The full Strictly Come Dancing 2026 line-up has been officially confirmed, with the BBC revealing the final two celebrities: YouTuber John Nellis and actress Melanie Walters. The announcement follows months of speculation and comes after a major shake-up that saw long-serving hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly step down, replaced by the show's first-ever presenting trio.
Celebrity contestants for 2026
John Nellis, known for his sporting content on YouTube, and Melanie Walters, who played Gwen in Gavin and Stacey, complete the roster. They join a list that includes EastEnders star Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer (returning after injury forced her out of 2025), singer Delta Goodrem, hair stylist Chris Appleton, social media personality Cach Mercer, presenter Will Best, Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, actress Jaime Winstone, actress Bethany Antonia, football icon Shaun Wright-Phillips, dog trainer Graeme Hall, Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb, and Olympic skeleton racer Tabby Stoecker.
New presenting trio and professional changes
The 2026 series will be hosted by Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe, and Josh Widdicombe, following the departure of Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly. Executive producer Sarah James said of the trio: "unexpected, but their magic was undeniable the moment they came together."
Among the professionals, only 15 of last year's 20 are returning. Departing dancers include Karen Hauer, the longest-serving female professional, along with Gorka Marquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, and Michelle Tsiakkas. New additions are Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Maddie Ingoldsby, and Mark Karmalita. Returning pros include Dianne Buswell, Julian Caillon, Amy Dowden, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Jowita Przystał, Aljaž Škorjanec, Alexis Warr, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, and Vito Coppola.
Start date and judges
The BBC has not yet confirmed an official launch date, but the show is expected to return in September, with speculation pointing to a pre-recorded launch episode on Wednesday, September 19, on BBC One and iPlayer. The judging panel of Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke is set to return as expected.
