BBC One and BBC iPlayer will return Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday 19 September at 7.25pm. The 2026 series introduces a new presenting team consisting of Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe. This series is a BBC Studios Entertainment production commissioned by BBC Head of Entertainment Kalpna Patel-Knight.
The launch show introduces five new professional dancers: Aleksandra, Cristian, Lethabo, Maddie and Mark. These dancers originate from the UK, Canada, Italy, South Africa and Ukraine. The opening episode features a group routine to introduce these professionals and a return performance by previous champion Karen Carney and Carlos Gu.
The pairing process for the celebrity cast has been altered for the 2026 series. Celebrities and professionals will now discover their partners in front of the studio audience through three choreographed group dance routines. The launch episode also includes behind the scenes footage of the initial celebrity dance rehearsals.
The production is led by Executive Producer Sarah James. Series Editors are Nicola Fitzgerald and Jack Gledhill, while Jo Wallace serves as the Commissioning Editor for the BBC. The series will air every weekend from the September premiere until Christmas.