The BBC has announced the professional dancer line-up for Strictly Come Dancing 2026, confirming that three dancers from the previous series will not return. The 24th series, set to air this autumn on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, will see a refreshed roster of professionals.
Returning to the dance floor are Dianne Buswell, Julian Caillon, Amy Dowden, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Jowita Przystał, Johannes Radebe, Aljaž Škorjanec, Alexis Warr, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley and Vito Coppola. Notably absent are three professionals who appeared in 2025, though the BBC has not named them in the announcement.
The judging panel remains unchanged, with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas all returning. The series will also feature themed weeks including Movies, Icons, Halloween and Musicals, as well as the Instant Dance challenge and the annual visit to Blackpool Tower Ballroom.
New professional dancers will be announced closer to the series launch. The 2025 series averaged 7.8 million viewers, with the final attracting 8.6 million as Karen Carney and Carlos Gu won the Glitterball Trophy.
