The 2026 season of Strictly Come Dancing is already shaping up to be one of the show’s most talked-about series yet, with the BBC unveiling a fresh group of celebrities who will compete for the coveted Glitterball Trophy. The long-running ballroom competition is returning in September with a significant shake-up, including a new presenting team and a casting decision that appears to challenge the show’s traditional approach.

The BBC has begun confirming this year’s celebrity contestants, with eight stars already announced as they prepare to take to the dance floor. The upcoming series will see familiar judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke return to the panel, while Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe step into their new roles as hosts.

One of the biggest talking points surrounding the 2026 line-up is the inclusion of Love Island star Cach Mercer. The decision appears to mark a change from the reported preference of avoiding reality television personalities, as the BBC welcomes a contestant who is still relatively new to the entertainment industry after rising to fame through the ITV dating show.

EastEnders favourite Lacey Turner became the first celebrity confirmed for the 2026 series. The actress, best known for playing Stacey Slater since 2004, has enjoyed a successful career across television and theatre. During her time on EastEnders, she has earned multiple awards and also starred in other projects, including the BBC drama Our Girl.

Speaking about joining Strictly, Turner said she was incredibly excited to finally become part of the show after years of watching from home. She explained that she could not believe she would be stepping onto the dance floor herself and looked forward to learning new skills, meeting the cast and experiencing the competition.

Former Love Island contestant Dani Dyer is also returning to the Strictly ballroom after previously being forced to withdraw. Dyer had originally been scheduled to compete in the previous series but had to step away after suffering an injury. Now, the television personality is getting another opportunity to take part in the popular dance contest.

Dyer shared her excitement with fans, saying she was thrilled to be back and ready to put on her dancing shoes. She admitted she was looking forward to finally making it to the first week of the competition and meeting the other celebrities joining the cast.

Australian singer Delta Goodrem is another major name confirmed for the 2026 line-up. The performer, who has also appeared as an actor on Neighbours, judged The Voice Australia and represented Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest, described joining Strictly as an exciting new challenge.

Goodrem said she had performed on many stages throughout her career, from television and theatre to international tours, but had never experienced the famous Strictly ballroom. She said she was delighted to finally have the chance to compete and was eager to begin training.

Celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton has also been announced as part of the cast. Known for creating iconic looks for stars including Britney Spears, Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez, Appleton admitted that while he understands the world of glamour and style, dancing would be an entirely different challenge.

He said joining Strictly was an incredible opportunity and that he believed the best experiences often come from taking risks and trying something unfamiliar. Although he was comfortable working on a salon floor, he admitted the dance floor would be a completely new environment.

Reality star Cach Mercer will bring a different type of energy to the competition. The 25-year-old model became well known after appearing on Love Island, where he won the series with Toni Laites, although the pair have since separated. Mercer said he grew up watching Strictly with his family and was excited to become part of the show. He added that dancing was something he had always enjoyed and he could not wait to learn ballroom styles such as the Foxtrot.

Television presenter Will Best is also joining the celebrity line-up. Best, who gained attention as a T4 presenter before becoming co-host of the revived Big Brother series, said he was shocked and excited to be taking part. Despite having experience with live television, he admitted Strictly would be a completely different challenge.

The presenter joked that he was unsure how well he could dance but was ready to embrace everything the show offers, including sequins, challenging routines and the pressure of performing in front of millions of viewers.

Paralympic legend Dame Sarah Storey will also compete after recently stepping away from her sporting career. Storey is Britain’s most successful Paralympian, with 19 gold medals to her name. She said beginning a new challenge so soon after retirement was exciting and that she hoped learning from professional dancers would help her better understand her daughter Louisa’s passion for dance.

Actress Jaime Winstone completes the confirmed group of contestants so far. The daughter of actor Ray Winstone, Jaime is recognised for roles in films including Made in Dagenham, Kidulthood and Love, Rosie. She also received praise for portraying Barbara Windsor in the BBC drama Babs and appeared as Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders flashback episodes.

Winstone said she was thrilled to join the Strictly cast and described the ballroom as a completely new world despite already being familiar with performing. She said she loved challenges and was ready to enter a glamorous new era filled with sparkle, music and dancing.

Alongside the confirmed stars, several celebrities are still being linked with the 2026 series. Former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips is among the names rumoured to be joining. Producers are reportedly interested in bringing another football personality to the show, with hopes that his famous father Ian Wright could also become a regular presence in the audience.

Former football referee Mark Clattenburg has also been mentioned as a possible contestant. Since retiring from refereeing, he has appeared as the head referee on the BBC’s Gladiators reboot, and reports suggest his broad appeal among sports fans and families could make him a strong addition.

Jake Quickenden is another name connected to the upcoming series. The singer, actor and reality television personality has previously appeared on The X Factor, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and won Dancing on Ice in 2018. His previous performance experience is believed to have attracted the attention of Strictly producers.

With a combination of soap stars, musicians, athletes, presenters and reality personalities, the 2026 edition of Strictly Come Dancing is set to deliver a noticeably different line-up. The BBC’s decision to introduce new hosts and expand its casting choices suggests the competition is entering a new era while still maintaining the familiar glamour, drama and excitement that have made it a television favourite for years.