BBC Strictly Come Dancing has confirmed the lineup of professional dancers who will return for the 2026 series, following the departure of five dancers earlier this year.
Returning Professionals
The returning dancers from the 2025 series include Alexis Warr, Amy Dowden, Aljaz Skorjanec, Dianne Buswell, Johannes Radebe, Jowita Przystal, Julian Caillon, Kai Widdrington, Katya Jones, Lauren Oakley, Nancy Xu, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Vito Coppola, and Carlos Gu. Gu notably won last year's series alongside former England footballer Karen Carney.
Amy Dowden returns after being the first contestant eliminated in the 2025 series. She was partnered with former BBC The Apprentice candidate Tom Skinner. Dowden had previously been forced to withdraw from the 2024 series due to injury while partnered with JB Gill, with Lauren Oakley stepping in as her replacement.
Departing Dancers
The five dancers leaving the show are Gorka Marquez, Michelle Tsiakkas, Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, and Luba Mushtuk. The BBC has confirmed that new professional dancers will be recruited and announced closer to the show's return in autumn.
Marquez announced his departure last week via Instagram after 10 years on the show. He stated: "After last year's decision to step down as a full-time professional due to scheduling conflicts between Strictly and Dancing With The Stars Spain, I've decided that now is the time to hang up my dance shoes and say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing." He expressed gratitude for the opportunities the show provided, including building a career, finding love, starting a family, and making lifelong friends.
The BBC thanked each departing dancer, praising Tsiakkas for her "excellent performances" and "professionalism," and Marquez for his "exceptional contribution." Tributes flooded Marquez's post from fans and fellow dancers, including Hauer, Mushtuk, and Bychkova.
Judges and Themes
Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and head judge Shirley Ballas will also return for the 2026 series. Themed weeks will include movies, icons, Halloween, and musicals, along with the Instant Dance challenge introduced last year. The show will once again make its annual trip to the Blackpool Tower Ballroom.
The BBC stated that further plans for the new series will be announced in due course.
