The BBC has confirmed the return of the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour for 2026, with the production set to visit arenas across the UK from January through February. The tour will feature a selection of contestants from the current 2025 season competing for the Glitter Ball trophy in multiple cities. While the celebrity lineup remains unannounced, the judging panel and host have been finalized for the nationwide shows.

The tour schedule begins on January 23rd at Birmingham's Utilita Arena and concludes on February 15th at London's O2 Arena. Additional stops include Newcastle's Utilita Arena, Leeds' First Direct Arena, Manchester's AO Arena, and Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena. Each venue will host multiple performances daily, with shows scheduled for 2:30pm and 7:30pm throughout the tour's 30-show run.

Judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, and Craig Revel Horwood will return to the judging table for all performances, while professional dancer Janette Manrara will serve as tour host. Ballas expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming tour, stating: "The Strictly Live Tour is always the best way to start the new year. So I can't wait for 2026 to be back on the road with Anton and Craig and bring the magic of Strictly to fans across the country."

Ticket presales begin on September 25th through Ticketmaster, with general sales expected to follow. The tour will feature accessibility accommodations including British Sign Language interpreters displayed on large screens during all performances. Ticket prices are anticipated to be similar to previous years, starting from approximately £41.95.

London's Metropolitan Police has reversed its longstanding position on grooming gangs in the capital, acknowledging for the first time that it has multiple active investigations into group-based child sexual exploitation. The shift came after an investigation by MyLondon and The Daily Express challenged official statements from both police leadership and Mayor Sadiq Khan, who had consistently maintained there were "no reports" or "no indication" of Rochdale or Rotherham-style rape gangs operating in London.

The investigation uncovered evidence from four separate His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services reports spanning 2016 to 2025 that documented at least six potential victims of grooming gang abuse. These case studies, which the Mayor of London personally responded to according to public statements, described children as young as 13 being exploited by groups of predatory men. The reports detailed how girls were plied with drugs and alcohol, raped in hotels by multiple perpetrators, and subjected to life-threatening situations.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley revealed to Assembly Members at City Hall that the force now acknowledges a "steady flow" of live multi-offender child sexual exploitation investigations and a "very significant" number of historic cases requiring reinvestigation. The commissioner estimated these reviews would cost "millions of pounds a year, for several years" to properly investigate, contradicting previous assertions that the force had "not seen" such cases in London.

Political figures including Reform UK MP Lee Anderson and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp have criticized the mayor's handling of the situation, with Anderson stating there is "real, credible evidence that grooming gangs exist in London" and Philp alleging that Khan is "facilitating a cover-up." A spokesman for the mayor maintained that Khan has "always been clear that the safety of Londoners is his top priority" and remains "committed to doing all he can to protect children in London."