After 10 seasons, Netflix has announced a new spin on its popular Love Is Blind dating series: Love Is Vegan. Set to debut this summer, Netflix’s first all plant-based dating show follows 16 vegan singles as they search for lasting love.
Hosted by celebrity vegan couple Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara, Love Is Vegan follows the same basic premise as its predecessor, challenging contestants to first learn about each other’s values before introducing looks into the equation. “Throughout the Love Is Blind journey, we have explored a variety of cities and international spin-offs,” Samantha Barten, head of communications at Netflix, tells VegNews. “This summer, we’re giving our 84 million North American viewers another bingeable series, one that asks the question: Is love vegan?” To cast this season’s singles, producers set their eyes on Portland, OR.
Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix will host the new plant-based reality series. | Netflix
Inside the “edamame pods,” where vegan singles connect
For the show, Netflix introduced “edamame pods,” a fresh take on the dimly lit conversation cubicles of years past. The new pods are green and outfitted with verdant vegan leather furniture. Baskets of popular plant-based snacks—think mushroom jerky, artisanal dark chocolate, and kombucha—ensure that the singles are nourished and ready to mingle.
In the edamame pods, singles are encouraged to discuss their vegan origin stories—whether sparked by documentaries, health journeys, or a lifelong love of animals—or keep things light with debates like oat milk versus soy milk. The goal is to find a partner they can connect with on a deeper, ethical level. But some contestants are just happy to find any kind of love.
“I don’t care what he looks like,” Jayla, 23, tells VegNews. “I just need him to love nooch as much as I do.”
Other contestants are more discerning. “If she says ‘cheat day’ and means dairy, I’m out,” says Miles, a 29-year-old fitness coach. “But if it’s about crushing a whole vegan pizza solo? That’s my soulmate.”
The iconic, opaque gold wine glasses are back on Love Is Vegan. | Netflix
From pods to paradise: a vegan dating show twist
Once the singles pair up in the pods, the newly formed couples—along with a pig, cow, and chicken—are shipped off to a remote desert island to play out the old cliché. In paradise, the couples explore their chemistry while delighting in the abundance of local fruit, vegetables, and non-animal protein sources. As for the rescued animals? They offer lively companionship and occasional emotional support.
Just as connections begin to solidify, a familiar twist is introduced: the exes arrive. In a franchise first, each contestant’s most significant pre-vegan partner is invited to the island—many of whom still consume animal products. The result is immediate chaos.
“I thought I was over him,” Jayla says upon seeing her ex step off the boat holding a turkey sandwich. “But now, I’m mostly just upset about the sandwich.”
The exes challenge contestants to reflect on how their values—and relationships—have evolved. For some, it’s closure. For others, it’s temptation. One contestant is visibly shaken after learning their ex has “cut back to just seafood,” prompting a tearful late-night conversation about boundaries and personal growth.
Tensions rise over homemade cashew cheese and vegan pizza. | Taryn Elliot
Meet the families—and their opinions on vegan food
After spending one week on the island, the couples head home for family introductions—a turning point that leads to some of the show’s biggest must-watch moments. “Listen, I love my family, but it took my uncle 10 years to figure out milk chocolate contains dairy, and he still asks me where I get my protein every Thanksgiving,” Jayla says. “Bringing home what he calls a ‘soy boy’ might come with its own set of challenges.”
Family dinners quickly become a battleground of generational and cultural differences. One family introduction between the season’s most salacious couple—who are both vegan chefs—starts off well enough with the couple preparing a three-course plant-based meal. The main course—a meaty pot roast—features wild mushrooms, a medley of root vegetables, and a touch of meatless crumbles.
“Why make something taste like meat if you don’t eat meat?” a family member asks, sending the couple into a tense explanation about the distinction between consuming animal products and enjoying the taste of meat from plant-based sources. “Okay, but don’t force it on me,” the sulking family member says, pushing the plate away—before quietly taking another bite moments later.
Another couple struggles to agree on which dairy-free pizzas will impress their skeptical parents. “Just use Daiya! They reformulated the shreds years ago to melt better than you remember,” Rico, 32, shouts. His partner, on the other hand, insists on making mozzarella from scratch using cashews.
This season’s couples will head to “edamame pods” for their one-on-ones. | Netflix
Living together: grocery runs, labels, and lifestyle clashes
Living together poses yet another set of conflicts. When it comes to grocery shopping, the couples constantly quibble over which store is best for vegan food. The most pragmatic duos settle on a hybrid approach: Trader Joe’s for snacks and Sprouts for plant-based meats and cheeses. But can these new relationships survive when someone inevitably accidentally buys an item with sneaky milk protein in it?
At home, more drama arises. “He keeps saying he’s ‘whole foods, plant-based’ but my stash of Takis is dwindling at an alarming rate,” Rico says. “We need to define labels in this relationship.”
Even household items aren’t immune. One couple clashes over whether to replace a beloved non-vegan couch, while another debates the ethics of adopting a second rescue dog before they’ve even decided who’s doing the dishes.
With decision day on the horizon, co-hosts Phoenix and Mara help the contestants plan their vegan weddings, which are catered by LA’s Monty’s Good Burger—a favorite of the celebrity vegan couple. Each wedding is fully customized, from cruelty-free attire to elaborate plant-based menus featuring everything from gourmet sliders to dairy-free milkshake towers.
“It’s kind of a big deal to meet even one vegan out in the wild, but to find someone who I want to marry? That’s worth a big celebration,” Jayla says.
Decision day: will love prove vegan?
Wedding planning proves to be its own emotional gauntlet. One bride-to-be insists on a raw, grain-free menu while her partner worries guests will “revolt.” Another couple argues over whether to include an educational component about animal rights in their ceremony. “I want it to be romantic, not a TED Talk,” says the groom.
On their big day, the remaining four couples must either say “I do” to vegan love or walk away for good. Tears are shed, vows are spoken, and at least one contestant dramatically pauses before answering.
And while you’ll have to watch the show to find out if love is vegan, one thing that will never change is that vegan is love.
Editors’ Note: Happy April Fool’s!
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Anna Starostinetskaya is always keeping an eye on all things vegan in her home city of San Francisco, CA and everywhere else.
