Strictly Come Dancing 2026 is well underway as a brand-new celebrity cohort take to the iconic dancefloor in a bid to claim the highly coveted glitterball trophy.
So far, we've said goodbye to hairdresser to the stars Chris Appleton and Gavin & Stacey star Melanie Walters. But there are still 13 famous faces remaining, all of whom (bar Delta Goodrem, who has picked up an injury) are being guided by their professional partners as they take on Icons Week.
Five new pros made their Strictly debut this year: Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Maddie Ingoldsby and Mark Karmalita.
They joined Strictly returnees Alexis Warr, Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Carlos Gu, Dianne Buswell, Jowita Przystal, Julian Caillon, Kai Widdrington, Katya Jones, Lauren Oakley, Nancy Xu, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin and Vito Coppola.
And the show also welcomed three new presenters: Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe.
Weighing in on the new trio, former judge Arlene Phillips told Radio Times: "I love the new hosts. Can I be desperately honest? I’m still not sure because… I don't know, there's something that feels like it holds the boys back. And Emma is a delight. She, not only just looks gorgeous, but everything she does is impeccable.
"And I think that’s what the boys need to be - their version of Emma. Outspoken, and there's something about when you chat with a smile, something about when you actually say something with a warmth. That's all it needs, and it'll be fabulous."
Another former judge, Darcey Bussell, said of the new season: "I haven't been able to watch it fully. I watch clips of it all the time, and mainly I'm really only interested in the dance. So, seeing what they're choreographing and everything, which is always incredible, thank goodness.
"I think the change in presenting, it's always like a teething problem isn't it? It's a natural part of the process. You have to teeth in and everybody should just let go a bit and relax. Give them a chance."
While the new presenters bring a fresh dynamic to the ballroom, the professionals are guiding the remaining celebrities through every routine.
Read on for everything you need to know about this year's Strictly professionals.
Strictly Come Dancing professionals line-up: Meet the 2026 dancers
- Vito Coppola
- Nikita Kuzmin
- Dianne Buswell
- Amy Dowden
- Kai Widdrington
- Jowita Przystał
- Nancy Xu
- Katya Jones
- Neil Jones
- Carlos Gu
- Aljaž Škorjanec
- Lauren Oakley
- Alexis Warr
- Julian Caillon
- Aleskandra Isaeva
- Cristian Priori
- Lethabo Monametsi
- Maddie Ingoldsby
- Mark Karmalita
Scroll on to learn more about this year's pros.
Aleksandra Isaeva
Instagram: @aleka_isa_eva
TikTok: @aleksa_isa_eva
Won: N/A
Partner: N/A
Aleksandra Isaeva is a professional dancer who is a multiple Ukrainian national Latin champion.
As well as being ranked as one of the world’s top 21 Latin dancers, she has reached top 10 positions at both the European Latin championships in Blackpool and the Dutch open world Latin dance competition.
Aleksandra was also a finalist at the UK dance festival’s Latin rising star competition.
Cristian Priori
Instagram: @cristian_priori
TikTok: @cristianpriori
Won: N/A
Partner: N/A
Cristian Priori, from Rome, Italy, is one of five new professional dancers joining Strictly Come Dancing. He achieved success from a young age as the junior Italian 10-dance champion, before going on to become a rising star finalist at both the UK Open and the Dutch Open.
As well as being a four-time Italian Latin champion, Cristian has been a rising star Latin finalist at the Blackpool dance festival and an open world Latin semi-finalist. His international success saw him ranked in the world’s top 24 Latin dancers for eight consecutive years.
Lethabo Monametsi
Instagram: @lethabomonametsi
TikTok: @lethabomonametsi
Won: N/A
Partner: N/A
Lethabo Monametsi, an undefeated South African Latin champion, is one of five new professional dancers joining Strictly Come Dancing.
