Strictly 2026: All the pairings and fan reaction after launch show

Strictly Come Dancing is officially back, with new dancers, new hosts, and now, new couples, all making their debut on the dance floor.

The pre-recorded launch show saw our 15 new celebs paired off with 15 of our professional dancers, though this time the pairings were done in a way we’ve never seen before.

Rather than having the celebrities find out their partners one by one, the celebrities met their professional dancer during a group dance routine.

Dani Dyer was speaking to Strictly’s new hosts (Guy Levy/BBC)

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“There is much more movement. This is something that they have never done on the show before,” said new host Emma Willils of the new twist, just days before the launch show.

Here is the full list of couples set to dance their way into our hearts this autumn:

• Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby

• Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu

• Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden

• Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin

Dani Dyer has been partner with Nikita Kuzmin on Strictly

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• Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington

• Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley

• Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu

• John Nellis and Katya Jones

• Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola

Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr

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• Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał

• Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec

• Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon

• Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr

Melanie Walters and Aljaz Skorjanec

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• Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita

• Will Best and Dianne Buswell.

Fans have reacted to the new pairings on social media, with viewers particulalry excited about the same-sex pairing.

It’s been three years since the Strictly featured a same-sex couple, with Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin making the final of the competition in 2023.

This year, House of the Dragon star Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu will be dancing it out for the Glitterball Trophy.

“Strictly FINALLY having a female same sex pairing with finalist potential is AMAZING!!,” wrote one fan.

Nancy Xu and Bethany Antonia

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“Nancy has been one of my favourite pros since the day she joined, I adore her energy and joy. Her and Bethany are going to be a special partnership and a VERY important one!!”

“I love Bethany and Nancy together they are so precious,” said a third.

Other viewers were not so happy with this year’s line-up, with some branding it the "worst line-up ever".

"Not got the foggiest who half of these are", one viewer posted. A second said: "When they say, "Let's meet the Celebrities", l never tire of saying 'Who?' for every single 'celebrity'."

However, not everyone was as negative, with one user commenting: “Who cares if we've heard of the contestants or not?

“It's a dance show at the end of the day. This time last year I didn't know who most of the celebs were but it didn't matter."

The first live show starts next week on Saturday, September 26.