Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Everything You Need to Know

There is something about Strictly Come Dancing that makes Saturday nights feel a little more exciting.The music starts, the lights come up, the celebrities walk onto the dance floor, and suddenly everyone has an opinion about who deserves a ten. But the 2026 series is going to feel different from previous years.

After the departures of longtime presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, Strictly is entering a new era. There are also major changes among the professional dancers, while a brand-new presenting trio is preparing to take over the ballroom.

The good news for fans is that the familiar ingredients are still there: celebrities, professional dancers, judges, elaborate costumes, big performances and plenty of Glitterball ambition.So, when does Strictly Come Dancing 2026 start? Who are the new hosts? Which professional dancers are returning? What changes can viewers expect?Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming series Entertainment.

When Does Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Start?

The Strictly Come Dancing 2026 launch show will air on Saturday, September 19 at 7:25pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

The main series will then continue through the autumn, with episodes running into the festive period.

The launch show is especially important this year because it will introduce viewers to the new presenting team and reveal the celebrity-professional partnerships in a different way.

Rather than simply announcing each pairing one after another, the celebrities and professionals will discover their partners in front of the studio audience through three specially choreographed group dances.That gives the launch show a little more suspense than usual.

Who Are the Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Hosts?

One of the biggest changes this year is the presenting team.Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe will form the new trio of hosts.Johannes is particularly interesting because viewers already know him as one of Strictly’s professional dancers. He has been part of the show since 2018 and has become one of its most recognizable personalities.

Now he’ll have a new role alongside Willis and Widdicombe.The trio have already appeared together in promotional material for the new series, giving fans their first look at how the new hosting setup will work.It is a major change after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman spent years becoming closely associated with the show.

What Happened to Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman?

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman both decided to leave Strictly after the 2025 series.

The pair had hosted the show together for years and became an important part of its identity.

Their departure naturally created plenty of speculation about who would replace them. Names including Emma Willis, Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark and others were linked to the roles during the year.

Eventually, the BBC confirmed the new presenting trio for the 2026 launch.

For longtime viewers, seeing Strictly without Tess and Claudia will probably take some getting used to.

At the same time, the arrival of three new hosts gives the show an opportunity to develop a slightly different personality.

Who Are the Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Judges?

The judging panel is staying much more familiar.

The confirmed judges for 2026 are:

• Shirley Ballas
• Craig Revel Horwood
• Motsi Mabuse
• Anton Du Beke

So while the presenting team has changed, viewers can still expect the familiar combination of technical comments, choreography criticism, encouragement and the occasional brutally honest score.

The four judges were confirmed to return as part of the 2026 season plans.

And, of course, the real question will be whether Craig has another memorable reaction waiting for the new series.

Which Professional Dancers Are Returning?

There has been a significant shake-up among the professional dancers this year.

The confirmed returning professionals include:

• Dianne Buswell
• Amy Dowden
• Katya Jones
• Neil Jones
• Nikita Kuzmin
• Aljaž Škorjanec
• Jowita Przystał
• Johannes Radebe
• Nancy Xu
• Kai Widdrington
• Carlos Gu
• Lauren Oakley
• Vito Coppola
• Alexis Warr
• Julian Caillon

Which Professional Dancers Have Left Strictly?

Several familiar faces will not be returning this year.

The departures include:

• Karen Hauer
• Gorka Márquez
• Nadiya Bychkova
• Luba Mushtuk
• Michelle Tsiakkas

Karen Hauer’s departure was particularly significant. She had been part of Strictly for 14 years and was the show’s longest-serving female professional dancer.

Gorka Márquez also confirmed his departure after a decade with the programme.For viewers who have followed Strictly for years, seeing the ballroom without some of these familiar professionals will be one of the most noticeable changes.

What Can Fans Expect From the 2026 Launch Show?

The 2026 launch is not simply introducing the new cast.It is also changing how the celebrity-professional pairings are revealed.The celebrities and professional dancers will discover who they have been paired with in front of the studio audience.But instead of straightforward announcements, the pairings will be revealed through three specially choreographed group dance routines.