She fell in love with dancing while watching the South African version of Strictly Come Dancing before going on to win TV dance competition Dance Yo Dumo as a member of the collective Urban Wave. Lethabo has also appeared as a dancer on The Masked Singer SA.
As well as her achievements on TV, Lethabo has also performed on stage with the likes of Diana Ross and Hans Zimmer and represented South Africa at the WDC Amateur Open World Championships in Ireland.
Outside of dance, she holds a Bachelor of Arts (Law Major) degree from the University of the Witwatersrand and is the founder of a non-profit organisation called the Gaopalelwe Foundation
Maddie Ingoldsby
Instagram: @maddieingoldsby
TikTok: @madsingoldsby
Won: N/A
Partner: Cach Mercer
Maddie Ingoldsby is a UK National Ballroom Champion and eight-time Amateur 10-Dance World Champion. She was previously also crowned World Rising Star and Under-21 World Ballroom Champion.
Her performing career spans beyond dancing as Maddie played Annie in the West End as a child. She also appeared alongside Emma Thompson and Emilia Clarke in Last Christmas and made her television debut on Strictly: It Takes Two before going on to perform in a pros’ group number on the main show’s Christmas special.
Mark Karmalita
Instagram: @markkarmalita
TikTok: @markkarmalita
Won: N/A
Partner: Tabby Stoecker
Mark Karmalita is an accomplished dancer from Toronto, Canada, who will be joining Strictly Come Dancing alongside new pros Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi and Maddie Ingoldsby.
He’s a two-time national Latin champion in Canada, and a Canadian championship winner and finalist across multiple age groups. Mark is also an Empire Dance US Latin rising star champion, and was previously ranked 10th in the world at the under 21 Latin dance festival in Blackpool.
Julian Caillon
Instagram: @julian_caillon
TikTok: @juliancaillon
Won: N/A
Partner: Dame Sarah Storey
Julian Caillon, from Sydney, Australia, was one of two new dancers who joined the professional line-up last year. He began dancing at the age of 10 and specialised in ballroom and Latin American dance.
Julian is no stranger to the limelight, as he previously appeared on three seasons of Australia's Dancing with the Stars, toured with the live dance show Burn the Floor, and also competed on the fourth season of So You Think You Can Dance Australia in 2014.
Alexis Warr
Instagram: @alexis_warr
TikTok: @alexis_warr
Won: N/A
Partner: Shaun-Wright Phillips
Hailing from the United States, Alexis Warr was one of two new professional dancers to join the 2025 season of Strictly Come Dancing. She is best known for winning So You Think You Can Dance in 2022 and was later crowned America's Favourite Dancer, becoming the first female ballroom and Latin dancer to claim the title.
Alexis has also performed as a guest dancer on Dancing with the Stars, the US edition of Strictly, and has partaken in the show's US tour for the last three years.
Her other projects include America's Got Talent, World of Dance and national tours across the US.
Aljaž Škorjanec
Instagram: @aljazskorjanec
Won: Season 11 (Abbey Clancy)
Partner: Melanie Walters
Aljaž hadn't been on Strictly for five years after departing in 2019, but delighted fans of his return in 2024.
On returning to the ballroom, Aljaž said he hoped to make his daughter "proud".
"I had an absolute ball during my nine-year stint on Strictly, during my time away I became a parent, which has been an exciting challenge in itself, and now I’m ready to experience the Strictly magic again.
"It feels so right to be coming back, I missed the fun, glitter and the judges of course, and I hope to make my daughter Lyra proud!”
Last year, Aljaž was partnered with La Voix, but they sadly had to withdraw from the competition due to an injury.
Kai Widdrington
Instagram: @kaiwidd
TikTok: @kaiwidd
Won: N/A
Partner: Kai Widdrington
Kai is a world junior Latin American champion 2010 and a former Dancing with the Stars Ireland professional. He has previously featured in group numbers and toured with a number of the current Strictly pros.
