Tuesday’s episode of Days of Our Lives is shaping up to be one of the most explosive installments Salem has seen in years. The January 27, 2026, broadcast delivers seismic twists

that threaten to permanently alter the balance of power, rip families apart, and shatter long-held beliefs. From a grim discovery in the DiMera crypt to

a devastating betrayal that targets Abe Carver’s heart, the drama escalates on every front—and no one emerges unscathed. At the center of it all lies

a revelation fans have debated for decades: the true fate of Stefano DiMera.

The DiMera Crypt Mystery: The Fall of the Phoenix

The episode’s most jaw-dropping moment finally answers a question that has haunted Salem since skeletal remains were discovered beneath the DiMera estate. After weeks of speculation and whispered theories, lab results confirm the unthinkable: the bones found in the family crypt belong to Stefano DiMera himself.

Yes—the Phoenix has fallen.

For a man who cheated death countless times through elaborate schemes, mind control, body doubles, and faked demises, this confirmation feels startlingly final. The implications are enormous. Stefano wasn’t just presumed dead—he had been hidden in plain sight, his remains buried beneath the very home where his children continued to live, plot, and dine. The psychological impact is chilling, macabre, and deeply personal.

Yet in true Days fashion, doubt lingers. With Dr. Wilhelm Rolf once again lurking on Salem’s fringes, questions arise: is this truly Stefano, or another scientific deception designed to let the real mastermind operate in the shadows? Whether this is the end or merely another layer of manipulation, one thing is clear—the DiMera family will never be the same.

Kristen vs. EJ: A Dynasty Fractures

Rafe Hernandez is the bearer of this devastating news, delivering the confirmation directly to the DiMera mansion. Logic might suggest that tragedy would unite the fractured siblings—but logic has never ruled the DiMeras.

Kristen DiMera, already emotionally raw, collapses under the weight of yet another loss. Still grieving her brother and struggling with her daughter Rachel’s increasingly troubling behavior, Kristen is pushed to the brink. When EJ attempts to comfort her, she does the unthinkable—she rejects him outright.

This moment marks far more than sibling tension. Kristen sees in EJ the very traits that defined Stefano: control, calculation, and authority. In rejecting EJ’s support, she is also rejecting his claim to leadership. With Stefano gone, the DiMera throne stands empty—and both Kristen and EJ are poised to claim it.

This is not grief. It is the opening salvo in an all-out civil war.

Chad DiMera’s Dangerous Choice

While EJ and Kristen clash, Chad DiMera faces a moral crossroads that could cost him everything. After learning the truth about Stefano’s remains, Chad makes a conscious decision to withhold the information from Theo Carver—the very person who discovered the bones.

On the surface, Chad frames his silence as compassion. Theo is recovering from trauma; why burden him further? But beneath that justification lies a troubling truth. By choosing secrecy, Chad is exerting control—deciding what Theo can handle and when. It’s a distinctly DiMera instinct, and one that threatens to destroy the trust between them.

When Theo inevitably learns the truth, the betrayal will cut deep. Secrets in Salem never stay buried, and this one is primed to explode—taking friendships and alliances with it.

Abe Carver Walks Into a Heartbreaking Trap

Perhaps the most emotionally devastating storyline belongs to Abe Carver. Unaware of the truth, Abe has opened his heart and his time to Liam, offering mentorship and guidance during therapy sessions. What Abe doesn’t know—but Rafe soon will—is that Liam played a role in Theo’s kidnapping.

The dramatic irony is brutal. Viewers watch in anguish as Abe, Salem’s moral compass, places his trust in a man connected to his son’s suffering. Liam’s motivations are chillingly ambiguous. Is he seeking redemption—or reveling in deception?

When the truth comes out, it promises to be shattering. Abe’s faith in his judgment, his belief in redemption, and his sense of safety will all be obliterated. Given Abe’s past health struggles, the emotional fallout could be dangerous. This revelation isn’t just a betrayal—it’s a potential breaking point.

Chanel, Johnny, and a Troubling Hospital Visit

Meanwhile, concern grows on another front as Johnny DiMera and Chanel cross paths with Paulina Price at the hospital. The circumstances surrounding Chanel’s visit remain unclear, but speculation runs rampant.

Is this a surprise pregnancy that could complicate an already volatile family dynamic? Or could it signal lingering consequences from Salem’s darker storylines—perhaps long-term health effects that force Paulina to put aside politics and focus on her daughter?

Whatever the cause, this development adds emotional weight to an episode already heavy with loss and conflict. If Chanel is truly in danger, it raises the stakes for Johnny at a time when his family is imploding from within.

What Comes Next: Predictions and Fallout

As Tuesday’s episode closes, Salem stands on the edge of chaos. Stefano DiMera’s confirmed death sends shockwaves through the town. The DiMera siblings are splintering. Chad’s secret is ticking toward exposure. Liam’s lies are about to unravel—and Abe’s world is poised to collapse.

Expect Rafe to confront Liam with the evidence, possibly arresting him in front of Abe in a moment destined to become an Emmy-worthy scene. As for Kristen, her rejection of EJ may push her toward increasingly dangerous alliances—perhaps even back into Dr. Rolf’s orbit.

One chapter closes with the Phoenix’s fall, but another ignites with vengeance, grief, and power struggles. Days of Our Lives proves once again that in Salem, the past never stays buried—and the future is anything but certain.