The Strictly 2026 cast are ready to hit the dancefloor! (Picture: BBC/Ray Burmiston/Artwork – BBC Creative)
The Strictly Come Dancing 2026 couples have officially been confirmed in tonight’s Saturday night launch show, including one same-sex pairing that’s left fans over the moon.
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.
The first same-sex couple was Nicola Adams and Katya Jones in 2020, followed by John Whaite and Johannes Radebe in 2021, Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer in 2022, and Richie Anderson and Giovanni Pernice in the same series.
And now, House of the Dragon star Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu will be vying for the Glitterball Trophy.
Reacting to their partnership, Strictly fan Siobhan wrote on X: ‘Strictly FINALLY having a female same sex pairing with finalist potential is AMAZING!!
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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!! 😍🌈💕 #Strictly.’
Bethany said in Saturday night’s launch show that watching Nicola Adams and Katya Jones on Strictly helped her come out (Picture: Ray Burmiston/BBC/PA Wire)
‘I love Bethany and Nancy together they are so precious😭,’ commented Georgia, while Beth added: ‘BETHANY AND NANCY OMG 😍 I just know they’re about to be THE pairing for me this year.’
Nancy has been a fantastic pro on Strictly since she joined the show in 2019, receiving her first celebrity partner two years later with CBBC presenter Rhys Stephenson.
It’s been two years since she’s had a partner, having last competed with Shayne Ward in 2024 – and now it’s finally time for her to unleash her competitive spirit with Bethany.
Bethany Antonia will return as Baela in the fourth and final season of House of the Dragon. (Picture: HBO)
In recent years, Bethany’s gained prominence as Lady Baela Targaryen in House of the Dragon, the daughter of Matt Smith’s Daemon Targaryen and stepdaughter of Emma D’Arcy’s Rhaenyra Targaryen.
The 28-year-old, who’s appeared in other productions including Doctors, Get Even, Stay Close and Nolly, ‘couldn’t believe’ that she’d been cast in Strictly when she was announced in July.
‘I have grown up watching Strictly, and I am so excited to take the challenge on and (hopefully!) learn a new skill. See you on the dancefloor!’ she said at the time.
Who are the Strictly couples for the 2026 series?
The full line-up of celebrities and their pro dancer partners are:
Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola
Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley
Jowita Przystal and Lawrence Robb
Will Best and Dianne Buswell
Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr
Melanie Walters and Aljaz Skorjanec
Mark Karmalita and Tabby Stoecker,
Julian Caillon and Dame Sarah Storey
Maddie Ingoldsby and Cach Mercer
Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden
John Nellis and Katya Jones
Carlos Gu and Jaime Winstone
Nikita Kuzmin and Dani Dyer
Kai Widdrington and Delta Goodrem
Nancy Xu and Bethany Antonia
Just over a week ago, she shared a picture of herself in full Strictly glam, writing in her caption: ‘OKAY SO WE’RE DOING THIS 🪩🧑🏾🩰🧑🩰🕺❤️🤪.’
Several of her House of the Dragon co-stars shared messages in response in the comments, with Steve Toussaint writing: ‘👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿🔥🔥🔥 Go on girl!!!’ while Gayle Ranjin said that she was ‘SAT 🔥🔥🔥❤️❤️’.
‘So excited!!! Xxx,’ commented Russell T Davies, while her fellow competitor Dani Dyer added: ‘So so beautiful ❤️❤️❤️.’
Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday night on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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