Strictly 2026 line-up revealed – including the return of fan-favourites

Professionals previously cut from the show include Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez and Michelle Tsiakka

t’s time to dust off the glitterball and head back to the dancefloor as Strictly Come Dancing has officially announced its 2026 line-up of professional dancers.

The BBC has confirmed 15 returning pros heading back to Elstree Studios, along with a promised batch of “fresh top talent” set to shake things up for the new season. The new professionals will be revealed closer to the show’s return in the autumn.

The announcement follows a significant shake-up earlier this year, with Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez and Michelle Tsiakkas all exiting the series.

Despite the cull, fans will be pleased to see the return of beloved dancers including Dianne Buswell, Amy Dowden and Aljaž Škorjanec. Keep scrolling to see the full confirmed line-up so far…

Meet the 2026 Strictly Come Dancing line-up

1/15

© BBC/Ray Burmiston

Alexis Warr

American-born Alexis Warr is best known stateside for winning the US dance series So You Think You Can Dance, which crowned her ‘America’s Favourite Dancer’ and made her the first ever female Ballroom and Latin dancer to claim the title.

She has also performed on America’s Got Talent, World of Dance and as a guest and troupe dancer on Dancing with the Stars. Alexis joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2025, partnering social media star George Clarke, and the pair made it all the way to the final.

2/15

© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston

Aljaž Škorjanec

Aljaž is a 19-time Slovenian champion in Ballroom, Latin and Ten Dance. In his debut series of Strictly in 2013, Aljaž lifted the Glitterball trophy with model and TV personality Abbey Clancy.

He danced on the show for a further eight series, with partners including Gemma Atkinson, Clara Amfo and Alison Hammond, before taking a two-year hiatus. He made an impressive return in 2024, reaching the final with Tasha Ghouri. Most recently, he partnered singer and performer La Voix, and the couple danced until the ninth week of the competition, at which point they sadly had to withdraw due to injury.

3/15

© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston

Amy Dowden

Amy began dancing at the age of eight and is a four-time British national finalist who went on to become a British national champion, making her one of the highest-ranking Ballroom and Latin dancers in the UK. Amy grew up watching Strictly Come Dancing from her hometown of Caerphilly, South Wales, and in 2017 joined the series as a professional dancer.

During her Strictly career, Amy’s partners have included Brian Conley, Tom Fletcher, JB Gill, James Bye and Karim Zeroual, with whom she reached the final in 2019. In 2025, Amy was awarded an MBE for services to raising awareness of inflammatory bowel conditions.

4/15

© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston

Carlos Gu

Three-time Chinese national champion Carlos Gu is a multiple world semi-finalist, placed 3rd at the German Open Championship and was Amateur Latin Rising Star runner-up at the 2017 UK Open. He joined the Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer line-up in 2022 and, in his first year, made it all the way to the final with actress Molly Rainford.

In 2023, he partnered presenter Angela Scanlon, reaching week 10 of the competition. Last year, Carlos was partnered with former professional footballer and Lioness Karen Carney. The pair went on to lift the Glitterball trophy making Carlos the reigning Strictly Come Dancing professional champion.

5/15

© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston

Dianne Buswell

Dianne Buswell is an Australian Open champion and four-time amateur Australian Open finalist. She was also a professional dancer on Australia’s Dancing with the Stars before joining Strictly Come Dancing in 2017.

Since joining the programme, Dianne has enjoyed memorable partnerships with Joe Sugg, Tyler West, Bobby Brazier and most recently, Stefan Dennis. She won the series in 2024 with comedian Chris McCausland and their waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone received a BAFTA Television Award for Memorable Moment in 2025.

6/15

© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston

Johannes Radebe

Johannes Radebe is a two-time South African professional Latin champion and a three-time South African amateur Latin champion. He competed on Strictly Come Dancing South Africa twice, reaching the final both times. He joined the UK show in 2018 and in 2021 was partnered with celebrity baker John Whaite in the show’s first all-male partnership.

Together they reached the final and became the series’ runners-up. Johannes has also danced with celebrities including actress and comedian Ellie Taylor, former tennis player Annabel Croft, and Gladiator Montell Douglas. Most recently he partnered actress Alex Kingston, and together they reached week 10 of the competition.

7/15

© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston

Jowita Przystał

Polish Open Latin champion Jowita ended her competitive career in 2015 to join the cast of touring dance company Burn the Floor where she stayed for four years before moving to the UK in 2019 to pursue her dancing dreams.

Jowita won the The Greatest Dancer on the BBC in 2020, earning her the prize of performing in the Strictly ballroom, and in 2021 she officially joined the professional dancer line-up. In 2022, she was partnered with her first celebrity, presenter Hamza Yassin and they went on to lift the Glitterball trophy. Most recently, Jowita danced with broadcaster and Hollywood correspondent Ross King.

