The highly anticipated Strictly Come Dancing line-up for 2026 has been slowly unveiled, with a mix of celebrities and new faces joining the popular BBC show.
The revamped series is set to return to BBC One and iPlayer in September, with presenter Emma Willis, professional dancer Johannes Radebe, and comedian Josh Widdicombe as the new hosts.
The judging panel remains unchanged, with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and Head Judge Shirley Ballas offering their expert opinions and scores of the dancing celebrities and their professional partners.
A shake-up has occurred with the pro dancer line-up, with fan favorites Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas, and Gorka Márquez departing, while Neil Jones and Nancy Xu will be without a partner for this series.
The first celebrity to be announced for the 2026 Strictly line-up is Cach Mercer, a Love Island 2025 winner who is set to take to the dance floor with his professional partner.
Cach, who has over 50 million views on TikTok, comes from a dancing background and is excited to be part of the show. “I have grown up watching the show with my family and am so excited to now be part of the cast. Dancing is a huge passion of mine and I can’t wait to learn Ballroom and do the Foxtrot for the first time!” he said.
World-renowned hair stylist Chris Appleton is also joining the line-up. The 43-year-old has styled some of the biggest names in the entertainment world, including Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, Ariana Grande, and Katy Perry. “I’m thrilled to be joining Strictly Come Dancing and coming home to the UK for this incredible experience,” he shared.
EastEnders star Lacey Turner, who has played Stacey Slater on the soap since 2004, is swapping the film set for the dance floor. The 38-year-old actor is a huge fan of the show and is excited to be part of the Strictly family.
Former Love Island contestant Dani Dyer is giving Strictly another go, after her time on the show was cut short in 2025 due to an ankle fracture. Dyer is excited to be back in the ballroom and is looking forward to learning a new skill.
Australian singer and actor Delta Goodrem will be bringing her Australian charm to the Strictly dance floor. Goodrem represented Australia at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, finishing fourth, and previously starred on the beloved soap opera Neighbours.
Further news about Strictly will be revealed throughout the summer, but for now, fans are excited to see which other celebrities will be joining the cast. The brand-new series of Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be getting underway on BBC One and iPlayer this September.
