Ornella Muti joins Ballando con le Stelle as thirteenth contestant for season 21

Video announcement confirms participation

Italian actress Ornella Muti has confirmed her participation as the thirteenth contestant in the 2026 edition of Ballando con le Stelle. The announcement was published through a video clip across the program's official social media platforms, showing the actress conversing in a moving car with her daughter Naike Rivelli. The confirmation followed weeks of public denials connected to the 71-year-old actress's scheduled filming commitments on set. In the recorded exchange, Rivelli repeatedly questioned her mother about her plans until Muti addressed the speculation directly with a smile.

Mom, are you doing it or not, are you going or not? Everyone wants to know, come on.

The confirmation concluded negotiations led by show host and artistic director Milly Carlucci to secure Muti for the dance competition.

Yes, I am going to Ballando con le Stelle.

Complete celebrity roster

With Muti's entry confirmed, the cast for the twenty-first edition of the Rai 1 television show is complete. The lineup brings together thirteen contestants from across Italian culture, entertainment, journalism, and sport. The sporting world is represented by triple jump champion Andy Diaz Hernandez and former professional footballer Alessandro Matri. Media figures and television personalities in the cast include Aurora Ramazzotti, Noemi Bocchi, and satirical news correspondent Jimmy Ghione.

The musical sector is represented by singer-songwriter Eugenio Finardi, while the cinema and theater industries contribute actors Massimo Ghini, Riccardo Rossi, Anna Safroncik, and Monica Guerritore. Television news journalist Manuela Moreno and former priest turned digital influencer Alberto Ravagnani round out the roster of competitors. Milly Carlucci returns to present the competition alongside musician Paolo Belli, following Belli's participation as a competitor in the previous season.

Partner pairings announced

Program producers also revealed twelve professional dance pairings across social media channels as rehearsals began. Italian champion Nikita Perotti will dance alongside Aurora Ramazzotti, while Carlo Aloia, returning to the dance floor following recovery from an injury, partners with news presenter Manuela Moreno. Show veteran Anastasia Kuzmina has been paired with Jimmy Ghione, and newcomer Leonardo Lini will accompany actress Anna Safroncik.

Additional pairings place professional dancer Giovanni Pernice with Noemi Bocchi, Giada Lini with Alessandro Matri, and Valentina Fiorini with Massimo Ghini. Gioia Giovanatti will partner with Andy Diaz Hernandez, while Erika Martinelli is paired with Alberto Ravagnani. Newcomer Luca Urso will guide Monica Guerritore on the dance floor, Elisa Terrasi will dance alongside Riccardo Rossi, and Rebecca Gabrielli partners with singer Eugenio Finardi. The professional partner assigned to Muti has not yet been announced.

Production schedule and jury speculation

The twenty-first edition of the prime-time show begins broadcasting on Saturday, 3 October 2026 on Rai 1. Production preparations continue alongside public discussion regarding the official lineup of the judging panel. Television presenter and actress Barbara D'Urso, who took part in the competition during the prior edition, released a series of clues and riddles on social media. Her posts follow several months of reports naming her as a potential member of the program's jury.