Sarah Abo has confirmed she is leaving Nine and Today permanently, bringing an almost four-year chapter on the breakfast program to an end.

The 39-year-old journalist, who is currently on maternity leave after welcoming her first child, son Sonny, shared her decision in a heartfelt statement released by Nine.

While Sarah’s departure has now been confirmed, attention has quickly turned to what comes next — and, most importantly, who could step into her place on the Today desk.

“Becoming a mum has heralded a new chapter”

Sarah reflected on her years at Nine, which began with 60 Minutes before she moved into breakfast television in 2023.

“Together with 60 Minutes, I’ve spent my time at Nine chasing stories, travelling and reporting from all over the world, interviewing some incredible and inspiring people from all walks of life,” she said.

She also described motherhood as the beginning of a new chapter.

“Becoming a mum has heralded a new chapter and sharing that with our audience has been truly special,” Sarah said.

“As many of you know, this has been a significant journey for my family and will continue to be my greatest achievement.”

Sarah also thanked Today viewers, saying: “Without you, there is no Today show.”

The next question: who replaces Sarah?

With Sarah’s departure confirmed, the focus has shifted to the vacant co-host position.

Several names have already been linked to the role, although Nine has not yet confirmed its permanent 2027 line-up.

Among those previously reported as contenders are Today Extra co-host Sylvia Jeffreys and Weekend Today host Alison Piotrowski. Earlier reports suggested both were being considered while Sarah was away on maternity leave.

Samantha Armytage has also been repeatedly linked to the position.

The former Sunrise presenter stepped in on Today during the summer period and has previously said she does not want to return to breakfast television on a full-time basis. However, reports have suggested she could be open to another temporary role.

For now, none of those possibilities has been confirmed by Nine.

Samantha Armytage’s name continues to surface

Samantha’s connection to the speculation is not entirely new.

Earlier this year, reports claimed she was interested in covering Sarah’s maternity leave, particularly after she had already appeared on Today during the summer break.

At the time, an industry source told New Idea that Samantha was interested in a role that would give her a regular television presence without necessarily committing her to breakfast television indefinitely.

Samantha herself has previously joked about preferring later starts, saying she was happy to remain in prime time with “the alarms going off at reasonable hours like 6 am”.

That leaves her position somewhat unclear — and keeps her name firmly in the conversation surrounding Nine’s next Today line-up.

Sylvia Jeffreys makes an intriguing appearance

Sylvia Jeffreys is another name with an obvious connection to the role.

She already co-hosts Today Extra and has previously been identified in reports as one of the possible candidates to step up to the main Today desk.

Interestingly, just hours before Sarah’s departure was announced, Sylvia shared a photograph of herself alongside Seven’s Sunrise host Matt Shirvington.

The image was taken in Canberra at an event marking 70 years of free-to-air television.

Sylvia’s caption focused on the broader Australian television industry, describing her pride in standing alongside colleagues from Seven, Nine and Ten.

There was no indication in the post that it was connected to the Today role — but its timing is likely to attract attention as Nine prepares to reveal its next line-up.

Karl Stefanovic’s departure changed the picture

Sarah’s exit is also significant because it follows another major change at Today.

Karl Stefanovic left Nine in June, bringing an end to his more than two decades with the network and his long association with Today.

Nine confirmed at the time that it had agreed with Karl that he would leave Today at the end of 2026, but the two sides subsequently decided he would leave the network immediately. The decision followed controversy surrounding an interview with British far-right figure Tommy Robinson on Karl’s independent podcast.

Sarah was among the Today presenters who addressed Karl’s departure on air, describing him as a colleague and friend and acknowledging the scale of the change for viewers.

Now, only months later, Sarah is also leaving.

A very different Today in 2027

The departures of Karl and Sarah represent a major change to a program that has featured the pair prominently in recent years.

Weather presenter Tim Davies is also preparing to leave after seven years with Today, with his final appearance scheduled for September 18.

Nine has confirmed that plans for the Today line-up in 2027 will be announced soon.

That means the network is now facing several key decisions at once — from the new hosts at the main desk to the wider shape of the morning program.

For Sarah, however, the focus is already shifting elsewhere.

After years of early mornings, international reporting and live television, motherhood has brought her to a point she describes as a new chapter.

And as Today prepares to look very different in 2027, Sarah’s next move may be just as interesting as the person Nine chooses to take her place.