The glittering line-up for the upcoming Strictly Come Dancing live arena tour has been confirmed, bringing both exciting returns and notable absences. While eight celebrity and professional pairings are set to dazzle audiences across the UK from January, fans will be disappointed to learn that four of this year's biggest stars will not be taking to the stage.
Who's Missing From The Strictly 2025 Tour?
Two of the three finalists from the 2025 series will be absent from the tour. Current bookies' favourite to win the glitterball trophy, Karen Carney, and her fellow finalist Amber Davies, will not be participating. They are joined on the missing list by semi-finalist Balvinder Sopal, who holds the record for surviving the most dance-offs in the show's history, and Alex Kingston, who was voted out in week ten while performing with an injury.
Amber Davies' absence is due to a prior commitment, as she will be starring in Legally Blonde The Musical in early 2026. However, her professional partner, Nikita Kuzmin, will still feature on the tour.
The Full Tour Line-Up And Special Returns
Despite the high-profile omissions, the tour promises plenty of fan favourites. In welcome news for his supporters, former Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope—whose quarter-final exit with pro Katya Jones sparked 'fix' claims—will be back on the dance floor. He and Jones are confirmed for the tour, though Lewis will miss eight performances due to a prior commitment.
They will be joined by finalists George Clarke and Alexis Warr, and footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink with Lauren Oakley. George Clarke will also miss 11 shows due to other work.
The tour also features a special guest slot, with 2023 star Layton Williams returning to dance with Nikita Kuzmin. Williams expressed his delight, saying, "It's an honour to be asked back and able to do this twice." The pair will perform some of their most-loved routines.
Complete Cast And Tour Details
The four new couples join the previously announced pairs: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer, Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola, and Vicky Pattison with Kai Widdrington. Furthermore, drag star La Voix, who previously withdrew due to injury, has recovered and will dance with Aljaž Škorjanec.
The 30-show tour kicks off at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham on 23 January 2026. Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, and Anton du Beke will oversee all performances. Tickets are available via StrictlyComeDancingLive.com.
Reflecting on the line-up, one Strictly expert noted that if Karen Carney wins the final, she will be the second consecutive champion to miss the tour, following Chris McCausland last year. However, they added that the inclusion of popular early exits like Lewis Cope and Vicky Pattison offers fans another chance to see their favourite routines in the arena.
