Stardew Valley new marriage candidates are officially coming in the upcoming 1.7 update, confirmed by creator Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone ahead of the game’s 10th anniversary in February 2026. For fans of the beloved farming simulator, this marks the first time in years that the base game’s romance roster will expand.
As of February 4, 2026, two new marriage candidates have been confirmed for Stardew Valley. While their identities have not yet been revealed, the announcement has generated major excitement across the U.S. gaming community. The update is expected to launch around the game’s 10th anniversary on February 26, 2026.
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The Current Marriage System in Stardew Valley
Right now, Stardew Valley features 12 marriage candidates in the base game. Players can romance and marry any of the following characters:
- Abigail
- Alex
- Elliott
- Emily
- Haley
- Harvey
- Leah
- Maru
- Penny
- Sam
- Sebastian
- Shane
Each character comes with unique heart events, dialogue changes, gift preferences, and post-marriage interactions. Over the years, these romance options have become a core part of the Stardew Valley experience, encouraging players to build relationships alongside farming, fishing, and mining.
Marriage in Stardew Valley is inclusive. There are no gender restrictions, meaning any candidate can be romanced regardless of the player character’s gender. That design philosophy will continue with the upcoming additions.
Two New Marriage Candidates Confirmed
The biggest confirmed update is simple and clear: two new romanceable villagers will join Pelican Town in version 1.7. This will increase the total number of marriage candidates from 12 to 14.
Here’s what is verified as of today:
- Two new marriage candidates are officially in development.
- They will arrive with the 1.7 update.
- Their names and full details have not yet been revealed.
- More information is expected around the game’s anniversary in late February 2026.
No character art, story backgrounds, or in-game mechanics have been shared publicly yet. The developer has intentionally held back those details.
Why This Update Is a Big Deal
Stardew Valley launched in 2016 and has remained one of the most successful indie games in the U.S. and worldwide. Even a decade later, the game continues to receive meaningful updates. The addition of new marriage candidates is significant for several reasons.
Expanded Storytelling
Romance is not a side feature in Stardew Valley. It shapes dialogue, heart events, and even daily routines. Adding two new eligible spouses means new story arcs, new emotional moments, and fresh character development.
Players often replay the game to explore different romantic paths. With two new candidates, there will be even more variety.
Increased Replay Value
Many longtime fans have already married every existing candidate across multiple save files. The new additions create a strong reason to start a new farm or return to an old one.
Romance in Stardew Valley impacts festival interactions, post-marriage dialogue, and family life. Expanding the roster adds depth to all of those systems.
Continued Developer Support
Few indie titles receive major updates ten years after release. The confirmation of new romance content shows that the game remains an active creative project. That long-term support strengthens its position in the U.S. gaming market.
What We Still Don’t Know
While excitement is high, important details remain undisclosed.
The following information has not yet been officially revealed:
- The names of the new characters
- Their personalities or backstories
- Where they will live in Pelican Town
- How players will trigger their heart events
- Whether they will integrate into existing festivals and town events
There has been no confirmation about whether these characters will be entirely new villagers or existing non-marriageable characters becoming romance options. Until the developer shares more, speculation remains just that.
How Marriage Works in Stardew Valley
To understand the impact of the upcoming additions, it helps to revisit how the current system functions.
Players build friendship points by:
- Talking to characters daily
- Giving loved or liked gifts
- Completing heart events
- Making specific dialogue choices
Once players reach 10 hearts with a candidate and meet certain conditions, they can propose marriage using a Mermaid’s Pendant. After marriage, the spouse moves into the farmhouse and contributes small daily tasks such as watering crops or feeding animals.
Children are also part of the marriage system. In earlier updates, children had limited interactivity. The upcoming 1.7 update is expected to improve family dynamics, though exact changes have not been detailed yet.
Community Reaction in the U.S.
Across gaming forums and social media platforms, players have reacted positively to the news. Many longtime fans say they have hoped for additional marriage candidates for years.
Some players are curious whether certain popular non-marriageable characters might become eligible. Others are excited about the possibility of entirely new personalities entering the town.
Despite the speculation, most fans agree on one thing: official confirmation alone is enough to renew excitement for 2026.
A Decade of Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley’s continued evolution stands out in today’s gaming landscape. Since its 2016 release, the game has sold millions of copies and expanded across multiple platforms, including PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and mobile.
The 1.6 update brought major gameplay changes. Now, version 1.7 appears poised to deepen the social simulation aspect even further. By focusing on relationships and family life, the developer is reinforcing what many players love most about the game.
The addition of Stardew Valley new marriage candidates signals that even after ten years, Pelican Town still has room to grow.
What Happens Next?
All eyes are now on late February 2026. More details are expected around the 10th anniversary celebration. Players anticipate character reveals, personality hints, and possibly gameplay previews.
Until then, only the confirmed facts remain:
- Two new marriage candidates are coming.
- They will be part of update 1.7.
- More information will be shared soon.
For a game entering its second decade, that announcement alone is powerful.
As Stardew Valley approaches its 10th anniversary, fans can look forward to fresh romance stories and new possibilities in Pelican Town—so stay tuned and share which type of character you hope joins the town next.
