Australian singer-songwriter and actress Delta Goodrem has announced she is "absolutely thrilled" to be joining Strictly Come Dancing 2026, adding she "can’t wait to get started".
The 41-year-old will appear on the hit BBC dancing programme this autumn, competing for the coveted glitterball trophy against stars including EastEnders actress Lacey Turner and reality personality Dani Dyer.
Goodrem said: “I’ve been incredibly honoured to perform on many different stages throughout my career – from TV, theatre, film sets, to touring my own shows around the world.
“There is, however, one stage I’ve never stepped onto and that is the ballroom floor. I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Strictly and can’t wait to get started.”
The news was revealed in a post to the show’s official Instagram on Friday night, and the caption said that “the Strictly Come Dancing class of 2026 is growing”.
Broadcaster Emma Willis, professional dancer Johannes Radebe and comedian Josh Widdicombe were announced as the new hosts for the upcoming series after the departures of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Earlier this week, the BBC show surprised fans with the first cast announcement on Wednesday (10 June), confirming that Turner – best known for her role as Stacey Slater in EastEnders – would be competing on this year’s series.
The news was confirmed on Strictly’s social channels earlier than usual – with the cast typically being revealed later in the summer. Further announcements are due to take place throughout the summer ahead of the show’s launch in September.
Turner said in a statement: “I am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing!
“I am a huge fan and can’t quite believe I will be taking part and not watching at home this year! I look forward to meeting everyone and learning a new skill!”
A day later, Strictly revealed Love Island winner Dyer as the second contestant to join the 2026 cast – marking her return to the show after dropping out due to injury last year.
“I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September!” she said in a statement. “I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one! I’m just over the moon and cannot wait to find out who else is doing it.”
The new series of Strictly Come Dancing will return to screens this September and be available to stream on BBC One and iPlayer.
