“Strictly Come Dancing” 2026 begins its live shows on Saturday, with all 15 couples performing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Nobody faces elimination in the opening week.
TV Guide lists the September 26 broadcast at 6:15 pm UK time, ending at 8:45 pm. That gives the episode a running time of two hours and 30 minutes.
Viewers met the celebrity-professional partnerships during last week’s pre-recorded launch. Each pair now performs a full competitive routine for the judges.
Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke award their first scores of the series. Presenters Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe lead the broadcast.
Saturday’s routines include cha-cha-chas, sambas, quicksteps and tangos.
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No public vote takes place this week. Judges’ scores carry forward to week two, when viewers get their first opportunity to vote. The bottom two couples then face the series’ first dance-off.