The BBC has teased a launch show with more dancing than usual, along with behind-the-scenes footage showing the celebrities beginning their rehearsals.That could make the first episode feel more like a proper performance night than a traditional introduction.

What Dance-Themed Weeks Are Coming in 2026?

Strictly is also bringing back some of its favorite themed weeks.

Confirmed themes include:

• Movies
• Icons
• Halloween
• Musicals

These themed episodes are often among the most memorable parts of a Strictly series because they allow the dancers to move away from standard ballroom performances and create something much more theatrical.

Costumes, storytelling, music and choreography all become part of the performance.And for some celebrities, a themed week can be the moment when they finally find their confidence.

What Is the Instant Dance Challenge?

Another feature returning in 2026 is the Instant Dance challenge.

The format debuted in the previous series and is coming back for another round.The basic idea adds an element of unpredictability because contestants have to respond quickly to the challenge rather than relying entirely on weeks of preparation.

For professional dancers, that can be a chance to show their ability to adapt.For celebrities, it could be one of the most stressful moments of the competition.And for viewers, it should make for some unpredictable television.

Will the 2026 Series Be Different?

Yes, and that’s probably the most interesting thing about this year’s show.Strictly has changed its hosts, refreshed its professional lineup and altered parts of the launch format.But it hasn’t abandoned what makes the programme recognizable.

The judges are returning. The ballroom remains. Professional dancers are still at the center of the competition. The themed weeks are back, and the series will still run through the autumn toward Christmas.In other words, this is more of a refresh than a complete reinvention.

Why the New Hosts Are Such a Big Deal

Replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman was never going to be a small change.They had very different presenting styles, but together they created a rhythm that became part of Strictly’s identity.The new trio brings something different.Emma Willis has extensive experience presenting major entertainment programmes. Josh Widdicombe brings a strong comedy background, while Johannes Radebe already understands the Strictly ballroom from the inside.

That combination could give the show a fresh energy.Johannes’ involvement is particularly intriguing because he’ll be balancing his connection to the professional dancers with his new role in front of the cameras.

What Makes Strictly Come Dancing So Popular?

Part of Strictly’s appeal is that you don’t have to be a dance expert to enjoy it.You can watch because you love the music.You can watch for the costumes.You can support a particular celebrity.You can follow the professional dancers.Or you can simply enjoy watching someone who has never danced before slowly become more confident.

The competition also has an emotional side.A celebrity might start the series struggling with basic steps and, several weeks later, deliver a performance that completely changes how the judges and audience see them.That’s one of the reasons the show has remained such a strong part of British television.

What to Look Forward to	Details
A Completely New Hosting Team	Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe bring a fresh presenting combination to the show.
New Professional Lineup	Several popular professionals have left, while new dancers are joining, creating the possibility of unexpected celebrity-professional pairings.
More Dancing in the Launch Show	The new launch format introduces more performances and a different way of revealing the celebrity-professional partnerships.
Familiar Judges	Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke are returning, providing continuity for longtime fans.
Themed Weeks	Movies, Icons, Halloween and Musicals will bring bigger performances, creative costumes and themed choreography.
Instant Dance	The returning Instant Dance challenge adds an unpredictable element and tests how quickly contestants can adapt.

When Will the Celebrity Pairings Be Revealed?

The celebrity-professional partnerships will be revealed during the Strictly Come Dancing 2026 launch show on September 19.

This year, however, viewers won’t simply get a series of straightforward announcements.

The pairings will be revealed through specially choreographed group routines in front of the studio audience.

That means fans will have to wait until the launch show to see which professionals are paired with which celebrities.

And once the pairings are revealed, the real competition can begin.

What About the Strictly Come Dancing Final?

The exact 2026 final date should depend on the progress of the series, but the show is expected to run through the autumn and into the Christmas period.

Is Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Worth Watching?

If you’re already a Strictly fan, the answer is fairly obvious.

This season has enough changes to make it feel fresh without throwing away everything people love about the show.

For new viewers, the 2026 launch could also be a good place to start because you’re getting a new hosting team, a refreshed professional lineup and a new group of celebrity contestants.

There will still be familiar judges, familiar dance styles and the same competitive atmosphere.

But nobody quite knows what the new combination will look like until the live performances begin.