guest, Gwen is in hot water, Rafe gets shocking news, and Sarah balances both grateful and contentious patients.

What Happened on Days of our Lives

Dr. Rolf on Days of our Lives | Image: Peacock

In the secret lab, Gwen groused about Rolf’s lack of progress with their special project. Rolf urged Gwen to quiet down and listen. When she did, she heard the sounds of rats squealing. Gwen’s tune quickly changed. “You brought the rats back to life?” she marveled.

Rolf confirmed that he had indeed resurrected his dead rats. Gwen next wondered if the development meant Rolf could use his magic formula on humans. At Rolf’s second confirmation, she was even more pleased…which proved to be short-lived after she received a call from EJ demanding she get to the mansion immediately. Following the call, Gwen asked Rolf half-jokingly and half-hopefully, “If EJ murders me, you can bring me back to life?” Rolf only smiled in response.

EJ returns

EJ (Dan Feurerriegel) and Dimitri (Peter Porte) on Days of our Lives. \Image: Peacock

Prior to his call, EJ arrived home at the DiMera mansion to find Dimitri ensconced in his living room. EJ expressed disbelief and asked how and why Dimitri was there. Dimitri breezily filled his uncle in on his captivity and his certainty that Gwen had arranged the kidnapping. He challenged EJ to disclose what he had known about the situation, given Gwen’s current living circumstances. EJ claimed Gwen had simply shown up on his doorstep one day and demanded a place at the mansion, as Dimitri’s wife.

When Dimitri stated he planned to take his inheritance back and to find out what Gwen had been doing with his money, EJ tried to subtly dissuade his nephew. Dimitri did not relent and insinuated that when he was through with Gwen, he expected EJ to throw her out. Once Dimitri departed, EJ made his angry call to Gwen.

Later, Gwen hesitantly entered the mansion. EJ sweetly greeted his partner-in-crime before laying into her for bringing Dimitri back and upending their plans because of her "ego" and need for vengeance. Gwen defended that she had attempted to warn EJ. Plus, she hadn’t known at the time that when Dimitri returned he could divorce her and make a claim on his inheritance. EJ testily reminded Gwen that since his funds were tied up, they were relying on Dimitri’s money to make their million-dollar plans a success.

Gwen took the opening to put EJ in a slightly better mood. She revealed Rolf’s breakthrough with the rats. EJ seemed especially excited to learn that Rolf could proceed his experiments to their human test subject. He called Rolf and got confirmation, then warned Gwen that Dimitri could still derail their ambitions. Gwen suggested they take care of the problem by framing Dimitri as Peter’s secret accomplice.

Rafe and Cat strategize

Cat (AnnaLynne McCord) and Rafe (Galen Gering) on Days of our Lives. \Image: Peacock

At the Hernandez home, Cat dropped by for a meeting with Rafe, who assured her they had the house to themselves. Cat brought Rafe up to speed on her lack of success with extracting information from either Mark or Rita. Both Rafe and Cat still believed, based on the video Leo had taken, that Gwen knew something significant. The talk turned to Rafe’s upcoming trip to Alamainia, where Rafe would question Vivian and hopefully get firm answers about Stefan. Rafe theorized that Vivian’s willingness to be questioned meant she likely wasn’t hiding anything in regards to Stefan.

Rafe did, however, think Vivian was a promising lead in regards to the secret camera that had been found in the DiMera crypt. Cat mused about Dimitri’s potential culpability, but Rafe didn’t believe Megan’s prodigal son had enough incentive to work with Peter, given Dimitri’s own independent wealth. He did think the scheme was right up Vivian’s alley, but she would have had to have been planning the whole scenario since before Stefan’s supposed death. The discussion about Stefano’s fortune prompted Rafe to tell Cat about the time Stefano’s “essence” had been implanted into Steve. He didn’t discount the possibility that the bones discovered in the crypt could belong to Stefano.

Rafe also updated Cat on Kristen’s proposal to help him take down EJ. Rafe was reticent about accepting help from someone as unpredictable and volatile as Kristen, but Cat reasoned that Kristen’s hatred of her brother could be just the incentive she needed to get them what they wanted: access to the lab. Cat got a call about EJ’s return and left to see him, but not before Rafe and she urged each other to stay safe. Later, Rafe received his own call from someone who had an important update for him…an update which caused Rafe to mutter “Oh, my God” in reply.

Meanwhile, Cat made her way to the mansion and spied EJ and Gwen in the midst of a hush-hush conversation. They put on smiles when they spotted her, but Cat remained suspicious.

Kristen gets heated

Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) and Sarah (Linsey Godfrey) on Days of our Lives. \Image: Peacock

At the hospital, Sarah was surprised to discover that her next patient was Kristen, whom she hadn’t been expecting for a check-up. Kristen indicated her visit was of a more personal nature…namely, her daughter’s welfare. While Kristen was appreciative that Sarah had comforted Rachel in her absence, she let Sarah know in no uncertain terms that Rachel didn’t need a “second mother.” Sarah assured Kristen that wasn’t her intention, so Kristen invoked the time that Sarah had kidnapped Rachel.

A miffed Sarah reminded Kristen of the extenuating circumstances, and Kristen reminded Sarah that Rachel now knew everything. She bluntly assessed that Sarah latching onto Brady during Rachel’s precarious recovery would only hurt Rachel. At the mention of Brady, Sarah shut the conversation down and told Kristen to leave.

Later, Kristen had a tense run-in with Johnny and Chanel and an unpleasant reunion with EJ at the mansion. EJ asked about Peter, and Kristen tersely told him about Peter’s last words to her. EJ started to express his sympathy, but Kristen wasn’t having it and stormed out. Kristen’s day didn’t get any better when she encountered Dimitri in Horton Town Square.

After trading barbs and insults with her nephew, Kristen demanded Dimitri pay her the money he owed. Dimitri countered that Kristen’s blackmail payments were no longer relevant, since he was “out and proud.” Kristen pledged that Gwen would once again take Dimitri for everything he was worth and send him slinking out of Salem. Unfazed, Dimitri made his own promise: he wasn’t going anywhere. Kristen cautioned Dimitri that being a DiMera would come down to “survival of the fittest.”

Johnny and Chanel meet their child

Chanel (Raven Bowens) and Johnny (Carson Boatman) on Days of our Lives. \Image: Peacock

At Johnny and Chanel’s place, Chanel happily told Trey about their family’s bright future, which would soon include one new addition. Johnny put on a smile but still seemed worried when Chanel brought up the baby. Later, the couple went to the hospital for Chanel’s ultrasound appointment. They saw Kristen there and rebuffed her attempts to be friendly. Chanel couldn’t understand why Kristen wasn’t still in prison after what she had done to Johnny.

Chanel’s mood improved when she and Johnny met with Sarah in the examining room. Sarah explained the ultrasound process as Chanel took her place on the bed. When Sarah displayed the first images of their baby and pointed out the tiny heartbeat, Chanel and Johnny were in awe. Sarah assuaged their concerns about the cancer potentially returning (a possibility Sarah considered remote). The update – and the assurances that baby and mom were both healthy -- appeared to relieve Johnny especially.

Later, Chanel and Johnny returned home and celebrated their good news. They were both still awestruck at seeing the physical manifestation of their love. The couple shared a loving embrace.

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