BBC One and BBC iPlayer will broadcast the launch show for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 at 7.25pm on Saturday 19 September. The series will air every weekend until Christmas. This iteration introduces a new hosting team consisting of Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe, and Josh Widdicombe. A one minute trailer has been released showing the new hosts, the judges, professional dancers, and the 2026 celebrity cast on a studio backlot.
The launch show introduces a revised pairing process for the celebrity contestants and professional partners. The identities of the couples will be revealed to the studio audience through three choreographed group dance routines. This sequence will open the broadcast. The episode also includes behind the scenes footage of celebrity rehearsals and a performance by previous champion Karen Carney, who will perform a jive with Carlos Gu.
The series is a BBC Studios Entertainment production. Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC, commissioned the series. The production team includes Executive Producer Sarah James and Series Editors Nicola Fitzgerald and Jack Gledhill. Jo Wallace serves as the Commissioning Editor for the BBC.
The production utilizes a studio backlot for its opening routine and incorporates a revised pairing format for the first time in the program's history. The broadcast schedule remains fixed for Saturday nights throughout the autumn quarter. The series is available for viewing on both linear television and the corporate streaming platform. The launch event takes place on 19 September.