Strictly Come Dancing 2026 - Everything you need to know about the series

Strictly Come Dancing is back for 2026, lighting up Saturday and Sunday nights this autumn on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Made by BBC Studios Entertainment, Strictly Come Dancing remains as the biggest Entertainment title for viewer hours on the BBC plus the latest series attracted an average audience of 7.8m viewers (main show average on 28-Day BARB 4-Screens) with 8.6m tuning in to the Grand Final to see Karen Carney and her professional partner Carlos Gu lift the Glitterball Trophy.

Here's everything you need to know...

When is Strictly Come Dancing back on TV and BBC iPlayer?

Strictly Come Dancing returns to iPlayer and BBC One from 6.30pm on Saturday 24 October.

Emma, Josh and Jojo welcome you to another round of dancing as our couples aim to dazzle you with their latest routines. The judges dish out the scores and create their leaderboard before the vote opens and you get to have your say.

Which couple will have their best night yet? Who will be in danger of the dance-off?

• Add Strictly Come Dancing to your Watchlist on BBC iPlayer now
• Watch Strictly Come Dancing with British Sign Language on BBC iPlayer

Who are the new Strictly Come Dancing presenters?

The new presenting line-up for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 features three hosts - for the first time ever.

Presenter Emma Willis, professional dancer Johannes Radebe and comedian Josh Widdicombe preside over the Strictly ballroom in spectacular style this autumn.

• Read more: Strictly Come Dancing 2026 presenting trio Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe unveiled

Who are the Strictly Come Dancing 2026 celebrities?

Meet Strictly Come Dancing's Class of 2026...

• Actress Lacey Turner
• TV personality, broadcaster and author Dani Dyer
• Australian singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem
• World-renowned conceptual hair stylist Chris Appleton
• Social media star and Love Island champion Cach Mercer
• Presenter Will Best
• Great Britain's most successful Paralympian of all time, Dame Sarah Storey
• Actress Jaime Winstone
• Actress Bethany Antonia
• Football legend Shaun Wright-Phillips
• Dog trainer Graeme Hall
• Actor Lawrence Robb
• Olympic medallist Tabby Stoecker
• YouTuber John Nellis
• Actress and Gavin & Stacey icon Melanie Walters

Strictly Come Dancing Week 5 Song and Dance List 

The list is confirmed across Strictly: It Takes Two, weeknights from 6.30pm on iPlayer and BBC Two.

• Bethany & Nancy - 
• Dani & Nikita -
• Delta & Kai -
• Jaime & Carlos - 
• Lacey & Vito -
• Tabby & Mark - 
• Cach & Maddie -
• Graeme & Lauren - 
• John & Katya -
• Lawrence & Jowita -
• Shaun & Alexis -
• Will & Dianne - 

Who topped the Strictly 2026 Leaderboard this week?

SPOILERS! Find out who was sitting at the top of the leaderboard after Icons Week…

• Watch Strictly Come Dancing on BBC iPlayer

How to vote for your favourite Strictly couples

When the vote is open, shimmy over to the Strictly homepage.

Head to the Strictly Come Dancing website for all the details of how to vote for your favourite Strictly couples.

Who left Strictly Come Dancing this week?

SPOILER ALERT! Click below to reveal the results of the dance off.

Strictly 2026 Professional Dancers

This year a dynamic and world class roster of returning Professional Dancers are joined by fresh top talent from the international dance world, bringing an exciting mix of experience and showmanship to the Strictly ballroom.

Returning to the dance floor later this year are: Dianne Buswell, Julian Caillon, Amy Dowden, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Jowita Przystał, Aljaž Škorjanec, Alexis Warr, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley and Vito Coppola.

In addition to the returning Pros, there will be brand new professional dancers joining the line-up in 2026.

Meet the new Strictly 2026 pro dancers

Five new Professional Dancers are joining the hit series when it returns to light up Saturday and Sunday nights on the BBC this September.

Hailing from the UK, Canada, Italy, South Africa and Ukraine, Strictly’s new fab five have all danced their way to international acclaim and are some of the most exciting talents in dance today.

Get to know Aleksandra, Cristian, Lethabo, Maddie and Mark: Strictly Come Dancing announces five new Pro Dancers

Strictly 2026 Theme Weeks and Instant Dance Challenge

The much-loved themed weeks - including Movies, Icons, Halloween and Musicals - are back! Here are some dates for your diary.

Movies Week - 3 October

Icons Week - 17 October

Halloween Week - 31 October

Musicals Week - 5 December

As well as all this, one of the most iconic milestones of the series, the annual visit to the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom, will once again be a highlight for everyone to look forward to. That's on 21 November.

The Instant Dance challenge will also be back, following its high-energy debut in 2025.

Strictly 2026 Judges

Back once again for the new series will be the esteemed judging panel of Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Head Judge Shirley Ballas who will be casting a watchful eye over the performances each week, giving their expert view on the dances and delivering their all-important scores.

Strictly - It Takes Two

Strictly - It Takes Two returns this September to BBC Two and BBC iPlayer with a new look and a new host: comedian, presenter, and former Strictly contestant Ellie Taylor!

Ellie's mission is to bring you more access, more insight and more Strictly magic than ever before. With new episodes premiering every weeknight from the home of Strictly, Elstree Studios, It Takes Two will offer a peek behind the curtain at everything that goes into making the UK's favourite dance show - with more to see than ever before.

• Read more: Strictly It Takes Two's Ellie Taylor on her new role, the new series and that Casualty tango - "It’s a dream come true"

Strictly: Lights Up

The biggest range of Strictly Come Dancing programming on BBC iPlayer ever is led by new show Strictly: Lights Up, and further fab new exclusives and features for this year's hotly-anticipated series.

Hosted by comedian Abi Clarke and presenter and Strictly alum Tyler West, Strictly: Lights Up will be available exclusively on BBC iPlayer every Sunday night immediately after the results show has finished. Abi and Tyler will take viewers straight on to the Strictly dance floor for immediate reactions from the night's eliminated couple, their dance off opponents - plus the judges, hosts, other Strictly stars and studio guests.

BBC iPlayer will also launch a new dedicated Strictly hub, featuring all things Strictly including a range of new exclusives.

Alongside Strictly: Lights Up there'll be new weekly training room episodes, where Abi visits different Strictly couples in rehearsals; plus a new weekly highlights show to round-up the week of Strictly Come Dancing. Every single dance of the series will also be available to watch individually whenever you want and, for the first time ever, each episode of Strictly Come Dancing will have the option to scroll through in chapters - letting viewers easily jump between their favourite couples and revisit unmissable Strictly moments.