Season thirty-five of Dancing with the Stars premiered on ABC and Disney+ on September 15, 2026, and is scheduled to conclude on November 24, 2026. This season was the fourth to air live on both networks simultaneously. Season nineteen champion Alfonso Ribeiro returned to host the installment, while former professional dancer and judge Julianne Hough returned as co-host.
Cast Couples On April 22, 2026, during an upfront for Hulu's unscripted programming, Ciara Miller and Maura Higgins were announced as the first celebrity participants for the thirty-fifth season. Jackson Olson joined the cast three weeks later during an upfront for Disney's original programming. On June 17, TMZ reported that Guillermo Rodriguez joined the cast; Jimmy Kimmel confirmed Rodriguez's appearance later that day. Throughout August, Tyler Cameron, Jenna Dewan, Julia Stiles, Tatyana Ali, Sarah Jane Nader and Conner Leavitt were named to the cast. Nader is the younger sister of season thirty-three contestant Brooks Nader, and Leavitt is the husband of season thirty-four semi-finalist Whitney Leavitt. Amber Glenn and Ezra Frech became the first Olympic and Paralympic champions to compete during the same season.
The first celebrity-professional dancer pairing, Rodriguez and the reigning champion Witney Carson, was announced on Good Morning America on August 17, 2026. At the time of the announcement, Carson was four months pregnant with her third child. She became the first pro to enter an installment of Dancing with the Stars while pregnant, and the first to compete that far into her second trimester. Gleb Savchenko and Sasha Farber did not return as pros this season, although Farber was still involved in other capacities. After a five-year hiatus, Sharna Burgess returned to the lineup on August 24. Adele Zaikman, winner of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, joined the series as a first-time pro on August 31. She is the first Israeli professional dancer to be featured on the series. Season thirty-four troupe member Hailey Bills was promoted to a first-time pro. Her pairing with Nader marked the third same-sex partnership in the series' history, following JoJo Siwa & Jenna Johnson from season thirty and Shangela & Savchenko from season thirty-one.
The full roster of celebrity participants and their partnerships was revealed on Good Morning America on September 2. With sixteen couples, this season is tied with season nine and season thirty-one as having the largest cast in the show's history.
+Cast of Dancing with the Stars (season 35) Celebrity Notability Professional partner Status The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast member Love Thy Nader star Celebrity chef & entrepreneur Hanson frontman Summer House cast member Television actress & singer Participating The Bachelorette runner-up Actress & dancer Paralympic track & field athlete Olympic figure skater Television personality & model Savannah Bananas second baseman Jimmy Kimmel Live! sidekick Actor & dancer Actress & director Stand-up comedian & podcaster
Hosts and judges The hosts and judges for the season were announced on Good Morning America on September 1, 2026, one day before the cast reveal. Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough returned as hosts, while Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli returned as judges.
The second season of the Dancing with the Stars podcast, hosted by season thirty-four quarter-finalist Andy Richter, launched on September 10. He revealed the majority of the season's themes during the second episode, and shared the songs and dance styles for each week.Season 35 song and dance styles: An official Dancing with the Stars aftershow, hosted by season thirty-four champion Robert Irwin, aired live immediately after the second night premiere episode on September 16. Richter did not reveal the theme for the fifth week of competition; Super Bowl Night was announced on Good Morning America on September 30.
Dance troupe Kamri Peterson, a former pro on Dancing with the Stars: Juniors, was announced as a first-time troupe member on August 2, 2026, during the series' inaugural fan convention. Jaxon Willard, Carter Williams, and Onye Stevenson were announced as second-year troupe members on September 4.
Episodes
Special
Scoring chart The highest score each week is indicated in with a dagger (), while the lowest score each week is indicated in with a double-dagger ().
Color key:
+Dancing with the Stars (season 35) - Weekly scores Couple Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Amber & Pasha rowspan="11" 18 23 Connor & Rylee 16 15 20 19 Ezra & Daniella 20 21 24 Guillermo & Witney Harry & Jenna 18 24 Jackson & Emma 15 18 18 21 Jenna & Val 19 21 24 Julia & Ezra 18 16 19 21 Maura & Mark 19 22 Tatyana & Jan 12 18 21 20 Tyler & Sharna 17 16 17 21 Ciara & Brandon 12th 15 18 18 21 Taylor & Britt 13th 16 15 18 Giada & Alan 14th 16 & Hailey 15th 14 Conner L. & Adele 16th 12 Notes
Weekly scores Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli.
