Strictly Come Dancing 2026 is officially underway, with all 15 celebrity and professional partnerships revealed during this year’s launch show. For the first time, the celebrities discovered their partners in front of the studio audience through three specially choreographed group routines rather than the usual individual reveals. The launch also marked the first show for new presenters Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe, who have taken over hosting duties for the 2026 series.

With the introductions now complete, the couples have just one week to prepare before the first competitive live show on Saturday, 26 September.

Who Are the Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Couples?

Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola
Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin
Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington
Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden
Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby
Will Best and Dianne Buswell
Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon
Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu
Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu
Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr
Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley
Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał
Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita
John Nellis and Katya Jones
Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec

Two of this year’s five new professionals have been given celebrity partners, with Maddie Ingoldsby paired with Cach Mercer and Mark Karmalita dancing with Tabby Stoecker. Newcomers Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori and Lethabo Monametsi will not have celebrity partners this year, while returning professional Neil Jones also sits out the competitive pairings.

What Happened in the Strictly 2026 Launch Show?

The launch gave viewers their first proper look at the new era of Strictly, with Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe presenting together for the first time alongside judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke.

The celebrities and professionals were brought together through three group dances, allowing each contestant to discover their partner live in the ballroom. Viewers were also taken behind the scenes as the new couples began rehearsing for their first routines.

Last year’s winner Karen Carney returned alongside Carlos Gu to perform their football-themed Jive, while the five new professionals were introduced in a separate group performance.

The competitive part of the series now begins on Saturday, 26 September, when all 15 couples will perform their first scored routines.

For CultureCues, pairing night is always one of our favourite parts of Strictly, and there are already several couples we cannot wait to see properly on the dance floor. Will Best and Dianne Buswell should be fun, Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin could be a brilliant pairing, and we are very interested to see what Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola bring to the ballroom. The new presenting line-up also gives this year a different feel from the start. Now the couples are locked in, bring on the glitter and the score paddles.

Strictly Come Dancing 2026 continues with its first live show on Saturday, 26 September on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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