Dame Sarah Storey is the seventh celebrity confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2026

Strictly Come Dancing 2026 is coming! The hotly anticipated new series is getting ready to light up Saturday and Sunday nights this autumn on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with Paralympic legend Dame Sarah Storey joining the celebrity cast of 2026.

The news was announced on Friday 17 July via @bbcstrictly’s official social channels on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.

Dame Sarah Storey’s nineteen Paralympic gold medals make her the most successful British Paralympian of all time. Storey started her career as a swimmer and competed at four Paralympic Games before switching to cycling, winning an incredible total of 30 Paralympic medals across nine Games, including four golds at London 2012.

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One of the most powerful voices in Paralympic sport, Dame Sarah recently announced her retirement and is now ready for her next challenge - Strictly Come Dancing! Sarah will be the first Dame to compete in the show.

Dame Sarah Storey says: “Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting. I have always loved watching Strictly and my daughter Louisa is a very talented dancer, so to be able to learn from the best and hopefully understand even more about her world, is incredibly motivating! I can’t wait to get started!"

Dame Sarah joins Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer and Will Best in the 2026 Strictly Come Dancing line-up. Further news will be revealed throughout the summer ahead of the brand-new series getting underway on BBC One and iPlayer this September. You can add Strictly to your watchlist on BBC iPlayer now.

For all the latest breaking news from the ballroom check out our Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Everything You Need to Know guide.

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