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.

King Charles has joined forces with Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett in a previously unpublicized podcast recording focused on global conservation efforts. The 22-minute episode, titled "Unearthed: The Need For Seeds," was recorded in the private gardens of Windsor Castle in July and features the monarch alongside Blanchett and Kew seed scientist Dr. Elinor Breman. This marks only the second podcast recording in the King's public life, demonstrating his continued commitment to environmental causes that have defined much of his royal work.

The conversation centered on the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst, West Sussex, which King Charles originally opened in 2000 and has maintained an active interest in since. The facility represents one of the world's most ambitious conservation projects, having collected, cleaned, dried and stored nearly 2.5 billion seeds from more than 40,000 plant species in walk-in freezers maintained at minus 20 degrees Celsius. Both the King and Blanchett, who became Wakehurst's first ambassador last year, emphasized the critical importance of this work in preserving global biodiversity.

During the discussion, Blanchett expressed concern about the rapid loss of natural habitats, noting that "97 percent of wildflower meadows have been decimated" in recent decades. She highlighted the disconnect between perceived natural beauty and actual ecological fragility, stating that "there is an urgency to the work that the seed bank does." The King echoed this sentiment, reflecting on his long-standing awareness of environmental degradation, particularly the damage to flower-rich meadows since the postwar period.

The podcast also touched on broader conservation challenges, including the need for increased funding and public awareness. Blanchett pointed to the frustration of seeing "so many extraordinary initiatives right there ready to be scaled up" but lacking financial support and direction. King Charles acknowledged both the progress made and the need to accelerate conservation efforts, stating that while the seed bank's work is "wonderful," the process must speed up to address escalating environmental threats facing plant species worldwide.