Strictly pro dancers returning for 2026: Who’s in and who’s out?
Aljaž Škorjanec, Julian Caillon and Kai Widdrington are among the pros returning (BBC/Ray Burmiston)
After weeks of speculation, the BBC has confirmed which of the Strictly Come Dancing pros are returning for the 2026 series – and who is out.
Last year, all of the professional dancers from the previous series returned, alongside new pros Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon.
However there has been a bit of a bloodbath on the dancefloor between then and now.
Which Strictly pros are returning for 2026?
The professional dancers making their returns are: Alexis Warr, Julian Caillon, Dianne Buswell, Amy Dowden, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kizmin, Jowita Przystał, Johannes Radebe (who confirmed his return in January), Aljaž Škorjanec, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlus Gu, Lauren Oakley and Vito Coppola.
It’s also been confirmed that some new pros will be joining the line-up, but they won’t be revealed until closer to the series this autumn.
Which Strictly pros have left the show?
Of last year’s pros, five names won’t be returning. They are: Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Gorka Márquez, Luba Mushtuk, and Michelle Tsiakkas.
Bychkova confirmed her exit in March, saying she would “always be grateful” for the experience. She added: “This isn’t the end… I look forward to being part of the Strictly world for many years to come in ways I am beginning to explore.”
Her exit came days after Hauer confirmed she had decided to step away, saying it was the “right time” after 14 years with the show.
Fan-favourite Márquez confirmed in April he was leaving the show after 10 years. However, he has been a judge on the Spanish version of the show – Ballando con las Estrellas – since its second season, and was not given a celebrity partner on Strictly last year because of it.
Mushtuk confirmed her exit in a March Instagram post after a decade on the show. “Now it’s time for me to follow my dreams beyond the show, and I’m excited for what the future holds,” she said.
Tsiakkas also confirmed her exit, telling The Sun that her “dream was shattered” and she was told by producers she would not be returning.
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