Week 1: Premiere For the two-night season premiere, each couple performed one unlearned dance to a song that topped one of Billboard magazine's music charts during the year each celebrity was born. The male celebrities performed on the first night and the female celebrities performed on the second night. One couple was eliminated at the end of each night.
Night 1 (Men)
The opening number, choreographed by Jamal Sims, was set to "Dancing On My Own" by Robyn. The troupe performed a bumper to "Bangaranga" by Dara. Due to technical difficulties, online voting for the night was thrown out and only votes cast via text messaging were accepted. The female celebrities and their professional partners performed a routine to "Cha Cha Cha" by Bruno Mars, choreographed by Brandon Armstrong and Jan Ravnik. Adele Zaikman, Allen Genkin, Erik Linder, and Selena Hamilton from Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro performed a salsa bumper to "Dai Dai" by Shakira and Burna Boy. Inspired by Paris Baguette, one of the season's sponsors, co-host Julianne Hough and Tessandra Chavez choreographed a number to "I Love Paris" by Tatiana Eva-Marie and the Avalon Band; Hough additionally performed the routine with the pros.
Couples are listed in the order they performed. +Dancing with the Stars (season 35) – Week 1 (Night 1) Couple Scores Dance Music Result Jackson & Emma 15 (5, 5, 5) Cha-cha-cha "Wannabe" — Spice Girls Safe Tyler & Sharna 17 (6, 5, 6) Tango "Are You Gonna Go My Way" — Lenny Kravitz Safe Conner L. & Adele 12 (4, 4, 4) Salsa "Whoomp! (There It Is)" — Tag Team Eliminated Guillermo & Witney 10 (4, 3, 3) Cha-cha-cha "Mr. Big Stuff" — Jean Knight Safe Ezra & Daniella 20 (7, 6, 7) Tango "Since U Been Gone" — Kelly Clarkson Safe & Rylee 16 (6, 5, 5) Cha-cha-cha "I Like It, I Love It" — Tim McGraw Safe Taylor & Britt 16 (6, 5, 5) Quickstep "Tell Her About It" — Billy Joel Safe Harry & Jenna 21 (7, 7, 7) Cha-cha-cha "Let's Groove" — Earth, Wind & Fire Safe Notes
Night 2 (Women)
The opening number, choreographed by Mandy Moore, was set to "Love Sensation" by Madonna. The troupe performed a number to "Danceteria" by Madonna and a tango bumper to "Pinky Up" by Katseye. BC Jean, singer-songwriter and wife of Mark Ballas, performed "Black Velvet" for Maura Higgins's foxtrot. Inspired by Google Gemini, one of the season's sponsors, judge Derek Hough and Tessandra Chavez choreographed a number to "Asturias Variations" by Isaac Albéniz and "Hanuman" by Rodrigo y Gabriela. Hough additionally performed the routine with his wife Hayley Erbert and dancers who were featured in their Symphony of Dance stage tour.
Couples are listed in the order they performed. +Dancing with the Stars (season 35) – Week 1 (Night 2) Couple Scores Dance Music Result Tatyana & Jan 12 (4, 4, 4) Jive "Knock on Wood" — Amii Stewart Safe Amber & Pasha 18 (6, 6, 6) Cha-cha-cha "Smooth" — Santana feat. Rob Thomas Safe Ciara & Brandon 15 (5, 5, 5) Foxtrot "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" — Whitney Houston Safe Giada & Alan 16 (6, 5, 5) Tango "Venus" — Shocking Blue Safe Julia & Ezra 18 (6, 6, 6) Quickstep "9 to 5" — Dolly Parton Safe Maura & Mark 21 (7, 7, 7) Foxtrot "Black Velvet" — Alannah Myles Safe & Hailey 14 (5, 4, 5) Jive "Sk8er Boi" — Avril Lavigne Eliminated Jenna & Val 19 (6, 6, 7) Tango "Call Me" — Blondie Safe
Week 2: Viral Hits Night Each couple performed one unlearned dance to a song that went viral on social media. The opening number, choreographed and performed by the troupe, was set to "Lush Life" by Zara Larsson. Adele Zaikman and Hailey Bills performed a samba bumper to "Mi Chico" by DJ Goja. Harrison performed his cover of "All the Things She Said" for Amber Glenn's tango. The troupe later performed a tango routine to "Talking Body" by Tove Lo.
