Leah Behn, royal daughter turned reality-TV regular, joins Skal vi danse 2026
Leah Isadora Behn, the 21-year-old daughter of Princess Martha Louise of Norway, will compete in this autumn's series of Skal vi danse — the Norwegian dance competition that mirrors the UK's Strictly Come Dancing format.
Broadcaster TV 2 confirmed Behn among the 2026 contestants on 17 August, listing her profession as influencer and model TV 2. The Norwegian tabloid Dagbladet reported the same casting independently that day Dagbladet. Two days later, on 19 August, Behn made it official herself, posting her dance portrait on Instagram with the single word: "surprise!" Hello!.
Her family responded warmly. Her mother, Princess Martha Louise — who relinquished her official royal duties in 2022 — commented: "So much fun!" Her stepfather, Shaman Durek, wrote: "So proud of you angel." Professional dancer Andreas Holsthiim, who is paired with Behn for the series, shared photos of the two of them on Instagram with the caption: "Let the show begin."
Behn is no stranger to television audiences. She previously appeared on Forræder, Norway's equivalent of The Traitors, competing as a "faithful" in series five. She has also been a fixture in the Skal vi danse audience: TV 2 reported her cheering on friends Trygve Bennetsen and Tale Torjussen during the 2025 season, and she even took to the floor herself to dance burlesk in support of Torjussen TV 2. Dagbladet noted that Behn and Torjussen are friends off the dance floor as well Dagbladet.
Born on 8 April 2005, Behn is the second daughter of Princess Martha Louise and the late author Ari Behn, who died in 2019. She is sixth in line to the Norwegian throne. Her older sister, Maud Angelica Behn, is an artist; her younger sister, Emma Tallulah Behn, is a show jumper. Beyond television, Behn runs a fashion label called Hést and a gin brand, and has roughly 170,000 Instagram followers.
The new series of Skal vi danse was announced by TV 2 in March 2026 as returning to screens this autumn TV 2. Behn's preparation has already included a minor detour: she left Copenhagen Fashion Week earlier in August to have her tonsils removed, sharing a video from hospital with her followers TV 2.
For viewers, the appeal is straightforward. A young woman who has watched friends dance on national television will now step onto the floor herself — with a professional partner, a royal family watching from the stands, and a couple of business ventures that suggest she is comfortable in the public eye either way.
