Strictly Come Dancing 2026: songs, dances and voting

The first live show of *Strictly Come Dancing* 2026 brings together 15 couples, but nobody will be eliminated and the public vote will not open yet. The judges’ scores will carry over to week two, when viewers get their first opportunity to vote. To check songs and styles without mixing in details from previous seasons, the main reference is the BBC’s official week-one announcement.

The 15 confirmed songs and dances

The opening selection covers Quickstep, Samba, Tango, Cha Cha, Jive, Foxtrot and Paso Doble. This is the week-one lineup published by the BBC:

• Bethany and Nancy: Quickstep to “Stop This Flame” by Celeste;
• Dani and Nikita: Samba to “Lush Life” by Zara Larsson;
• Delta and Kai: Samba to “Baianá” by Barbatuques;
• Jaime and Carlos: Tango to “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer;
• Lacey and Vito: Cha Cha to “How Will I Know” by Whitney Houston;
• Melanie and Aljaž: Cha Cha to “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” by Elton John and Kiki Dee;
• Dame Sarah and Julian: Quickstep to “C’est Magnifique” by Kay Starr;
• Tabby and Mark: Jive to “Animal” by KATSEYE;
• Cach and Maddie: Quickstep to “I Just Might” by Bruno Mars;
• Chris and Amy: Tango to “No Roots” by Alice Merton;
• Graeme and Lauren: Cha Cha to “Hound Dog”, the *Smokey Joe’s Café* version;
• John and Katya: Foxtrot to “Ordinary” by Alex Warren;
• Lawrence and Jowita: Paso Doble to “Aperture” by Harry Styles;
• Shaun and Alexis: Cha Cha to “Lil Boo Thang” by Paul Russell;
• Will and Dianne: Samba to “Rock DJ” by Robbie Williams.

The repertoire is notably broad: it places Donna Summer, Whitney Houston and Elton John alongside songs associated with KATSEYE, Bruno Mars and Harry Styles, as well as “Baianá” by Brazilian group Barbatuques.

How week one works

All 15 couples dance for the first time and receive scores from Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke. The BBC explicitly says there is no public vote or elimination in this round. Any page offering a vote during the premiere therefore does not match the official schedule described for 2026.

The scores are not discarded: they carry over to week two. Only then will viewers get their first chance to vote for their favourites. The supplied source does not explain who is eligible, which methods will be accepted or whether people outside the UK can participate. Those conditions should be checked in the programme’s “Vote” section once the BBC publishes instructions for the round.

The opening routine and new presenters

Before the couples perform, the professionals, presenters and judges take part in a group number set to an orchestral version of “Joy” by RAYE. This edition also introduces the presenting trio of Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe.

That distinction prevents the opening number from being confused with the 15 competitive routines. RAYE’s song belongs to the group opener, not to an individual couple’s entry. Likewise, the judges’ first scores will matter later even though nobody leaves during the premiere.

Where to check broadcasts and episodes

The official *Strictly Come Dancing* BBC page brings together episodes, clips, galleries, celebrities, *It Takes Two* and voting. In the version consulted on 26 September 2026, it identified the competition as series 24, displayed Week 1 on BBC One and offered controls to watch live or from the start.

The same page displayed BBC iPlayer content, including “Training Room Diaries — Week One”. This confirms that season material appears on the platform, but it does not establish that every episode is available in every country. Times, catalogue duration and territorial access can change, so open the official page when you intend to watch.

For viewers outside the UK, the safest approach is to check the availability that the BBC itself displays for their location. The consulted sources do not confirm international broadcasters, alternative services, free access, availability windows or a legitimate way around territorial restrictions.

How to avoid mixing up seasons

The programme page keeps results and material from earlier years, including references to the 2025 and 2024 winners and other editions. When searching for a clip or episode, check for “Series 24” and “Week 1”, since a search for the programme’s name can surface archive content.

It also helps to separate three kinds of information: the Media Centre carries editorial announcements such as the song-and-dance list; the programme page organises episodes and video; and the “Vote” section should hold the rules once voting opens. Because schedules, availability and voting mechanisms can change, always consult the official link before watching or taking part.

The key facts about the premiere are straightforward: all 15 couples dance, the judges score them, nobody is eliminated and viewers do not vote yet. The competition starts to carry consequences in week two, when the accumulated scores are joined by the opening public vote.