Strictly September

The BBC has announced the first celebrities who will compete in the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing, with a mix of actors, TV presenters, sports stars and music artists preparing to battle for this year's Glitterball Trophy.

Among the first names confirmed are EastEnders actress Lacey Turner, Love Island winner Dani Dyer, Australian singer Delta Goodrem, celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, Big Brother presenter Will Best, reality TV personality Cach Mercer, and Paralympic legend Dame Sarah Storey.

The new series will also feature several changes behind the scenes, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and former professional dancer Johannes Radebe taking over presenting duties. Meanwhile, judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke are all expected to return to the judging panel.

More celebrity contestants are expected to be announced over the coming weeks before rehearsals begin ahead of the show's return later this year. As always, each celebrity will be paired with a professional dancer before competing in a series of live ballroom and Latin performances, with viewers voting each week to keep their favourite couples in the competition.

The new series is expected to launch in September, with millions of viewers once again tuning in for one of the BBC's biggest entertainment shows.