I break betting odds news as it happens, so you’re never left behind when the market moves or a top offer lands.
- Five celebrities now confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2026
- Lauren Oakley leads the professional dancer market at 6/4
- Cach Mercer heads the early celebrity betting at 3/1 following his dance background on social media
Revamped Strictly Line-Up Takes Shape
Strictly Come Dancing fans checking betting sites this week have plenty to sink their teeth into, with the show's biggest overhaul in years now well underway.
Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe are taking over hosting and mentoring duties from Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, while five long-serving professionals, including Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez, have departed the roster entirely.
With that shake-up as the backdrop, markets have opened on both the winning professional dancer and the winning celebrity for the 2026 series, and the early prices already make for interesting reading.
Five celebrities have been confirmed so far, with EastEnders' Lacey Turner first through the door in June, followed by Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton and, most recently, Love Island 2025 winner Cach Mercer, whose signing has generated plenty of buzz thanks to his existing reputation as a dancer on social media.
Entertainment Betting Sites: Best Bookmakers Compared on Reality TV, Entertainment and Novelty Bets
Winning Professional Dancer Odds
| Winning Professional | Odds* | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Lauren Oakley | 6/4 | 40.0% |
| Vito Coppola | 2/1 | 33.3% |
| Alexis Warr | 2/1 | 33.3% |
| Dianne Buswell | 5/2 | 28.6% |
| Katya Jones | 5/2 | 28.6% |
| Carlos Gu | 3/1 | 25.0% |
| Nikita Kuzmin | 3/1 | 25.0% |
| Jowita Przystał | 4/1 | 20.0% |
| Julian Caillon | 4/1 | 20.0% |
| Aljaž Škorjanec | 6/1 | 14.3% |
| Kai Widdrington | 8/1 | 11.1% |
*As betting sites currently aren't taking bets on this event, odds have been compiled as theoretical probability from an entertainment perspective only and come from an industry expert
Lauren Oakley heads the market as a fairly short 6/4 favourite, with Vito Coppola and Alexis Warr close behind at 2/1 apiece.
With so many established names having left the show, this year's professional market feels more open than usual, and the strong showing for names like Dianne Buswell and Katya Jones at 5/2 suggests the experts still expect experience to count for plenty once celebrity pairings are confirmed in the coming weeks.
Winning Celebrity Odds
The celebrity market, priced by Ladbrokes, has also started to take shape following Cach Mercer's confirmation:
| Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Winner | Odds | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Cach Mercer | 3/1 | 25.0% |
| Dani Dyer | 4/1 | 20.0% |
| Lacey Turner | 6/1 | 14.3% |
| Delta Goodrem | 8/1 | 11.1% |
| Chris Appleton | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Cach Mercer's dance background, built through his Afrobeat, hip-hop and street dance content online, has clearly caught bookmakers' attention, with Ladbrokes making him the early 3/1 favourite despite only just being confirmed for the show.
Dani Dyer, who was forced to withdraw from last year's series through injury before the live shows began, follows at 4/1 as she looks to finally make it to week one, while Lacey Turner, Delta Goodrem and Chris Appleton round out the current market.
Where to Bet on Strictly Come Dancing
With plenty more celebrities still to be confirmed, this is very much an evolving market, and it's well worth comparing prices across a range of betting sites before getting involved, many of which offer free bets for new customers wanting to dip into entertainment specials for the first time.
Our guide to the best entertainment betting sites is also worth a browse if you're planning to follow the Strictly markets closely throughout the series.