Couples are listed in the order they performed. +Dancing with the Stars (season 35) – Week 2 Couple Scores Dance Music Result Jenna & Val 21 (7, 7, 7) Jive "Animal" — Katseye Safe Ciara & Brandon 18 (6, 6, 6) Tango "No Broke Boys" — Disco Lines & Tinashe Safe Tyler & Sharna 16 (6, 5, 5) Salsa "Girls" — The Kid Laroi Safe Julia & Ezra 16 (5, 6, 5) Tango "The Door" — Teddy Swims Safe Jackson & Emma 18 (6, 6, 6) Foxtrot "That's So True" — Gracie Abrams Safe Giada & Alan 12 (4, 4, 4) Salsa "Bella Ciao" — Becky G Eliminated Connor & Rylee 15 (5, 5, 5) Tango "12 to 12" — Sombr Safe Ezra & Daniella 21 (7, 7, 7) Cha-cha-cha "Low" — Flo Rida Safe Tatyana & Jan 18 (6, 6, 6) Foxtrot "What Was I Made For?" — Billie Eilish Safe Amber & Pasha 21 (7, 7, 7) Tango "All the Things She Said" — Harrison Safe Guillermo & Witney 12 (4, 4, 4) Paso doble "Where Have You Been" — Rihanna Safe Taylor & Britt 15 (5, 5, 5) Cha-cha-cha "Cake by the Ocean" — DNCE Safe Harry & Jenna 18 (6, 6, 6) Viennese waltz "Iris" — Goo Goo Dolls Safe Maura & Mark 19 (6, 6, 7) Cha-cha-cha "September" — Earth, Wind & Fire Safe
Week 3: Yacht Rock Night Each couple performed one unlearned dance to a song that redefined the yacht rock era. The opening number, performed by the eliminated pros and the troupe, was set to "This Is It" by Kenny Loggins. The eliminated pros also performed a routine to "Baby Come Back" by Player. The troupe performed a bumper to "Love Will Keep Us Together" by Captain & Tennille.
Couples are listed in the order they performed. +Dancing with the Stars (season 35) – Week 3 Couple Scores Dance Music Result Amber & Pasha 24 (8, 8, 8) Foxtrot "Hold the Line" — Toto Safe Julia & Ezra 19 (6, 7, 6) Salsa "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" — Hall & Oates Safe Guillermo & Witney 15 (5, 5, 5) Foxtrot "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" — Rupert Holmes Safe Tatyana & Jan 21 (7, 7, 7) Quickstep "Maneater" — Hall & Oates Safe Harry & Jenna 24 (8, 8, 8) Jive "You Make My Dreams (Come True)" — Hall & Oates Safe Taylor & Britt 18 (6, 6, 6) Foxtrot "What a Fool Believes" — The Doobie Brothers Eliminated Maura & Mark 22 (7, 7, 8) Quickstep "Turn Your Love Around" — George Benson Safe Ciara & Brandon 18 (6, 6, 6) Cha-cha-cha "Never Too Much" — Luther Vandross Safe Jackson & Emma 18 (6, 6, 6) Paso doble "Easy Lover" — Phillip Bailey & Phil Collins Safe Connor & Rylee 20 (7, 6, 7) Foxtrot "Everywhere" — Fleetwood Mac Safe Jenna & Val 21 (7, 7, 7) Samba "Africa" — Toto Safe Tyler & Sharna 17 (5, 6, 6) Jive "Still the One" — Orleans Safe Ezra & Daniella 21 (7, 7, 7) Foxtrot "Just the Two of Us" — Grover Washington Jr. feat. Bill Withers Safe
Week 4: Mariah Carey Night