The next chapter of Today is about to become much clearer.

With Sarah Abo’s departure from Nine now confirmed, the network is preparing to unveil its new breakfast television line-up for 2027 — marking one of the biggest on-air changes the program has faced in years.

Sarah’s exit is no longer the question. The focus has now shifted to who will walk onto the Today set when the new television year begins.

Nine is expected to reveal its plans around its 2027 Upfronts, with the broadcaster already promoting the event as the moment it will unveil “the next chapter” of its media and programming slate.

A New Era After a Year of Change

Today entered 2026 with Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo at the centre of its breakfast line-up.

But that familiar partnership has now come to an end.

Stefanovic left Nine in June, with Tom Steinfort stepping into the presenting rotation during the subsequent reshuffle. Sarah later went on maternity leave before confirming that she would not return to Today and would instead pursue other opportunities.

The program has also faced another significant change, with long-serving weather presenter Tim Davies announcing that he will leave Today after more than seven years, with his final forecast scheduled for September 18. Nine has said an announcement on his replacement will be made soon.

That means the network is not simply replacing one familiar face.

It is rebuilding much of the Today team at the same time.

The Names Being Watched

Among the presenters linked to the next version of Today, Tom Steinfort and Sylvia Jeffreys have attracted particular attention.

Steinfort has already spent considerable time behind the Today desk during the network’s transition and has experience across Nine’s news and current-affairs operations.

Jeffreys is another familiar face within Nine. She has been part of Today Extra and has also taken turns presenting the breakfast program during the reshuffle.

Recent reporting has suggested that both could have roles in the network’s plans for 2027, although Nine had not publicly confirmed the permanent hosting combination at the time of publication.

Samantha Armytage has also been repeatedly linked with the breakfast program after several fill-in appearances during Sarah’s absence. However, her latest stint alongside Steinfort ended in early September, while Nine continues to finalise its longer-term arrangements.

For now, the speculation remains just that.

The official announcement will matter far more than the names circulating ahead of it.

Sarah’s Goodbye Came at a Significant Moment

Sarah’s departure announcement arrived just as Nine prepared to present its plans for 2027.

After almost four years on Today, she thanked viewers for allowing her into their homes each morning and reflected on the importance of the audience to the program.

“Words can’t express how grateful I am to our viewers for letting me into your homes to be part of your morning routine. Without you, there is no Today show.”

She also described becoming a mother as the beginning of a new chapter, calling the experience her “greatest achievement”.

Nine’s Executive Director of News and Current Affairs, Fiona Dear, praised Sarah for bringing “warmth, energy and first-class journalism” to the breakfast program and thanked her for what she had contributed to Today.

Her farewell therefore closes one chapter — but it also clears the way for Nine to introduce an entirely different one.

What Today Could Look Like in 2027

The coming announcement is significant because this is no longer simply about finding a replacement for Sarah.

Nine now has the opportunity to establish a completely new rhythm for its breakfast program.

The network has been rotating presenters throughout 2026, giving audiences glimpses of different combinations while the permanent structure remained unsettled. Mediaweek reported earlier this month that Nine had yet to publicly confirm its long-term breakfast line-up.

That makes the upcoming announcement particularly interesting.

After years in which familiar faces defined the Today desk, viewers could soon be waking up to a noticeably different combination of presenters, personalities and dynamics.

And that may ultimately be the bigger story behind Sarah Abo’s departure.

The Announcement Everyone Is Waiting For

Sarah has already said goodbye.

Karl has already moved on.

Tim Davies is preparing for his final forecast.

Now Nine is preparing to tell viewers what comes next.

For a breakfast program built around familiarity and routine, changing so many recognisable faces at once represents a significant reset.

The names currently being discussed may give an indication of where Nine is heading, but the real picture will only emerge when the network officially unveils its 2027 Today line-up.

After such a dramatically changing year, the next chapter may look very different from the Today Australians knew at the beginning of 2026.