Fans of Strictly Come Dancing have received an early Christmas present with the full line-up for the show's 2026 live tour now confirmed. The announcement brings welcome news for viewers who were disappointed to see Lewis Cope leave the competition earlier this month.
From Quarter-Final Exit to Tour Return
The 30-year-old Emmerdale actor and his professional partner Katya Jones were eliminated in the quarter-final stage of the BBC One show just two weeks ago, missing out on a place in the semi-final. However, Cope will now get to showcase his moves once more, having been announced as one of the final four celebrities joining the upcoming tour.
Expressing his delight, Cope said he was “thrilled and honoured” to be involved and confirmed, “I’m not ready to hang up my dancing shoes just yet.” He will be joined on the road by social media star and current finalist George Clarke (partnered with Alexis Warr), former Chelsea footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (with Lauren Oakley), and 2023 contestant Layton Williams as a special guest.
A Star-Studded Tour Itinerary
Williams, the 31-year-old musical theatre star from Bad Education, will reunite with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin for the tour, stating he was “so excited” to be back. “It’s an honour to be asked back and able to do this twice,” he added.
The tour will feature a host of other fan favourites from the 2025 series, including:
- Model Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola
- Geordie Shore's Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington
- Former Olympian Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer
- Drag artist La Voix (Christopher Dennis) and Aljaz Skorjanec
The judging panel for the live shows will consist of Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, and Craig Revel Horwood, while It Takes Two presenter Janette Manrara will host. The format will mirror the TV show, with audience votes deciding the winning couple each night.
Tour Dates and Accessibility
The Strictly Come Dancing 2026 live tour is a major nationwide event, comprising 30 shows across the UK. It kicks off at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham on 23 January 2026 and runs through to 15 February 2026, visiting cities including Glasgow, London, and Manchester.
In a commitment to accessibility, each performance will feature a British Sign Language interpreter, whose feed will be displayed on two large screens flanking the stage.
Meanwhile, the race for the 2025 TV glitterball trophy concludes this weekend. George Clarke will compete in Saturday's grand final against former England footballer Karen Carney and reality TV star Amber Davies. The Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final airs at 7pm on Saturday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Tickets for the 2026 Strictly Come Dancing live tour are on sale now via the official tour website.
