Strictly Come Dancing has launched several significant changes to its format as the BBC dance show prepares to launch its 2026 series with three new presenters.
The release episode was recorded at Elstree Studios on Wednesday, featuring 15 celebrity contestants meeting their professional dance partners for the first time. The episode will air on BBC One on Saturday, September 19.
Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and former professional dancer Johannes Radebe have taken over presenting duties after the departures of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman after two decades on the show.
The recording was described as an emotional evening, with Radebe becoming tearful while speaking about his new role.
He told the audience that he had spent eight years in the Strictly ballroom and was honoured to take on the new challenge.
Moreover, the new presenting team also tested with a new format during the recording. Unlike previous years, there were no fixed roles for each presenter.
The trio moved between other segments of the show, with several featuring all three presenters while others involved one or two hosts.
As per an insider, there were some retakes as the presenters became familiar with the new format; however, they claimed they quickly appeared comfortable in their roles.
Another major change involved the celebrity pairings. Rather than one traditional group dance, the 15 contestants were divided into three groups of five for separate pairing dances.
The new format means there will be more dancing during the launch episode, which has been extended to 110 minutes, sparking excitement among the awaited fans.
The presenters and judges also took part in a large group dance that will be shown later in the series.
Where and when to watch Strictly Come Dancing 2026?
Viewers can enjoy the Strictly 2026 launch show at 7:25pm on BBC One on Saturday.
