Strictly Come Dancing has officially kicked off for its 2026 season, launching with 15 celebrity contestants their professional dance partners during a pre-recorded release show.
This year’s pairings were launched via a new format and a major shake-up of new presenters. Rather than celebrities meeting their partners individually, the contestants found their matches during a group dance routine.
'Strictly Come Dancing' contestants
Strictly Come Dancing features 15 celebrities that include Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Coach Mercer, Will Best, Dame Sarah Storey, Jaime Winstone, Bethany Antonia, Shuan Wright-Phillips, Graeme Hall, Lawrence Robb, Tabby Stoecker, John Nellis and Melanie Walters.
'Strictly Come Dancing' couples
The 2026 couples include Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby, Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu, Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden, Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin, Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington, and Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley.
Jaime Winstone has been a contestant with Carlos Gu, while John Nellis will dance with Katya Jones. Lacey Turner partnered with Vito Coppola, and Shaun Wright-Phillips competed alongside Alexis Warr.
Meanwhile, the remaining pairings are Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał, Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec, Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon, Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita, and Will Best and Dianne Buswell.
Strictly’s launch episode sparks mixed fan reactions
The new pairs and their launch performances quickly garnered significant attraction, sparking mixed reaction from viewers on social media, with some commenting on new hosts.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), fans expressed their views on the launch episode of Strictly Come Dancing 2026.
A fan wrote, “SO FAR THESE THREE ARE DOING A VERY SOLID JOB WITH HOSTING."
Another fan wrote, "OMG BETHANY & NANCY !!!!! I'M SO SEATED FOR THIS !!!!"
"The way this is the season 1 cast of Dance moms LMAO," a third fan wrote.
The first live show is slated for Saturday, September 26.
