Dani Dyer heads the betting as Strictly Come Dancing's biggest-ever shake-up launches on 19 September with three new hosts and 15 celebrities.
Strictly Come Dancing 2026 is back, and this year's line-up brings the biggest shake-up in the show's history. Three new hosts, Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe, replace the long-serving Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, while 15 celebrities prepare to hit the dancefloor from September. With a fresh partner-reveal format and a shuffled panel of professionals, bookmakers have already opened markets on who'll lift the Glitterball. Here's when it starts, who the frontrunners are, and the full odds for every contestant.
When Does Strictly Come Dancing Start?
Strictly Come Dancing 2026 launches on Saturday 19 September at 7.25pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, running every weekend through to Christmas. Unlike previous years, celebrities won't discover their professional partner backstage, instead, pairings will be revealed live in front of the studio audience via three choreographed group routines during the launch show. Defending champions Karen Carney and Carlos Gu return to perform their football-themed jive, and companion show It Takes Two moves to a new host in Ellie Taylor, airing weeknights from Elstree Studios.
Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Odds
Who is favourite to win Strictly Come Dancing 2026?
Dani Dyer heads the market at 4/1, the clear favourite despite never having stepped onto the Strictly floor She was originally cast for the 2025 series before injury forced her withdrawal. It remains to be seen whether she'll be reunited with Nikita Kuzmin, who reached last year's final with a different partner.
Team GB skeleton athlete Tabby Stoecker sits second favourite at 7/1, with her elite athletic background and a teenage stint in flying trapeze likely fuelling bookmaker confidence.
Emmerdale's Lawrence Robb (15/2) and presenter Will Best (9/1) round out the top four, while a trio of names - Lacey Turner, Cach Mercer and Delta Goodrem - are locked together at 10/1.
At the opposite end, Shaun Wright-Phillips drifts out to 40/1, with bookmakers apparently unconvinced a footballing career translates to ballroom footwork, despite his own claims that "dancing is in my blood." Chris Appleton (33/1) and the two Paralympic/YouTube entrants, Sarah Storey and John Nellis, complete the outsiders at 20/1 each.
Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Contestants
The full class of 2026 spans soap, sport, social media and music:
- Dani Dyer – broadcaster and author, returning after 2025 injury withdrawal
- Tabby Stoecker – Team GB skeleton gold medallist, Milano-Cortina 2026
- Lawrence Robb – Emmerdale's Mackenzie "Mack" Boyd
- Will Best – TV presenter and Hits Radio breakfast host
- Lacey Turner – EastEnders' Stacey Slater, first celebrity confirmed
- Cach Mercer – Love Island 2025 winner and social media star
- Delta Goodrem – Australian singer-songwriter and Neighbours alum
- Jaime Winstone – actress, daughter of Ray Winstone
- Graeme Hall – Channel 5's resident dog trainer
- Bethany Antonia – House of the Dragon's Lady Baela Targaryen
- Melanie Walters – Gavin & Stacey's Gwen, final contestant confirmed
- Sarah Storey – Britain's most decorated Paralympian, 19 golds
- John Nellis – football content creator, 20m combined followers
- Chris Appleton – celebrity hairstylist to Jennifer Lopez and Ariana Grande
- Shaun Wright-Phillips – former England, Man City and Chelsea footballer
They'll be partnered from a professional roster of 19, including 14 returning names, among them Dianne Buswell, Nikita Kuzmin and reigning champion Carlos Gu, plus five newcomers joining from the UK, Canada, Italy, South Africa and Ukraine.
