The 30-minute sequence will peak into the future of Max as star Jake Wood returns to Walford.

In an EastEnders episode aired recently, a character has made a reference to the upcoming story in a line that fans could’ve easily missed.

Speaking with her fiancé Howie, Kim Fox, played by Tameka Empson, joked she wouldn’t be seen out and about until January 2027 following her social media backlash.

“Howie, this face ain’t going back out there until January 2027, yeah?” she said.

While it may just be a coincidence, January 2027 is exactly when the Max flash forward story is set to take place.

Max won’t be faring too well in the future scenes as a first-look image for the storyline sees him in a suit with a white flower, which is spattered with blood.

Whatever Max is up to will have consequences for the other Brannings too, including Max’s daughter Lauren and son Oscar.

In a statement, EastEnders executive producer Ben Wadey said: “For the first time in the show’s history, we’re going to be offering our viewers an entire flash forward episode set on New Year’s Day 2027.

“2026 is going to be full of drama in Walford, especially for the Brannings, and the episode is sure to raise plenty of questions on how Max has got himself, and his family, into such predicaments, but all is not what it seems, so stay tuned for 2026 to find out how and why…”