Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Unveils Biggest-Ever BBC iPlayer Line-Up With New Spin-Off Show

Strictly Come Dancing fans will have more ways than ever to follow the BBC dance competition as BBC iPlayer launches its biggest-ever range of Strictly programming.

The BBC is expanding its digital offering around Strictly Come Dancing this year with a brand-new spin-off, exclusive rehearsal content and new features designed to give viewers even greater access to the competition.

Leading the new line-up is Strictly: Lights Up, a new weekly programme hosted by comedian Abi Clarke and presenter and former Strictly star Tyler West.

The show will be available exclusively on BBC iPlayer every Sunday night immediately after the results show.

Viewers will be taken straight back to the Strictly dance floor, where Abi and Tyler will get the first reactions from the couple who have been eliminated, as well as their dance-off opponents.

The pair will also speak to the judges, presenters, professional dancers, celebrities and other guests for immediate reaction to the night’s dramatic results.

More Strictly content coming to BBC iPlayer

The new spin-off is part of a dedicated Strictly Come Dancing hub on BBC iPlayer, which will bring together the main programme and a host of new exclusive content.

Fans will be able to watch new weekly training room episodes, with Abi Clarke heading into rehearsals to meet different celebrity and professional dancer pairings as they prepare for their next routine.

A new weekly Strictly highlights show will also recap the biggest moments from the competition.

For those who want to relive specific performances, every dance from the 2026 series will be available to watch individually on iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is also introducing chapters to every Strictly Come Dancing episode for the first time. The feature will allow viewers to quickly move between couples and revisit particular performances or memorable moments without having to watch the entire episode again.

When does Strictly: Lights Up begin?

The new series will premiere on Sunday, October 4, following the first results show of the 2026 competition.

Strictly Come Dancing returned with its launch show on Saturday, September 19, before the live competition gets underway on Saturday, September 26 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

The first celebrity couple will leave the competition on the following weekend, with Strictly: Lights Up then providing viewers with the immediate aftermath.

BBC Studios promises more access for Strictly fans

Sarah James, Senior Executive Producer for BBC Studios, said the expanded iPlayer offering reflects the show’s growing popularity with streaming audiences.

“With Strictly’s iPlayer audience growing year-on-year, this is the perfect time to announce a range of new exclusives that will bring viewers closer to Strictly than ever before. Hosted by the brilliant Abi and Tyler, Lights Up will be a post-results show like no other – taking you straight on to the Strictly dancefloor for all of the immediate reaction that previously remained unseen. Across the main shows, BBC iPlayer and Strictly socials, there’s never been so much for Strictly fans to enjoy.”

The BBC says Strictly Come Dancing has seen its iPlayer audience increase every year since 2022, cementing its position as one of the platform’s most popular entertainment programmes.

The show’s reach has also extended well beyond television and streaming. The 2025 series generated more than one billion video views across social media, highlighting the continued appetite for Strictly content between episodes.

The main series and its connected programmes are produced by BBC Studios Entertainment Productions for the BBC.

The new Strictly: Lights Up series and additional digital programmes were commissioned by Dan McGolpin, Director of BBC iPlayer and Channels, and Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment. Jo Wallace and Jamie Dodds are the commissioning editors, with Toby Leveson serving as digital series producer.

Share this post with someone you think would like it: