All Strictly pros who have left BBC show for 2026 series

Gorka Marquez is the latest to confirm that he has left Strictly Come Dancing, but he is not the only dancer who will not be back for the next series.

Reports have suggested that there are plans to reinvent the series, particularly off the back of long-time presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly leaving.

Here are all the Strictly pros who have left the BBC show and will not be back for its next series later this year.

All Strictly pros who have left BBC show for 2026 series

Karen Hauer

Karen was the show’s longest-serving Strictly professional in the current roster at the time she was axed.

A source said at the time that the dancer was “very upset after being told the news” but was “trying to remain positive about the future”.

She joined Strictly in 2012, with her most successful series being in 2020, when she came runner-up alongside Made in Chelsea’s Jamie Laing.

Karen Hauer was the long-serving pro when she left (Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

With Karen’s exit, the longest-standing current Strictly professional is now Aljaž Škorjanec, who has been in all but two series in 2022 and 2023 since 2013.

Nadiya Bychkova

Nadiya Bychkova was another who was axed from the BBC dance show after she had been on the series for nearly a decade.

Her best result was in the 2021 series with TV star Dan Walker, where the pair finished fifth.

Despite leaving the show, she wrote: “This isn’t the end… I look forward to being part of the Strictly world for many years to come in ways I am beginning to explore.

“I’m excited to have time to focus on new projects, and to spend more precious time with my beautiful daughter. Life feels full of possibilities.”

Luba Mushtuk

Russian pro Luba revealed she was leaving Strictly in late March, after being part of the series for 10 years.

“Thank you for the amazing opportunity and the unforgettable memories”, she said in a statement at the time.

Fans were sad to see the dancer leave, with one saying they were “ruining the show”.

Another wrote: “You’re going to have to let us in on your strategy for this mass cull because loyal viewers like myself root for all the pros and I have really struggled to understand why they are doing this.”

Michelle Tsiakkas

Cyprus-born dancer Tsiakkas said she had “hoped to have more time” on the BBC dancing competition in a statement at the time.

She only joined in 2022 and did not receive a partner in the last series.

She also revealed that she had made the “very hard decision” to pull out from the upcoming Strictly: The Professionals tour.

The BBC wrote: “Her talent, dedication and energy have been much appreciated, and everyone wishes her all the very best for what comes next.”

Gorka Marquez

Gorka is the latest Strictly pro to reveal that they are not returning in 2026.

He was another long-standing dancer, having joined in 2016, and been runner-up three times, most recently in 2022 with Helen Skelton.

The show’s official Instagram account hailed the Spanish star as “a hugely popular” part of the show.

They said: “We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Gorka for his exceptional contribution to Strictly Come Dancing over the years.”

Other changes for Strictly Come Dancing in 2026

The next series of Strictly may seem very different to many viewers, with bosses reportedly overhauling the show.

The big one is the departure of long-term hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

Names have been flying around regarding potential replacements, including names like Alex Jones, Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark, and Emma Willis.

The popular companion show, Strictly – It Takes Two, is also reportedly being scrapped in favor of a “vodcast” format aimed at reaching a wider, younger audience.

The format would allegedly similar to The Traitors spin-off Uncloaked, hosted by Ed Gamble.

Rumours say that Janette Manrara and Fleur East may not return.

Which dancer(s) will you miss most in the next series of Strictly Come Dancing? Let us know in the comments below.