Strictly 2026 Launches with New Hosts and Format

Strictly Come Dancing 2026 launched on Saturday, September 19, with a new presenting trio and an innovative partner-reveal format, signaling a fresh start for the BBC dance competition. Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe stepped into the roles vacated by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who left after the 2025 series. The pre-recorded launch show introduced a novel way for celebrities to meet their professional partners. Instead of traditional pre-recorded videos, the contestants took part in a group dance on the dancefloor, where they were paired up in a dynamic routine. Host Emma Willis explained that the format involved random music stops to reveal the final pairings, calling it "something that they've never done on the show before." Among the 15 couples revealed, actress Bethany Antonia was paired with professional dancer Nancy Xu, creating the series' only same-sex couple. Antonia, known for her role in House of the Dragon, shared her joy, saying, "I just feel so happy. We just bonded instantly." This pairing adds to Strictly's history of same-sex couples, which began with Nicola Adams and Katya Jones in 2020.