News · 20 September 2026
Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Pairings Revealed as New Era Begins
The Strictly Come Dancing 2026 pairings are now official after the BBC launched the new series on Saturday night with 15 celebrities, a new presenting team and a completely different way of revealing who will dance with whom. Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe made their debut as the ...
The Strictly Come Dancing 2026 pairings are now official after the BBC launched the new series on Saturday night with 15 celebrities, a new presenting team and a completely different way of revealing who will dance with whom.
Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe made their debut as the programme’s new presenting trio, taking over after the departure of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. The launch show also introduced five new professional dancers and used a “speed dancing” format to reveal this year’s partnerships on the dance floor rather than through the usual individual backstage introductions.
All 15 Strictly Come Dancing 2026 pairings
The full line-up is:
- Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu
- Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby
- Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden
- Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin
- Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington
- Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley
- Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu
- John Nellis and Katya Jones
- Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola
- Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał
- Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec
- Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon
- Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr
- Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita
- Will Best and Dianne Buswell
The pairings were revealed across three dance routines. Celebrities moved between professionals before each final partnership was announced, bringing part of the show’s behind-the-scenes chemistry process into the launch programme itself.
The new reveal format also changed the pace of the launch programme. In previous years, celebrities were usually introduced to their partners through separate filmed moments. This time, contestants moved through a sequence of professionals in groups before the final matches were revealed. The BBC had teased the idea ahead of transmission, describing it as a version of the chemistry process normally kept behind the scenes.
Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu form this year’s same-sex partnership, continuing Strictly’s use of same-sex pairings alongside opposite-sex couples. Nancy returns with a celebrity partner after not having one in the 2025 series.
A major changing of the guard
The partnerships were not the only significant change.
For the first time, Strictly is being fronted by three presenters. Willis brings extensive live entertainment experience, Widdicombe joins after previously competing in a Strictly Christmas special, while Radebe moves from the professional dance line-up into a presenting role.
Five new professionals have also joined the ballroom this year, with several immediately receiving celebrity partners.
The judging panel remains familiar. Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke are all back for the 2026 series.
Last year’s champions return
The launch also welcomed back reigning champions Karen Carney and Carlos Gu.
The pair returned to perform their Jive, bringing the previous series back into the ballroom before the focus shifted fully towards the new contestants.
This year’s celebrity cast covers television, music, sport, social media and entertainment. EastEnders star Lacey Turner, Australian singer Delta Goodrem, Paralympic champion Dame Sarah Storey, former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and presenter Will Best are among those now beginning rehearsals with their professional partners.
What happens next?
The launch show did not include competitive scoring or a public vote. That begins once the couples perform their first full routines in the live competition.
The first live show is scheduled for Saturday 26 September on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
That means the Strictly Come Dancing 2026 pairings now have their first full week of training before audiences see what the new partnerships can actually do.
The series will retain familiar themed weeks including Movies, Halloween, Blackpool and Musicals, while the BBC has also introduced a new short-form spin-off, Strictly Pro Dance Off, featuring the professional dancers in tutorial-based dance battles.
For now, though, the biggest question of launch weekend has been answered. Fifteen celebrities have their partners, a new presenting team is in place, and Strictly’s 2026 competition is officially under way.