In previous years, he has been partnered with AJ Odudu, and was guaranteed a place in the finale in 2021 had she not sustained an injury. In 2022, Kai was paired with Kaye Adams and they were the first elimination of the series.
In 2023, Kai was paired with broadcaster Angela Rippon, and the pair were eliminated in seventh place. Kai didn't receive a celebrity partner in season 22, but he returned to the dance floor last year alongside TV personality Vicky Pattison.
Nikita Kuzmin
Instagram: @nikita__kuzmin
TikTok: @nikita__kuzmin
Won: N/A
Partner: Dani Dyer
Nikita joined Strictly from Germany's Let's Dance and is a six-time Latin and ballroom national champion in Italy.
He was partnered with Paralympic champion swimmer Ellie Simmonds in 2022, and they were the sixth couple to be eliminated.
In 2023, he was partnered with actor Layton Williams in a same-sex pairing, and they finished in second place. In 2024, Nikita was partnered with former field hockey player Sam Quek MBE, but the pair were unfortunately voted out in week seven.
Last year, Nikita made it to the final with Amber Davies, who replaced Dani Dyer last minute after she was injured during rehearsals.
Dianne Buswell
Instagram: @diannebuswell
TikTok: @dianne_buswell_official
Won: Season 22 (Chris McCausland)
Partner: Will Best
Australian open champion Dianne Buswell honed her skills on Strictly Come Dancing Down Under before joining the British edition in 2017. She was eliminated third with radio DJ Dev Griffin in 2019 but had better luck the year before when she reached the final with vlogger Joe Sugg.
Dianne and Joe have been dating ever since and recently had their first child!
In 2020, she was partnered with Max George, but they only made it to week four. Dianne was then forced to stop competing a little earlier than planned with her celeb partner Robert Webb, who had to withdraw in week four citing medical reasons.
She then competed with radio DJ Tyler West in 2021 before finding success again in 2023 with Bobby Brazier, when the pair came second. Diane won season 22 of Strictly in 2024, with her partner Chris McCausland, and the pair made history as he became the first blind contestant to win the Glitterball trophy.
Katya Jones
Instagram: @katyajones
TikTok: @itskatyajones
Won: Season 15 (Joe McFadden)
Partner: John Nellis
World professional Latin showdance champion Katya Jones has had many memorable moment on Strictly, from dancing to Gangnam Style with Ed Balls to winning with Joe McFadden in 2017.
Katya was part of the show's first-ever same-sex pairing in 2020 when she danced with boxer Nicola Adams.
She teamed up with Olympic champ Adam Peaty in 2021, but the pair only managed to come ninth.
In 2022, she placed ninth with footballer Tony Adams, and in 2023 fifth with actor Nigel Harman. Last year, Katya was paired with Lewis Cope and were shockingly eliminated just before the semi-final and placed fifth.
Nancy Xu
Instagram: @nancy_xuxi
Won: N/A
Partner: Bethany Antonia
A new addition in 2019, Nancy Xu performed in the group numbers and was partnered with EastEnders actor Rudolph Walker in the Children in Need special.
Xu was a finalist in So You Think You Can Dance in her home country of China, and was a finalist in the U21 world championships in 2010. The pro dancer teamed up with Rhys Stephenson in 2021 and came in fourth.
In 2023, she and comedian and actor Les Dennis were first to be eliminated, and in 2024, with partner Shayne Ward, she was eliminated in week eight.
Neil Jones
Instagram: @mr_njonesofficial
TikTok: @mr_njonesofficial
Won: N/A
Partner: N/A
World professional Latin showdance champion Neil Jones has won 45 titles around the world during his competitive career, though is yet to claim that of Strictly Come Dancing champion.
After acting as a stand-in for several years, Neil got a celebrity partner in 2019 and reached the fifth place with professional footballer Alex Scott. He wasn't given a celeb partner in 2020, but teamed up with Nina Wadia in 2021 – the pair were eliminated first, unfortunately.
