It is Wednesday, January 14, 2026, and if you're sitting on your sofa with a cuppa wondering what time is strictly tonight, you might be in for a bit of a shock.
Actually, let's be blunt. You won't find the sequins on BBC One tonight.
It's one of those weird quirks of the TV calendar that trips everyone up. We get through the glitzy December final, the Christmas special fades into memory, and suddenly we're in the "Strictly void." But while the main show isn't airing, the 2026 Strictly ecosystem is actually moving at a frantic pace right now.
If you look at the BBC One schedule for tonight, January 14, the 8:00 pm slot is being held by Claudia Winkleman—but she's traded her ballroom gowns for a chunky knit sweater. The Traitors is currently the mid-week obsession, taking the prime-time spot where we usually crave a Quickstep.
Why Strictly isn't on TV right now
Strictly Come Dancing is a seasonal beast. It lives and breathes in the autumn. By the time we hit mid-January, the television production has completely wrapped.
Tonight, the BBC is leaning heavily into reality drama rather than dance scores. It's a bit of a transition period. Most people forget that the "Strictly year" doesn't actually end in December; it just changes form. If you're looking for the judges and the glitter, you have to look away from your TV screen and toward the UK's massive arenas.
The 2026 Live Tour is the real answer to "where is Strictly?" right now.
The 2026 Live Tour: Rehearsals are happening today
While you can't watch it tonight, the cast is literally working as we speak. Rehearsals for the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour 2026 officially kicked off this week.
It’s a massive operation. You’ve got the heavy hitters like Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, and Craig Revel Horwood getting the judging desk ready for a 30-show run. Janette Manrara is back as the host, probably fueled by more espresso than any human should consume, keeping the energy high as the celebs find their "dance legs" again after the holiday break.
The lineup for this year is actually pretty wild:
- George Clarke (the architect guy) is paired with Alexis Warr.
- Vicky Pattison is hitting the floor with Kai Widdrington.
- Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola are already fan favorites in the rehearsal clips.
- Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Gladiators' Nitro) is bringing the muscle with Karen Hauer.
- Layton Williams is even making a special guest return with Nikita Kuzmin because, honestly, we just couldn't get enough of them last time.
The tour doesn't actually "go live" to the public until January 23rd in Birmingham. So, tonight is strictly for the professionals and celebs to sweat it out in a rehearsal studio, perfecting those group numbers that look so effortless when they finally hit the Utilita Arena.
What to watch instead tonight
If you were specifically hoping for a fix of that BBC One sparkle at 8:00 pm, your best bet is The Traitors.
It’s funny, really. Claudia Winkleman has become the bridge between these two worlds. In 2024, people were worried she might leave Strictly to focus on the Scottish Highlands and capes, but she’s proven she can do both. Tonight’s episode is rumored to be one of the "bloodiest" round tables yet, which is a different kind of drama than a Craig Revel Horwood "3" score, but it’s just as addictive.
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If you really need dancing, the BBC iPlayer still has the 2025 final and the Christmas special available. They usually keep those up for a few months to catch the New Year's "I want to learn to dance" crowd.
When does the tour actually start?
If you're planning your life around the Strictly schedule, mark these dates down. This is the "strictly tonight" you’ll be looking for in a couple of weeks:
- Birmingham (Utilita Arena): January 23–25. This is the big launch.
- Newcastle: January 27–28.
- Leeds: January 29–30.
- Manchester (AO Arena): January 31–February 1.
The tour wraps up at the O2 in London on February 15th. It’s a grueling schedule. Two shows a day on weekends—one matinee and one evening—which is why the dancers are currently training like Olympic athletes today.
Actionable Steps for Strictly Fans
Honestly, if you missed out on the TV show and you’re feeling the withdrawal, here is what you should do right now:
- Check Ticketmaster or the official tour site: Since it’s mid-January, the prime weekend slots are mostly gone, but you can usually find "low availability" single tickets for the mid-week shows in places like Sheffield or Nottingham.
- Follow the Pros on Instagram: If you want to see what’s happening strictly tonight, the dancers like Nikita Kuzmin and Katya Jones are notorious for posting "behind the scenes" rehearsal footage. It’s the only way to see the 2026 routines before the tour starts.
- Set your DVR for The Traitors: It starts at 8:00 pm tonight on BBC One. It’s not a Waltz, but the tension will probably make you hold your breath just as long.
The ballroom is quiet for now, but the glitter is being swept, the shoes are being broken in, and the 2026 tour is less than ten days away.