Days of our Lives Recap, July 27-31, 2026: Apologies, Goodbyes, and Rescue Missions

On Days of our Lives, the week of July 27th through 31st, 2026, Marlena made Kate an offer, Joy made an outrageous demand, Gabi and Philip shared a moment, Leo pursued Gwen, Rachel left Bayview, Holly forgave her loved ones, Lexie said goodbye, and EJ set Kristen’s kidnapping in motion.

Seen Around Salem

Kate and Roman at the Brady Pub | Image: JPI

Marlena asked Kate if she would reconsider running Basic Black with her. Kate said no, because she believed she had destroyed Titan. Marlena argued that Kate was not solely responsible and that she forgave her for her scheme to extort Johnny. Marlena wished Kate well with Roman, and she told Kate that the offer to co-run Basic Black would remain open.

Kate reached out to Roman, but he was resistant. Kate argued that they were soulmates and that they belonged together. Roman admitted that although he still loved Kate, he needed to relearn how to like her again.

Alex helped Joy home from the doctor’s office, and she promised to call someone else for help in the future. Ari watched the whole interaction, and she called Joy out on her interest in Alex after he left. Joy said her only concern was the unstable stepmom. Alex and Joy signed the paperwork to make Kelsey officially Alex’s daughter. When Joy demanded that they exclude Stephanie from the custody agreement for a full eighteen years, Alex refused to make the change. Neither signed the custody agreement.

Alex told Stephanie about the incident, and she was terrified that Joy would keep Kelsey from Alex. Joy asked Belle for legal help, but Belle asked Joy to reconsider. As Joy thought about Belle’s argument, Stephanie made her own appeal to Joy to give it time. Joy refused. Stephanie accused Joy of using the situation to drive a wedge into her marriage. Angry, Joy said that she was more sure than ever that Stephanie was too unstable to interact with Kelsey.

Chanel underwent her last chemotherapy appointment. Trey appeared to have a cold, so Johnny insisted on letting someone else take care of him for Chanel because of her compromised immune system. Although Johnny suggested that he and Chanel celebrate the end of her treatment alone together, Chanel admitted that she was too tired. Javi sat for Trey, and Gus had a difficult time with it.

Philip, Gabi, Xander, and More

Philip pleaded with Gabi to believe that neither he nor Xander had stolen her designs. Philip admitted that he did not hate Gabi, but he could not forgive her. Gabi and Philip both admitted that they had dreamed of a future together. Philip told Gabi that she was hurting him the same way she had hurt Theo when she did not believe him.

When Gabi told Ari about the incident, Ari admitted that a prototype purse had disappeared briefly at the office. Gabi realized that this meant she had been wrong to blame Xander and Philip for the design theft. Gabi went to Titan to apologize, and she told Philip about Ari's story. Gabi gave the money she had promised to Titan. After thanking Gabi, Philip kissed her.

Cat told Rafe that she had hacked into Gwen’s attorney’s server and stolen Gwen’s letter of confession. Rafe was upset that Cat had broken the law, but Cat argued that she needed to protect Leo and keep EJ from being tipped off. Cat pointed out that the letter confirmed that Gwen and EJ had kidnapped Dimitri in the US, and Gwen had been EJ’s silent partner with Versavix.

Leo talked to Marlena about his concern for Gwen and the missing letter. Leo confided that he was worried he might be the next to disappear. When Leo told Marlena he had told Cat, Marlena held her tongue. Against Marlena’s objections, Leo vowed to track down Gwen on his own. Leo asked Gus to tell Javi he loved him in case he died while he was searching for Gwen.

Asking for Help

Leo asked Rafe for some help | Image: JPI

Marlena asked Cat about Gwen’s missing letter. Cat did not want to discuss the case, but she admitted that she was looking into it. Marlena confronted EJ about the people around him that he was hurting, including Gwen, Lexie, Kristen, and Titan. EJ stressed that he was protecting his family. Susan warned EJ that he was in danger from Stefano’s ring, and she performed a cleansing ritual on it. Susan cautioned EJ to remember that he was EJ, not Stefano.

Leo appealed to Rafe for help. Rafe told Leo that Gwen’s phone had been found at the airfield. Rafe questioned EJ about Gwen’s disappearance, but he claimed he had no information. After Leo obtained information from the airfield, he realized that Dimitri had kidnapped Gwen. Dimitri confirmed it by text. Chad booked the DiMera jet for Leo to use to go to Alamainia after Gwen. Javi warned Leo not to go alone. Gus reminded Javi that Leo was not his problem anymore.

At the pub, the family celebrated Rachel’s release from Bayview. When Kristen did not show up, Brady took Marlena aside and told her about Kristen’s strange behavior at Bayview. Marlena said it sounded like Kristen had been saying goodbye. Kristen texted to say she was in Aremid, but Brady did not believe it.

Marlena pushed Belle to talk about her trip to Italy. Concerned, Marlena told Belle and Chad that it was dangerous to follow up on Stefano’s puzzle. Belle updated Marlena on the clues so far. Marlena allowed Belle to pursue the investigation to Italy.

EJ V. Sarah

Xander told Sarah about his theory that EJ had planted the pills in Holly’s bag. Sarah beat herself up for falling for EJ’s trick rather than believing Holly. When Sarah apologized to Holly, and she forgave Sarah. Tate also apologized to Holly, and Holly forgave him as well. Brady and Xander agreed to work with Sarah to find evidence against EJ and prove what he had done.

Lexie spent one last night with Abe and Theo before she planned to take Kristen’s place on Stefano’s island. While Theo and Abe picked up food, Lexie decorated the house for Christmas. Lexie told Abe and Theo how grateful she was for them. Theo and Abe gave Lexie a necklace with their birthstones as a gift.

Kristen visited EJ one last time, and they agreed that they did not understand how things had gotten so bad between them. After Kristen left, EJ ordered Rita to proceed. Kristen was nabbed in the park, and she activated her bracelet to warn Lexie. Lexie’s phone beeped with a warning from Kristen, and Lexie said goodbye to her family. When Lexie located the shipping container at the airstrip, it was locked. Unable to pick the lock, Lexie looked for a crowbar. As Kristen waited, Lexie passed out on the floor of the warehouse.

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