Strictly 2026: BBC unveils dances and songs for first live show

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The complete lineup of routines and musical choices for the opening live edition of Strictly Come Dancing 2026 has been released by the BBC.

Following on from last weekend’s launch episode, the initial live performance show of the new series is set to air this Saturday.

Broadcasters have unveiled the dances all 15 celebrity contestants and their professional partners will be taking on, along with the songs accompanying each routine.

Actor Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu will take on a quickstep to “Stop This Flame” by Celeste, while musician Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington will perform a samba to Barbatuques’ “Baiana”.

Actor Jaime Winstone and reigning champion Carlos Gu will dance a tango to “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer, and EastEnders actor Lacey Turner partners Vito Coppola for a cha cha to Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know”.

New 'Strictly' hosts Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe — New ‘Strictly’ hosts Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe (PA)

Actor Melanie Walters and Aljaz Skorjanec are also dancing a cha cha, set to “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” by Elton John and Kiki Dee.

Paralympic legend Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon will present a quickstep to Kay Starr’s “C’est Magnifique”, Olympian Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita will jive to “Animal” by Katseye, and Love Island winner Cach Mercer and partner Maddie Ingoldsby will do a quickstep to “I Just Might” by Bruno Mars.

Further routines include a tango to Alice Merton’s “No Roots” from Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden, and a cha cha to the Smokey Joe’s Cafe version of “Hound Dog” performed by Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly trainer Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley.

Social media personality John Nellis and Katya Jones will dance a foxtrot to “Ordinary” by Alex Warren, Emmerdale star Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystal have a paso doble to Harry Styles’s “Aperture”, while former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr will do a cha cha to Paul Russell’s Lil “Boo Thang”.

Melanie Walters and Aljaz Skorjanec will dance a cha cha (PA)

Earlier this week it was also revealed that former Love Island winner Dani Dyer-Bowen will perform a samba with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin.

It was then announced that TV presenter Will Best and dancer Dianne Buswell would also dance a samba – to “Rock DJ” by Robbie Williams.

The first live show will also see the hosts, professionals and judges open the show with a group number set to an orchestral version of “Joy” by Raye.

A peak of 5.8 million viewers tuned in to the Strictly Come Dancing launch episode on Saturday night which revealed the pairings for the new series.

According to BBC overnight figures, the episode saw 200,000 more viewers at its peak than the 2025 launch show.

The show was also the first for new hosts Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe, who replaced long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman after they stepped down in 2025.

Strictly will return for its first live show of the new season on Saturday at 6.15pm on BBC One and iPlayer.