Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Launch Show First Look Revealed

The BBC has unveiled the first official images from the upcoming Strictly Come Dancing 2026 launch show. The pre-recorded episode, which airs this Saturday, September 19, will introduce the new presenting trio of Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe, and Josh Widdicombe and reveal the season's celebrity pairings.

New stills released by the broadcaster show the three hosts together on the show's iconic set. The images also offer a glimpse of the judging panel, the competing celebrities, and the professional dancers, including five new additions to the pro lineup. A group dance number is featured, alongside a performance from last year's winners, Karen Carney and Carlos Gu, who will reprise their iconic Jive.

New Hosting Era Begins

Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe, and Josh Widdicombe are taking over hosting duties from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who departed last year. Speaking to Digital Spy and other media, Johannes Radebe emphasized the importance of refreshing the long-running series. "Strictly is never the same," he said. "I feel like every year we have twists and turns, and surprises, and I think this year more than ever."

He suggested the format needed evolution to avoid becoming monotonous. Emma Willis echoed this sentiment, stating, The heart of Strictly will always be the same, but you can't be on air for over two decades and never change anything.

More Dancing Promised

Johannes Radebe also promised that the launch episode would feature more dance content than previous years. He teased that there’ll definitely be more dancing in this launch show than there ever was, and indicated that he and his fellow hosts would be involved in the routines. I'm looking forward to that, he added.

The hosts have also addressed a recent rumor about a potential backstage presenting role. Josh Widdicombe directly refuted the claim, stating, That's not true. So it'll be three of us, in the auditorium, divided up equally, and we're kind of playing around with it and enjoying finding out those roles.

New Spin-Off Announced

In related news, the show has announced a new spin-off program titled Strictly Pro Dance Off. This new show will air each Saturday morning during the children's programming block Saturday Mash-Up!. The announcement was made alongside the promotional push for the main show's return.

Strictly Come Dancing returns for its 2026 season this Saturday, September 19, on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer.