What long-lost Horton will appear in 2026 on Days of Our Lives?

The Horton House is a home for everyone

The Horton home on Days of Our Lives has turned into a hotel for family members returning to Salem and has become a haven for misfits. Tom and Alice Horton (MacDonald Carey and Francis Reid) raised their four children in the house, but now it has become the abode for blended families, in-laws, and strays.

Chad Dimera (Billy Flynn) has been living there with his children since his wife, Abigail (Kate Mansi), died. A Dimera living in the Horton house sounds unlikely, but everyone made it work. Chad has no intention of returning to the Dimera mansion.

Since Doug Williams (Bill Hayes) died, Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes) has enjoyed the company of various kin in her grandparents' house, like Bo and Hope Brady (Peter Reckell and Kristian Alphonso), who have made brief visits.

Jack and Jennifer Devereax (Melissa Reeves and Matthew Ashford) have been semi-regulars at the family home since last November. Their son, JJ Devereax (Casey Moss), lives at Horton House, but he is not in many DOOL episodes.

Doug the misfit

Peyton Myer joined the cast of Days of Our Lives in December 2024 and remained until July 2025. He was the grandson of Doug Williams (Bill Hayes), and his eight months in Salem were filled with turmoil. He was an honorary Horton but made bad choices that shocked everyone.

Julie welcomed her late husband's grandson into the family home, and he repaid her kindness by stealing a family heirloom necklace. He sold it and used the money to pay off some of his debts. He intended to recoup the funds and buy the necklace back.

Doug III fell for Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzimus), who paid off loan sharks for him. There was friction with Tate Black (Leo Howard), who was in love with Holly.

Doug later slept with Arianna Horton (Marissa Reyes), who was friends with Holly. Both young women were kidnapped and held for ransom until Doug paid 100% of the money he owed.

Eventually, the girls were rescued, and Doug made sure the Horton family necklace was returned to Julie. It was no surprise to fans when he finally left town. 

Jeremy returns to Salem

Three months later, Jeremy Horton (Michael Rark), the son of Mike Horton (Roark Critchlow) and Robin Jacobs ( Derya Ruggles), returned to Salem and took up residence in the family home.

Instead of becoming a doctor like his mother, father, and grandpa Tom, Jeremy chose a life of crime. He sold stolen clothing and was involved in human trafficking. Upon his return to Salem, Jeremy was a school teacher and was trying to live up to the family name.

He was framed for stalking Stephanie Johnson ( Abigail Klein) and questioned by the police. Julie wants Jeremy's name to be cleared, but Roark is scheduled to leave Salem on April 29. Hopefully, the real stalker will be revealed by then.

Some fans believed that Liam Selejko (Hank Northrop) was the one terrorizing Stephanie and threatening Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson). Now, there are rumors that Owen Kent (Wes Ramsey) is returning to Salem. In the past, he was brutal to Stephanie and might be harassing her now.

Will more Horton's appear?

Days execs did not explain why Doug and Jeremy's time in Salem was so brief. Could this become a pattern and another long-lost Horton appear this fall for a six or eight-month stint?

Perhaps Lucas Horton (Brian Datillo), Melissa Horton (Lisa Trusel), or Ali Horton (Lindsay Arnold) might return to Salem and stay at the family home. Maybe there is a long-lost family member nobody remembers who could show their face.

Doug and Jeremy returned for short story arcs for a reason, but the writers never explained why. If the pattern holds, viewers could see another Horton cousin show up by fall. Stay tuned to Days of Our Lives to learn what happens next for Salem's most prominent family.