The Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour 2026 dates dropped this morning – and within minutes the glitterball had well and truly shattered.

Yes, the nation’s favourite sequinned juggernaut is back, hitting nine cities from Birmingham to Belfast, kicking off at Utilita Arena Birmingham on 16 January and climaxing with a mammoth six shows at London’s O2. But while the tour producers were popping champagne, fans were sobbing into their salsa skirts over one devastating truth: four of the biggest names from the 2025 series are MISSING from the lineup.

And darling, the reasons are even juicier than a Vito Coppola hip thrust.

WHO’S IN (AND STILL WILLING TO PUT UP WITH THE BUS):

• Janette Manrara & Aljaž Škorjanec (tour hosts – safe)
• Kai Widdrington
• Nancy Xu
• Carlos Gu & Karen Carney (YES, our 2025 champions are coming!)
• Vito Coppola & Scarlett Moffatt (Christmas special winners – double crowning glory)
• Nadiya Bychkova
• Neil Jones
• Nikita Kuzmin
• Gorka Márquez
• Michelle Tsiakkas
• Lauren Oakley

WHO’S OUT – AND WHY FANS ARE ABSOLUTELY LOSING IT:

1. Amy Dowden – “Completely exhausted” The Welsh wonder, who made an emotional return in 2025 after her breast cancer battle, has confirmed she will NOT be touring. Sources say Amy is “utterly devastated” to miss it but has been told by doctors she needs proper rest after an “incredibly intense” year. “Amy pushed her body to the absolute limit this series,” a close friend told us. “She was in tears when she made the call. The tour bus is brutal – 35 shows in 24 days – and her medical team said no.”
2. Dianne Buswell – “Furious and heartbroken” In the biggest shock of the morning, 2025 runner-up Dianne and her celebrity partner – who reached the final in one of the most emotional journeys ever seen – are BOTH absent. Insiders claim Dianne is “fuming” after a blazing backstage row with producers over costume choices and rehearsal schedules. “She feels utterly disrespected after giving everything,” a source dished. “Dianne told mates she won’t be treated like a second-class pro anymore.”
3. Giovanni Pernice – Still banned Obviously. The Sicilian stallion remains persona non grata after the 2024 bullying scandal. Tour bosses quietly confirmed he was never even approached. One production insider sneered: “Giovanni who?”
4. Jowita Przystał – The mystery no-show The 2024 champion and bookies’ favourite to host sections of the tour has vanished from the lineup entirely. Whispers in the Strictly WhatsApp groups suggest Jowita turned down the offer after being “snubbed” for the main TV hosting auditions following Tess and Claudia’s exit. “She wanted more than just being a pro on the bus,” a mole spilled. “Jowita’s ambitious – she’s not here to make up the numbers.”

FANS ARE IN ABSOLUTE PIECES:

Social media has erupted in floods of tears:

“Amy not touring has actually ruined my 2026 😭😭😭” “No Dianne?! That’s it. I’m not going. Refund me now.” “Jowita deserved to be hosting the tour after winning in 2024 – this is criminal!” “Carlos and Karen are doing it but their runner-up isn’t? The fix is in.”

One devastated mother from Sheffield wailed: “I’ve already bought tickets for my daughter who is disabled and idolises Amy. She’s sobbing. How do you explain to an eight-year-old that her hero is too ill because she danced too hard for us?”

BUT WAIT – THERE’S MORE SHADE:

Eagle-eyed fans also noticed the official tour poster features a very specific top row: Carlos, Vito, Kai, Nadiya, Nancy – with Karen and Scarlett front and centre. No sign of the other celebrity rumoured guests (yes, we’re side-eyeing you, Chelsee Healey and Sam Quek).

A tour insider admitted: “We begged certain celebs to come back but some said the money wasn’t enough after what they were offered for panto. Others just want to collapse until next September.”

THE WINNERS WHO SAID YES:

Thank the lord for small mercies – our actual 2025 champions Karen Carney and Carlos Gu ARE touring, with Karen telling us exclusively: “Carlos has promised me no more 6am training sessions on the bus. I’m holding him to that!”

Christmas winners Scarlett Moffatt and Vito Coppola will also bring their viral Grinch routine to arenas, with Scarlett joking: “Vito’s already banned me from eating Greggs on tour week. Rude.”

THE DATES (FOR THOSE STILL GOING):

• 16–18 Jan: Birmingham Utilita Arena
• 20–22 Jan: Sheffield Utilita Arena
• 23–25 Jan: Newcastle Utilita Arena
• 27–29 Jan: Glasgow OVO Hydro
• 30 Jan–1 Feb: Manchester AO Arena
• 3–5 Feb: Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
• 6–8 Feb: Belfast SSE Arena
• 10–15 Feb: London The O2 (six shows!)

Tickets went on sale this morning and – despite the no-shows – the London O2 dates sold out in seven minutes. Because this is Britain, and we will quite literally watch paint dry if it’s covered in sequins.

As one furious fan summed it up: “Four of the best pros missing, but sure, let’s pay £100 to watch Neil Jones do the running man for 2 minutes. Brilliant.”

Strictly bosses remained tight-lipped when approached, but a spokesperson cooed: “We’re thrilled with this year’s incredible line-up and can’t wait to bring the magic of Strictly to arenas across the UK.”

Translation: We’re panicking backstage and have already begged Amy to reconsider.

Hold onto your jazz shoes, darlings – the Strictly Live Tour 2026 is serving drama before it’s even started.

And if you needed any more proof that this show runs on pure chaos, tears and sequins… here it is.