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Strictly Adds 5 New Dancers for 2026!
25 Jul
Summary
- Five new professional dancers join Strictly for 2026.
- New additions include UK and World Latin dance champions.
- South African performer Lethabo Monametsi joins the cast.
The 2026 season of Strictly Come Dancing will feature five new professional dancers, shaking up the ballroom with fresh talent. Joining the cast are Maddie Ingoldsby, a UK National Ballroom Champion; Aleksandra Isaeva, a top-ranked Latin dancer from Ukraine; Lethabo Monametsi, a South African performer with experience alongside international stars; Cristian Priori, a four-time Latin dancing champion; and Mark Karmalita, a two-time Canadian National Latin Champion.
These new professionals are stepping in to replace Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, and Michelle Tsiakkas. Executive producer Sarah James expressed excitement, calling the new dancers "outstanding world class dancers." The upcoming series, premiering in September, will be hosted by Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe, and Josh Widdicombe.
