Concetta Caristo Crowned Winner Of ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’ 2026

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I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Australia has its 2026 Queen of the Jungle: comedian, triple j breakfast host and much-loved I’m a Celeb contestant Concetta Caristo has taken home the title — and $100,000 for Full Stop Australia, a cause she entered the jungle to champion.

Before the Grand Finale, Caristo spoke exclusively to ELLE Australia about the experience. “It has taught me that I am much stronger than I was giving myself credit for,” she said. “Coming off a breakup and living outside with a bunch of strangers (who are all famous!!) plus facing genuine fears and my own limiting thoughts, I was able to take it all in my stride and even thrive. I am now much better at being kind to myself and believing in myself, so I will cherish those lessons.”

Concetta’s charity is Full Stop Australia, one of the country’s leading sexual, domestic and family violence services. “I chose them because of my history with violence and knowing how important services like these are to helping people,” she said before entering.

Concetta, who sobbed while accepting her win, shared with ELLE Australia that one of her highlights had nothing to do with specific challenges or other guests. “I think it was having my mum surprise me in the jungle,” she said of the sweet moment during the finale. “It was completely surreal having her join me in South Africa and getting the chance to show her what I had experienced for the past month. The most special part was being together and talking about what had happened to us as a family representing my charity. It will forever be one of the most special moments of my life.”

But it was the trials that made audiences fall in love with her. In the Viper Room — the season’s most feared challenge — she endured 43 minutes surrounded by snakes alongside MAFS star Cyrell Paule, breaking the challenge’s world record. “I honestly was out of my body,” Cyrell said afterwards. “How on earth did I do that?” At a jungle barefoot bowls tucker trial, Concetta bowled off the green and was handed a shot of bin juice followed by a plate of bugs — and she got them down with grim determination.

Concetta’s bond with fellow finalist and BookTok heart-throb Luke Bateman also charmed viewers (with campmate Nath Valvo calling the connection early).

Both have been clear that it’s a friendship — a genuine one, forged in shared silliness and meaningful chats in equal measure. “I think encouraging each other, meaningful conversations, as well as being silly together, were the ways we supported each other,” Concetta said. “And my jungle friendships have continued on the outside, which makes me so happy.” For his part Luke shared with ELLE: “We supported each other just by being present, keeping joy and fun alive in one another. And our friendship has most definitely continued on the outside. Concetta is one of those people who just makes you smile, no matter what — and I am blessed that our paths crossed.”

The season itself was unlike any previous run of the show. For the first time, the entire series was pre-recorded — a decision driven, according to TV Blackbox, by significant budget pressures at Channel 10. The format shift meant eliminations were no longer decided by the public: instead, celebrities voted each other into tucker trials, with trial losers sent to the Elephant’s Graveyard to compete in elimination challenges. The change sparked immediate backlash — an 80 per cent majority in a Yahoo Lifestyle reader poll preferred the old format — but Australia still got the final say on the winner, with three alternate finale endings pre-filmed and the public vote determining which aired on the night.

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