The 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing has officially launched, with the full celebrity line-up and their professional partners now confirmed. The new season began on Saturday, September 19, with a pre-recorded launch show that revealed the pairings, followed by the first live show on September 26. This year’s competitors are aiming to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winners, Lioness Karen Carney and professional partner Carlos Gu.
Major changes for the 2026 series
The new series arrives amid significant changes to the BBC’s flagship dancing show. Long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have departed, replaced by a trio of new presenters: broadcaster Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe, and professional dancer Johannes Radebe. The pro dancer line-up has also seen sweeping changes, with fan favourites Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas, and Gorka Márquez leaving, while Neil Jones and Nancy Xu are benched without partners. Nancy Xu, however, is still set to appear in a same-sex pairing with actress Bethany Antonia, the first such pairing in three years.
The full celebrity line-up and partners
Here is the complete list of celebrities and their professional partners for Strictly Come Dancing 2026:
- Melanie Walters (Gavin and Stacey actress) – partnered with Aljaz Skorjanec
- John Nellis (YouTuber with 15 million subscribers) – partnered with Katya Jones
- Tabby Stoecker (Olympic gold medallist in skeleton) – partnered with Mark Karmalita (first year as a pro)
- Lawrence Robb (Emmerdale actor) – partnered with Jowita Przystal
- Graeme Hall (The Dogfather, presenter of Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly) – partnered with Lauren Oakley
- Shaun Wright-Phillips (former England footballer) – partnered with Alexis Warr
- Bethany Antonia (House of the Dragon actress) – partnered with Nancy Xu (same-sex couple)
- Jaime Winstone (actress, daughter of Ray Winstone) – partnered with Carlos Gu
- Dame Sarah Storey (Great Britain’s most successful Paralympian) – partnered with Julian Caillon
- Will Best (Big Brother presenter) – partnered with Dianne Buswell
- Cach Mercer (Love Island winner and influencer) – partnered with Maddie Ingoldsby (new pro)
- Chris Appleton (celebrity hairstylist) – partnered with Amy Dowden
- Delta Goodrem (Australian singer-songwriter) – partnered with Kai Widdrington
- Dani Dyer (reality TV star, returning after injury) – partnered with Nikita Kuzmin
- Lacey Turner (EastEnders actress) – partnered with Vito Coppola
Key details and quotes from the celebrities
Melanie Walters, best known for playing Gwen West in Gavin and Stacey, said: “Performing in Pantomime for the last 15 years, my Strictly ‘fix’ has always been watching in a dressing room rather than my front room. This year I am completely thrilled and happy to swap my fairy wand for sequinned dance shoes. I just hope I don’t follow Cinderella and leave one on the Ballroom stairs.”
John Nellis, a sports YouTuber with 15 million subscribers, said: “I’m still in disbelief that I’ve been selected for Strictly and, if I’m honest, I’m a little nervous as I’ve never danced before! It’s such an incredible opportunity, and I’m going to throw myself into every moment.”
Tabby Stoecker, who won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, said: “I am over the moon to be joining the cast of Strictly 2026. I’ve had the wildest year of my life so far, so to be rounding it off with a childhood dream of dancing in the Strictly ballroom is surreal.”
Dame Sarah Storey, who retired from competitive sport earlier this month, said: “Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting. I have always loved watching Strictly, and my daughter, Louisa, is a very talented dancer, so to be able to learn from the best and hopefully understand even more about her world is incredibly motivating!”
Dani Dyer, who withdrew from last year’s series due to an ankle fracture, said: “I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September! I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one!”
Schedule and broadcast details
The live shows begin on September 26, with no elimination in the first live show. The first elimination will take place on October 4 following a public vote. The 2026 final is scheduled for December 19 on BBC One. The launch show is available on BBC iPlayer, and the series continues every Saturday night with a results show on Sunday.
