Strictly Come Dancing 2026: Full Dance and Song Line‑up Revealed

BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing 2026 has released the complete list of dances and songs for its opening live episode. Fifteen celebrity contestants will perform a mix of quicksteps, sambas, tangos and more, backed by tracks from Celeste, Barbatuques, Donna Summer and others. The new hosting trio—Emma W…

By Felo News Desk · Published Fri, 25 Sep 2026 21:34:23 GMT

The new season of Strictly Come Dancing is set to begin this Saturday, with the BBC unveiling the full dance and music line‑up for the first live show. Fifteen celebrity contestants, paired with their professional partners, will take to the ballroom in a range of styles—from quicksteps and sambas to tango and foxtrot—set to a diverse selection of songs spanning pop, disco and contemporary hits.

Who’s on the Dance Floor?

Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu will perform a quickstep to “Stop This Flame” by Celeste.
Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington tackle a samba to “Baiana” by Barbatuques.
Jaime Winstone and reigning champion Carlos Gu dance a tango to Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love.”
Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola perform a cha‑cha to Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know.”
Melanie Walters and Aljaz Skorjanec take on a cha‑cha to Elton John & Kiki Dee’s “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.”
Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon perform a quickstep to Kay Starr’s “C’est Magnifique.”
Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita tackle a jive to “Animal” by Katseye.
Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby perform a quickstep to Bruno Mars’s “I Just Might.”
Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden dance a tango to Alice Merton’s “No Roots.”
Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley perform a cha‑cha to the Smokey Joe’s Café version of “Hound Dog.”
John Nellis and Katya Jones take on a foxtrot to Alex Warren’s “Ordinary.”
Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystal perform a paso doble to Harry Styles’s “Aperture.”
Shaun Wright‑Phillips and Alexis Warr dance a cha‑cha to Paul Russell’s “Lil Boo Thang.”
Earlier this week, former Love Island winner Dani Dyer‑Bowen was announced to perform a samba with Nikita Kuzmin, and TV presenter Will Best will team with Dianne Buswell for a samba to Robbie Williams’s “Rock DJ.”

Opening Group Number and New Hosts

The first live episode will kick off with a group routine featuring the judges, professional dancers and the new presenting trio—Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe—set to an orchestral version of Raye’s “Joy.” This marks the debut of the new hosts, who replaced long‑time pair Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman after their departure in 2025.

Audience Numbers and Reception

The launch episode, which aired last Saturday, attracted a peak audience of 5.8 million viewers, a rise of 200,000 over the previous year’s opening show. The BBC’s overnight figures confirmed the strong start for the new series, and the enthusiastic reception has set a positive tone for the weeks ahead.

What’s Next for the Contestants?

Over the coming weeks, the couples will face a series of choreographed routines, judged by the familiar panel of Len Goodman, Shirley Ballas, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood. Each week will feature a new dance style and musical genre, testing the celebrities’ versatility and the professionals’ teaching skills. Fans can expect to see the progression of each pair, from shaky first steps to polished performances, as the competition moves toward the semi‑finals and final.

Behind the Scenes: Host Dynamics

In a recent interview, Josh Widdicombe described the new hosting team as “no ego” and “terrifying” for the first live show. He praised the chemistry with Emma and Johannes, noting their generosity and humor. Johannes highlighted the trio’s different energies and the ease of working together, while Emma praised the hosts’ humility and passion for the show. The trio’s dynamic is expected to bring a fresh, lively vibe to the broadcast.

Unresolved Questions

While the dance and song list has been confirmed, the exact order of performances and the detailed scoring format remain to be announced. Viewers will also be keen to see how the new judges’ commentary evolves with the fresh hosting style and whether any special guest performances will be added during the season.

Key facts

Full dance and song list announced for 15 celebrity pairs
New hosts Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe debut
Opening group number features judges and hosts
Launch episode drew 5.8 million viewers, up 200,000 from last year
Host trio praised for chemistry and lack of ego
Uncertain performance order and scoring details remain
Season will test celebrities across varied dance styles

Why it matters

The reveal sets the stage for the new season, informing fans about the choreography, music choices and hosting dynamics that will shape the competition’s tone and audience engagement.

Frequently asked questions

When does the first live episode air?

This Saturday at 6:15 pm on BBC One and via iPlayer.

Who are the new hosts of Strictly?

Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe.

What songs will the couples dance to?

From Celeste’s “Stop This Flame” to Harry Styles’s “Aperture” and beyond, as listed in the article.

How many viewers watched the launch episode?

A peak of 5.8 million viewers.