The 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing will broadcast its first live show tonight, featuring new hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Rabede. The trio made their debut last week during the launch show, which introduced a new format for the BBC flagship programme.
All 15 celebrity and professional dancer pairings are set to perform on the dance floor for the first time. Judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke will deliver their verdicts after joining the hosts and professionals for a group number.
Among the pairings, Nancy Xu and Bethany Antonia are the only same-sex couple this year and will dance the Quickstep. Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin are scheduled to perform the Samba, while Melanie Walters will attempt the Cha Cha with Aljaž Škorjanec. Viewers can watch the episode on BBC One at 6:15 pm, with the show running for two and a half hours.