BBC One has officially unveiled first-look imagery for Strictly Come Dancing 2026, offering fans a glimpse of new hosting trio Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe, and Josh Widdicombe alongside a major shake-up to how celebrity partnerships are revealed.
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- Air Date & Time: Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday, September 19, at 7.25pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
- New Presenting Trio: Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe, and Josh Widdicombe take the reins as hosts for the very first time.
- Game-Changing Format Twist: Celebrities and professional dancers will discover their pairings live in front of the studio audience during three custom-choreographed group dances.
- Fresh Talent: Five new international professional dancers—Aleksandra, Cristian, Lethabo, Maddie, and Mark—join the pro lineup.
- Special Guest Performance: Reigning champion Karen Carney returns to the ballroom floor for a special encore performance of her iconic football jive with Carlos Gu.
A Brand New Era for the Ballroom
The glitz and glamour of Saturday night television return this weekend as Strictly Come Dancing launches its 2026 series with significant updates to both its lineup and studio structure.
Following a viral teaser trailer earlier this month—which saw the judges, pros, and celebrity class dancing across a studio backlot—the BBC confirmed that the full routine will kick off Saturday’s launch show.
The launch will introduce a historic change to the pairing process. Rather than traditional sit-down reveals, celebrities will meet their professional partners live on the dance floor through three large-scale group numbers. The episode will also take viewers behind the scenes as the brand-new couples jump straight into their initial rehearsal sessions.
In addition to fresh choreography and five new elite professional dancers hailing from the UK, Canada, Italy, South Africa, and Ukraine, fans will welcome back 2025 winner Karen Carney alongside Carlos Gu for a fan-favorite reprise of her winning routine.
Produced by BBC Studios Entertainment, the show will run every weekend on BBC One and BBC iPlayer straight through to Christmas.