One unforgettable night. One incredible cause.
On Saturday 7 November 2026, Strictly Hugs Dancing returns to the Crowne Plaza Plymouth, bringing together local business leaders, community champions and supporters for a spectacular evening of dance, fundraising and celebration in aid of Hugs Children’s Cancer Charity.
Strictly Hugs Dancing 2026 will see our brave contestants step outside their comfort zones, learn new routines, and take to the dance floor to raise vital funds for children with cancer and their families across Devon and Cornwall, from diagnosis and beyond.
Over the coming months, our dancers will be supported by the fantastic team at One More Time Dance Company, as they prepare for what promises to be an unforgettable evening full of energy, courage and community spirit.
What to expect
Guests can look forward to an uplifting evening filled with:
- Live dance performances from our 2026 contestants
- A fantastic atmosphere with friends, family, businesses and supporters
- Entertainment, celebration and plenty of fundraising along the way
- The chance to support a much-loved local charity making a real difference across Devon and Cornwall
Strictly Hugs Dancing is more than a dance event. It is a night full of heart, courage and community spirit, all coming together to support families when they need it most.
Our Sponsors
Headline Sponsor: CMS Group
We are absolutely delighted to announce that CMS Group are the Headline Sponsors of Strictly Hugs Dancing 2026.
Their incredible support will help us create an unforgettable evening, while enabling Hugs Children’s Cancer Charity to continue supporting children with cancer and their families at diagnosis and beyond, across Devon and Cornwall.
CMS Group deliver reliable and professional facilities management and maintenance services to retailers, landlords and property developers, as well as the education, care and hospitality sectors.
We are incredibly grateful to CMS Group for their support and for helping to make this event possible.
Silver Sponsor: Apex HR
We are also delighted to announce that Apex HR are a Silver Sponsor of Strictly Hugs Dancing 2026.
Apex HR are a human-centred HR company who pride themselves on supporting local businesses to grow and flourish through their people. Their commitment to helping organisations and people thrive makes them a wonderful partner for this event.
Partnerships like this play a vital role in making Strictly Hugs Dancing possible, and we are very grateful to have Apex HR supporting Hugs Children’s Cancer Charity.
Sponsorship opportunities
We are proud to offer a range of sponsorship opportunities for businesses who want to support this incredible event while gaining meaningful visibility across the South West business community.
Sponsors benefit from months of promotional activity, brand exposure, and the opportunity to be part of one of Hugs Children’s Cancer Charity’s standout fundraising events of the year.
If your business would like to be part of Strictly Hugs Dancing 2026, we would love to hear from you.
To find out more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jemma Jones at jemma@hugsccc.com.
Meet our dancers and sponsors
We are delighted to begin announcing the incredible dancers joining the Strictly Hugs Dancing 2026 line-up.
Fred Bennetton, Classic Builders
Our first contestant taking to the dance floor is Fred Bennetton from Classic Builders.
Fred has stepped out of his comfort zone and signed up to raise vital funds for Hugs Children’s Cancer Charity, supporting children with cancer and their families across Devon and Cornwall. A huge thank you to Fred’s personal sponsor, Sphere Solutions Ltd.
Support Fred’s fundraising here: Fred Bennetton is fundraising for Hugs childrens cancer charity
Hayley Dunn, Westcotts Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers
We are also delighted to announce that Hayley Dunn from Westcotts Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers will be joining the Strictly Hugs Dancing 2026 line-up.
Hayley has signed up to take on the challenge, stepping onto the dance floor to help raise vital funds for Hugs Children’s Cancer Charity and the families we support across Devon and Cornwall.
Over the coming months, Hayley will be learning her routine, before taking to the stage for what promises to be a very special evening.
Support Hayley’s fundraising here: Hayley Dunn is fundraising for Hugs childrens cancer charity
Emma Brook
Emma is taking to the dance floor for a cause that is very close to her heart. As the mum of Hayden, who is currently undergoing intensive chemotherapy, Emma knows first-hand the challenges that a childhood cancer diagnosis can bring to a family.
Despite everything her family is facing, Emma has bravely signed up to take on the Strictly Hugs Dancing challenge to help raise much-needed funds for Hugs Children’s Cancer Charity, ensuring that other families across Devon and Cornwall can receive support during some of the most difficult times of their lives.
We are so grateful to Emma for sharing her journey and supporting Hugs in this incredible way. Emma, you are already an inspiration to us all, and we cannot wait to watch you shine on the dance floor.
Support Emma’s fundraising journey here: Emma Brook is fundraising for Hugs childrens cancer charity
Nick Higgins, Beacon Electrical
We are delighted to introduce Nick Higgins, Managing Director of Beacon Electrical, as our fourth contestant for Strictly Hugs Dancing 2026.
Nick has decided to swap the boardroom for the ballroom and take on the Strictly Hugs Dancing challenge in support of Hugs Children’s Cancer Charity.
While Nick may be confident leading a successful business, he admits his dancing experience is currently limited to a bit of “dad dancing”. However, with the support of Caitlyn and the fantastic team at One More Time Dance Company, we are sure he will soon be stepping, spinning and strutting his way across the dance floor.
We are very grateful to Nick for getting involved and taking on the challenge.
Support Nick’s fundraising journey here: Nick Higgins is fundraising for Hugs childrens cancer charity
Nikki Keen, Crowne Plaza
We are delighted to introduce Nikki Keen from Crowne Plaza Plymouth as our fifth contestant for Strictly Hugs Dancing 2026.
Nikki is swapping the hotel office for the dance floor as she takes on the challenge. Known by many as a bit of a raver, Nikki is no stranger to dancing the night away. But will those rave moves translate into ballroom and Latin success? We cannot wait to find out!
We are so grateful to Nikki for joining Team Strictly Hugs, and we cannot wait to see whether those rave moves can be transformed into Strictly-worthy steps.
Support Nikki’s fundraising journey here: Nicola Keen is fundraising for Hugs childrens cancer charity
Kerry Johnson
We are delighted to introduce Kerry Johnson as our sixth contestant for Strictly Hugs Dancing 2026.
Kerry is a busy mum of three who has decided to step out of her comfort zone and take on the Strictly Hugs Dancing challenge in support of Hugs Children’s Cancer Charity.
Between family life and everything that comes with being a mum, Kerry is now adding dance training to her schedule as she prepares to take to the dance floor. Kerry will be learning new moves, building her confidence and supporting our fundraising.
We are so grateful to Kerry for joining Team Strictly Hugs, and we cannot wait to see her shine on the dance floor.
Support Kerry’s fundraising journey here: Kerry Johnson is fundraising for Hugs childrens cancer charity
Ultan Moran, Kitty O’Hanlon’s
We are delighted to introduce Ultan Moran from Kitty O’Hanlon’s as our final contestant for Strictly Hugs Dancing 2026.
Ultan, a self-confessed dad dancer with two left feet, has bravely agreed to swap the Irish bar for the ballroom and take on the Strictly Hugs Dancing challenge in support of Hugs Children’s Cancer Charity. Over the coming months, Ultan will be putting his dance moves to the test as he prepares to take to the stage.
We are so grateful to Ultan for joining Team Strictly Hugs and embracing the challenge. We cannot wait to see him take to the dance floor – and who knows, he might just surprise us all.
Support Ultan’s fundraising journey here: Ultan Moran is fundraising for Hugs childrens cancer charity