8/15

© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston

Julian Caillon

Australian-born Julian Caillon has been dancing since the age of 10, specialising in Ballroom and Latin and representing Australia at international competitions. In his home country, he appeared as a professional dancer on three seasons of Dancing With The Stars and also competed on So You Think You Can Dance. Julian joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2025, partnering actress Balvinder Sopal and together they made it all the way to the semi-final.

9/15

© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston

Kai Widdrington

Southampton-born Kai Widdrington was set to follow in his dad’s footsteps by becoming a professional footballer, but at the age of 9 he decided to take up dancing instead. At 14, he became World Junior Latin champion. Kai joined the Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer line-up in 2021 and his first celebrity partner was TV presenter AJ Odudu.

Together they made it to the final but sadly had to withdraw due to an injury. Kai’s other celebrity partners have included Kaye Adams, Angela Rippon and most recently Vicky Pattison. He is also a two-time Strictly Christmas champion.

10/15

© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston

Katya Jones

World champion Latin dancer Katya Jones was born in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. Competing for England, she became World Professional Latin Showdance Champion, a three-time World Amateur Latin champion, and a four-time undefeated British national professional champion.

Katya is also a Strictly Come Dancing champion, having won the series with Joe McFadden in her second year on the show. Some of her other Strictly students include Ed Balls, Nicola Adams, Adam Peaty, Tony Adams and Nigel Harman. Last year, Katya danced with actor Lewis Cope. Together they made it to week 11 of the competition and received the first 40 of the series for their iconic Halloween-themed Couple’s Choice routine.

11/15

© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston

Lauren Oakley

Birmingham-born Lauren Oakley started dancing at just 2 years old and began competing soon after. Early successes include becoming Juvenile Champion at the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival, winning across both Ballroom and Latin disciplines. Lauren was also crowned Under-21 British National Champion before exploring a career on stage.

Lauren joined the Strictly Come Dancing family in 2022 before being paired with her first celebrity partner, journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy, the following year. In 2024, Lauren stepped in midway through the series to dance with singer JB Gill, with whom she reached her first Strictly final. Last year, Lauren partnered professional football manager and former player Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, dancing until week 5 of the competition.

12/15

© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston

Nancy Xu

Nancy Xu is a world-class Latin dancer who was a finalist at the Under-21 World Championships in 2010. She was also a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance in her home country of China. Nancy joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2019 and has reached the semi-final of the competition with two of her celebrity partners, CBBC presenter Rhys Stephenson in 2021 and actor Will Mellor in 2022. She has also danced with Les Dennis and Shayne Ward, and was crowned Strictly Christmas Champion in 2023.

13/15

© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston

Neil Jones

Neil Jones is a four-time undefeated British national professional champion and three-time winner of the World Amateur Latin Championships. In 2015, he was crowned World Professional Latin Showdance Champion and has won over 45 titles around the world during his competitive career. Neil has been a Strictly Come Dancing professional since 2016, and his celebrity partners have included professional footballer Alex Scott, actress and comedian Nina Wadia, and legendary singer Toyah Willcox.

14/15

© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston

Nikita Kuzmin

Nikita moved to Italy aged 9 from his home country of Ukraine and there became a six-time Italian champion. In 2020 he competed on Let’s Dance, Germany’s version of Strictly Come Dancing before joining the UK series in 2021.

His celebrity partners have included Tilly Ramsay, Ellie Simmonds, Sam Quek and Layton Williams, with whom he reached the final in 2023. Last year, Nikita was originally paired with TV personality Dani Dyer, but after she sustained an injury, he instead took to the floor with West End actress Amber Davies, and the pair made it all the way to the final.

15/15

© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston

Vito Coppola

Eleven-time Italian Latin champion Vito began dancing at the age of 6 and, by the age of 10, was winning national championships. His career highlights include being a three-time World Championship finalist and European Cup winner. In 2021 he left the competition world and joined the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing, which he won in his first year.

Since joining Strictly in 2022, Vito has reached three finals, the second of which saw him lift the Glitterball trophy with actress Ellie Leach. Most recently, he partnered model and actress Ellie Goldstein, and together they danced until week 6 of the competition.

Meet the 2026 Strictly judges

Fans can rest assured that the judging panel remains unchanged, with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Head Judge Shirley Ballas all returning to deliver their expert critiques and scores.

© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Kieron McCarron
Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke will return

When will Strictly Come Dancing 2026 air?

While an official release date has yet to be confirmed, viewers can expect Strictly Come Dancing to return in the autumn, with a likely mid-to-late September premiere.

The BBC is also expected to announce new hosts, following Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s exit, alongside the remaining new professional dancers in due course.