Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Confirms Returning Pros Amid Major BBC Shake-Up

Key Highlights

• The BBC has confirmed 15 returning professional dancers for Strictly Come Dancing 2026.
• Karen Hauer, Gorka Márquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas are leaving the show.
• New professional dancers will join the series, with announcements expected closer to launch.
• Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke are returning as judges.
• Themed episodes including Movies, Icons, Halloween and Musicals weeks will return alongside the Instant Dance challenge.
• The BBC has not yet announced replacements for former hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

BBC Reveals Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Professional Line-Up

The BBC has officially confirmed the returning professional dancers for Strictly Come Dancing 2026, unveiling a significantly reshaped line-up ahead of the show’s 24th series this autumn.

Fifteen professional dancers are set to return to the ballroom for the new season on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The confirmed returning professionals 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.

The broadcaster also confirmed that additional new professional dancers will join the cast for the 2026 season. Their identities will be announced closer to the show’s return later this year.

The announcement follows one of the biggest professional shake-ups in the programme’s recent history.

Karen Hauer and Other Long-Serving Pros Exit the Show

Several established dancers have departed the BBC competition ahead of the new series, including Karen Hauer, Gorka Márquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas.

Karen Hauer’s exit marks the end of a 14-year run on the programme, making her the longest-serving female professional dancer in the show’s history. In a statement shared after her departure, Hauer said she had decided it was “the right time” to move on to new projects.

Michelle Tsiakkas also spoke publicly about her departure, saying she was “heartbroken” after learning she would not return for the new season.

Meanwhile, Gorka Márquez confirmed his departure after a decade on the programme. He previously joined the Spanish version of the format, Bailando con las Estrellas, as a judge.

The departures have fueled discussion among fans about the BBC’s plans to refresh the long-running entertainment series.

Returning Judges Confirmed for 2026 Series

The judging panel for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will remain unchanged.

Head judge Shirley Ballas will return alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke. The BBC confirmed the quartet will once again oversee performances and deliver weekly scores throughout the competition.

The programme continues to be one of the BBC’s strongest entertainment brands. According to BBC figures, the latest series attracted an average audience of 7.8 million viewers, while 8.6 million tuned in for the grand final, which saw Karen Carney and professional partner Carlos Gu lift the Glitterball Trophy.

Themed Weeks and Blackpool Return

The BBC also confirmed the return of several fan-favourite themed episodes.

Movies Week, Icons Week, Halloween Week and Musicals Week will all feature in the upcoming season. The Instant Dance challenge — introduced in 2025 — is also returning after its successful debut with viewers.

Another major feature returning in 2026 is the annual visit to the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, one of the programme’s signature milestones.

Mystery Continues Over New Hosts

One of the biggest unanswered questions surrounding the 2026 season remains the show’s presenting line-up.

Longtime hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman exited the programme last year, and the BBC has yet to announce who will replace them. The broadcaster said further details regarding the new hosts will be confirmed “in due course.”

Several names have been linked with the role in media speculation, including Alison Hammond, Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark and Angela Scanlon.

Alison Hammond recently addressed the rumours directly, saying she would not reject the opportunity if approached.

“Who would turn down Strictly! They’d be absolutely crazy,” she said during an interview with Metro.

Spin-Off Show Faces Possible Changes

The future format of Strictly: It Takes Two has also become a topic of speculation.

Reports have suggested the spin-off programme may transition from a traditional television broadcast into a vodcast-style format. There has also been speculation surrounding the futures of presenters Janette Manrara and Fleur East.

The BBC rejected some of those claims, describing certain reports as “factually incorrect.”

Strictly Prepares for Another High-Profile Season

Despite the extensive cast reshuffle, the BBC is positioning Strictly Come Dancing 2026 as a refreshed version of one of Britain’s biggest entertainment franchises.

The combination of returning fan-favourite professionals, incoming dancers, established judges and major format staples signals a season designed to preserve the show’s traditional appeal while introducing a new era for the ballroom competition.