The BBC has confirmed the full line-up for Strictly Come Dancing 2026, with 15 celebrities set to compete for the Glitterball trophy.
The show, which first aired in 2004, has become a staple in UK households. This year, the series will introduce a hosting trio for the first time, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe taking over from long-serving hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who stepped down after the last series.
New Hosts and Professional Changes
Johannes Radebe's move to hosting means he will not be dancing professionally this year. The show will also bid farewell to professional dancers Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, Michelle Tsiakkas, and Gorka Marquez.
Over the past few months, the celebrities were revealed one by one, with the final name confirmed on Wednesday, August 12.
The 15 Celebrities Taking Part
The first contestant announced was actress Lacey Turner, known for her role as Stacey Slater on EastEnders. She said: "I am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing! I am a huge fan and can’t quite believe I will be taking part and not watching at home this year! I look forward to meeting everyone and learning a new skill!"
Former Love Island winner Dani Dyer will also be taking part, after withdrawing from the 2025 series due to injury. She said: "I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September! I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one! I’m just over the moon and cannot wait to find out who else is doing it!"
Australian singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem, who performed at Eurovision 2026, will also join the cast. She said: "I've been incredibly honoured to perform on many different stages throughout my career - from TV, theatre, film sets, to touring my own shows around the world, there is, however, one stage I’ve never stepped onto and that is the ballroom floor! I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Strictly and can’t wait to get started!"
Celebrity hair stylist Chris Appleton, whose clients include Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian, will also be taking part. He said: "I’m thrilled to be joining Strictly Come Dancing and coming home to the UK for this incredible experience. I’ve always believed that the best things happen when you take a chance and try something new. I may know my way around a salon floor, but the dance floor is a whole different story - and I can’t wait to get started."
Love Island champion Cach Mercer, who won the 2025 series, will also be competing. He said: "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!"
Big Brother co-host Will Best, who recently won Celebrity Mastermind, will also be on the dancefloor. He commented: "I can’t quite believe it…I’m doing Strictly! What an absolute dream. Albeit a pretty terrifying one. I’ve been lucky to do lots of live telly before, but absolutely nothing like this. And I cannot wait! I have no idea if I can actually dance, but bring on the sequins, bring on the quicksteps, bring on the dance floor! I’m going to try to enjoy every minute of it."
Paralympic gold medalist Dame Sarah Storey, the most successful British Paralympian of all time with 19 golds, will also be taking part. She said: "Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting. I have always loved watching Strictly and my daughter Louisa is a very talented dancer, so to be able to learn from the best and hopefully understand even more about her world, is incredibly motivating! I can’t wait to get started!"
Actress Jaime Winstone, known for films like Made In Dagenham and Tomb Raider, will also be competing. She said: "I am so excited to announce that I will be joining the Strictly Come Dancing cast this year. I am no stranger to a dance floor, but the ballroom is a whole new world for me. I love a challenge though, so can’t wait to enter my showgirl era and get super sparkly! Let’s get physical – see you on the dance floor!"
House of the Dragon star Bethany Antonia, who also stars in the West End musical Hadestown, will be joining the show. She said: "I can’t quite believe that I will be heading to the Strictly ballroom this September! I have grown up watching Strictly, and I am so excited to take the challenge on and (hopefully!) learn a new skill. See you on the dancefloor!"
Former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips, who earned 36 caps, will also be taking part. He said: "Dancing is in my blood—but mainly at family events! Strictly is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I’m super excited to get started and really looking forward to the challenge!"
Dog behaviour expert Graeme Hall, presenter of Channel 5's Dog's Behaving (Very) Badly, will also be competing. He said: "I can't believe I am joining the cast of Strictly for 2026. I have always loved dancing, so to have the opportunity to learn from the best in the business is a dream come true. I have watched the show for years, so to be a part of it feels like a very exciting challenge, albeit more than a bit nerve-wracking! I can't wait to get started. Bring it on!"
Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb, who plays Mackenzie Boyd, will also be on the show. He said: "I don't know who’s more excited about this, me or my Mother. I can't quite believe that I am going to be getting my dancing shoes on this September on one of my favourite shows of all time! It's a dream come true, and I can't wait to bring my all to ballroom. Wish me luck, and any advice is very welcome - trust me I’ll need it!"
Team GB skeleton athlete Tabby Stoecker, who won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, will also be taking part. She said: "I am over the moon to be joining the cast of Strictly 2026. I’ve had the wildest year of my life so far, so to be rounding it off with a childhood dream of dancing in the Strictly ballroom is surreal and I can’t wait to get stuck in!"
Sports content creator John Nellis, with over 20 million followers, will also be competing. He said: "I'm still in disbelief that I've been selected for Strictly and, if I'm honest, I'm a little nervous as I've never danced before! It's such an incredible opportunity, and I'm going to throw myself into every moment. I can't wait to meet everyone, learn a new skill and, hopefully, be much better at family parties by the end of it!"
The final contestant is Melanie Walters, best known for her role as Gwen West in Gavin & Stacey. She said: "Performing in Pantomime for the last 15 years, my Strictly ‘fix’ has always been watching in a dressing room rather than my front room. This year I am completely thrilled and happy to swap my fairy wand for sequinned dance shoes. I just hope I don’t follow Cinderella and leave one on the Ballroom stairs. I cannot wait to take part in this absolutely iconic show, it’s so exciting. See you in September!"
Further details about the new series will be revealed throughout the summer, with the show returning to BBC One and iPlayer in September.