In 2022 and 2023, Neil didn't have a professional partner, but in 2024 he was partnered with Toyah Willcox, with the pair being eliminated in week three.
Carlos Gu
Instagram: @gkx_carlos
Won: Season 23 (Karen Carney)
Partner: Jaime Winstone
Carlos Gu is a Chinese national champion with a number of dance accolades under his belt. Gu was the amateur Latin rising star runner up at the 2017 UK Open and came in third place at the German Open championships.
Carlos made his Strictly debut in 2022 alongside Molly Rainford. The pair were the runners-up behind winners Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystał, while in 2023 he was partnered with Irish TV presenter Angela Scanlon. Last year Carlos was paired with Karen Carney, whom he won the series with!
Lauren Oakley
Instagram: @laurenmayoakley
TikTok: @laurenmayoakley
Won: N/A
Partner: Graeme Hall
Lauren Oakley started dancing when she was just two years old and soon enough she began competing. Some of Lauren's successes include under-21 British national champion and juvenile champion at the Blackpool dance festival, winning across both ballroom and Latin disciplines.
Lauren joined Strictly in 2022 but did not have a celebrity partner. In 2023, she was partnered with journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy. The pair were eliminated in eighth place.
In 2024, Lauren stepped in mid-season after Amy Dowden’s injury to dance with JB Gill, with the pair finishing as runners-up in the final. Last year, she was paired with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and they were the fourth couple to be eliminated.
Vito Coppola
Instagram: @vitocoppola
TikTok: @vito_coppola
Won: Season 21 (Ellie Leach)
Vito Coppola is an 11-time Italian Latin American champion who has been dancing since he was six years old. Just some of Vito's accolades include being a three-time world champion finalist and European cup winner.
In 2022, Vito was partnered with singer and radio host Fleur East, meanwhile in 2023 he lifted the glitterball trophy with Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach.
After their win during the final, Vito said: "I mean this is like the cherry on the cake. You have been so amazing, you are Strictly, you represent Strictly. You are finally, you know, the diamond I was talking (about)."
In 2024, Vito made it to the final dancing with actress Sarah Hadland before the pair finished in third place.
Last year, he was partnered with Ellie Goldstein, though they were eliminated during Halloween week.
Jowita Przystał
Instagram: @jowitaprzystal
TikTok: @jowitaprzystal
Won: Season 20 (Hamza Yassin)
Jowita, who won the BBC’s The Greatest Dancer in 2022, was the Polish Open Latin Champion in 2014.
Jowita became champion, alongside Hamza Yassin, in 2022 when they took home the Glitterball.
Though she wasn't so lucky in 2023 as she and cyclist Jody Cundy placed 13th. In 2024 she got slightly further, reaching week 12 with partner Pete Wicks.
In the 2025 series, Jowita was partnered with Scottish presenter and actor Ross King with duo being eliminated in Movie week after they failed to impress the judges with their performance of a Paso Doble to the Thunderbirds theme.
Amy Dowden
Instagram: @amy_dowden
TikTok: @amydowdenmbe
Won: N/A
British national champion Amy Dowden grew up watching Strictly from her native Wales, finally achieving her dream of joining the show in 2017.
Amy Dowden wasn't part of the main line-up in 2023 following her breast cancer diagnosis. The Welsh dancer said at the time that doctors had found another type of cancer, and she was having chemotherapy.
Though she didn't compete, she did make an appearance on the programme when she danced in the opening number of the final.
She has previously been partnered with celebrities such as EastEnders actor James Bye and McFly singer Tom Fletcher. In 2024, Amy began the series partnered with singer JB Gill, but in week six was forced to withdraw due to medical reasons. She was replaced by Lauren Oakley thereafter.
Amy Dowden, along side celebrity partner Thomas Skinner, was the first professional dancer to exit the 2025 competition after a dance off with celeb opponent Chris Robshaw who was ultimately saved by the judges.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 3 October at 6:15pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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