Strictly Come Dancing has just dropped a bombshell with 5 brand-new professional dancers for the 2026 season — and fans are going CRAZY!
Strictly Come Dancing announces FIVE new professional dancers joining the 2026 line-up
We should be getting some very good Latin dances this year.
It’s all change at Strictly Come Dancing this year. We’ve got three new hosts, while a whole host of professional dancers were confirmed to not be coming back another season. In their place, we’ve got five new pros looking to shake things up the dancefloor in 2026.
These newcomers hail from the UK, Canada, Italy, South Africa and Ukraine, and have some impressive achievements under their sequinned belts already.
So who are they? Well, the best way to meet them is via this quick promo video released by the BBC. And if you read on, we’ll share even more details about the “fab-u-lous” new five.
First up is Aleksandra Isaeva, a multiple Ukrainian National Latin Champion who now lives in Italy. She is ranked as one of the top 21 Latin dancers in the entire world!
“I’ve been living and breathing dance for as long as I can remember, so joining the Strictly family is a true honour”, she said.
“The thought of learning from and sharing this experience with such extraordinary dancers, choreographers and the whole Strictly family still gives me goosebumps. I can’t wait to pour my whole heart into every performance, inspire others and be inspired along the way!”
Looking at her Instagram, she’s also very good friends with our next new Strictly pro. Could there be some friendly rivalry between them?
Cristian Priori is a four-time Italian Latin Champion who had been ranked in the world’s top 24 Latin dancers for a whopping eight years in a row. He’s performed in Blackpool before as part of at least one major competition, but will he make it that far in Strictly this year?
“Saying yes to Strictly was an easy decision”, he stated. “Dance has always been my way of expressing myself, and I’m so excited to begin this new chapter.
“I’m ready to give my all, enjoy every moment of this amazing journey, and embrace everything it has to offer. Strictly is where passion, hard work and entertainment come together, so being part of it is a real privilege.”
His Instagram page is very dance-focused, but we scrolled back a fair bit and saw that he had a blonde phase in 2020. Didn’t we all?
Next up is Lethabo Monametsi, another Latin champion in her home country of South Africa, where it was their version of Strictly that inspired her to dance. She’s since won TV dance competition show Dance Yo Dumo, performed on The Masked Dancer SA, and even performed on stage with the legendary diva Diana Ross.
She said: “This moment is bigger than me. I step into it with profound gratitude and deep humility, knowing it is the culmination of years of unwavering love, belief, and support from the people who dared to dream alongside me.
“Representing South Africa on the Strictly Come Dancing stage is far more than a career milestone, it is an honour beyond words, and I cannot wait to embrace every extraordinary moment of this journey.”
Her Instagram page shows that she’s very politically active, and actually has a Law Major degree.
Coming from Canada, we’ve got Mark Karmalita, a — you guessed it — Latin champion. He also competed in Blackpool at the Under 21 Latin Dance Festival, where he was ranked 10th in the world.
“Joining Strictly feels incredibly special,” he said, “and I’m honoured to be stepping into a ballroom with so much history and heart. I can’t wait to bring my own style, connect with the audience, and enjoy every moment along the way.”
At the time of writing, he only has a handful of posts on Instagram, but hopefully he’ll share some fun behind-the-scenes moments once Strictly starts up.
Finally, there’s home-grown professional Maddie Ingoldsby, a national Ballroom champion and eight-time amateur 10-Dance world champion. She was already crowned the world rising and under 21 world ballroom champion, featured in the film Last Christmas, and played Annie on the West End.
You may also have seen her on Strictly: It Takes Two and as part of the professional dancers’ big group numbers on the Strictly Christmas special.
“Joining Strictly as a professional dancer is truly a dream come true”, she said. “My heart is so full of gratitude, excitement, and anticipation as I begin this incredible new chapter.
“Dance has always been where I feel most myself, and to now share my heart, my creativity, and my love for it on a show that has inspired millions is an honour beyond words.”
Her Instagram is a mix of dance content and cute holiday photos that really make us want to be in the sea right now.
“Aleksandra, Cristian, Lethabo, Maddie and Mark are all outstanding world class dancers and we can’t wait to see them shine under the Strictly glitterball this September”, said BBC Studios executive producer Sarah James.
BBC Entertainment’s senior commissioning editor Jo Wallace added: “It’s so exciting to welcome the brilliantly talented Aleksandra, Cristian, Lethabo, Maddie and Mark.
“As if the return of Strictly wasn’t shaping up to be fab-u-lous enough already, they’re five more reasons why the new series is not to be missed.”
On the Instagram promo video, fellow pro Amy Dowden said: “Welcome to the family all! Let’s do this can’t wait to share the floor with you all xxxx.”
If you want to know which professional dancers will be returning for this season from previous years, we’ve got you covered.
