ITV has officially confirmed that Dancing On Ice will not be returning in 2026, putting the celebrity skating competition on hiatus. This follows reports earlier in March, which we covered, suggesting the show faced cancellation due to dwindling viewership.
Here’s the Lowdown: An ITV spokesperson confirmed the decision to The Sun, stating the show will be “rested in 2026 with no current plans for another series.” The broadcaster thanked the cast and crew for their work since the show began in 2006. This year’s series saw ratings dip significantly, launching with 2.9 million viewers and falling to 2.4 million, with the final attracting only 2.7 million – a stark drop from the 12 million who watched the 2008 final.
What This Means Now: The show, which paired celebrities with professional skaters, has faced cancellation before, being axed in 2014 before a revival in 2018. This “rest” signifies a major blow for the format, suggesting ITV feels it no longer draws the large audiences required, despite recent host changes involving Stephen Mulhern replacing Phillip Schofield alongside Holly Willoughby.
The Bigger Picture: This marks the second time Dancing On Ice has been taken off the air. Its initial run ended after judges Torvill and Dean decided to step back. The 2018 revival saw them return as judges, but rotating hosts and judges couldn’t consistently recapture the show’s peak popularity. The decision reflects the challenges faced by long-running entertainment formats in maintaining audience engagement against increased competition.
