Dancing With the Stars Season 35 is officially underway, and the competition has already delivered a dramatic opening week. The milestone season began with 16 celebrity contestants, a two-night premiere, two eliminations and plenty of attention surrounding the new celebrity-pro pairings.
The competition now moves into Week 2 on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, with the remaining 14 couples preparing for Viral Hits Night.
Here is everything viewers need to know about DWTS Season 35, including the cast, first-week results, Week 2 dances and songs, judges, hosts, schedule and the latest developments.
DWTS Season 35: Latest Update
Season 35 premiered on September 15 and 16 with a special two-night opening event. The full cast of 16 celebrity-pro couples was split across the two premiere nights.
Unlike a typical opening episode, the Season 35 premiere ended with two couples being eliminated.
That leaves 14 celebrity couples heading into Week 2.
ABC lists the regular broadcast schedule as Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT, with episodes airing live on ABC and Disney+ and becoming available on Hulu the following day.
Who Was Eliminated on DWTS Season 35?
The first elimination came during the September 15 premiere.
Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman
Conner Leavitt and professional dancer Adele Zaikman became the first couple eliminated from Season 35.
Leavitt, known from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, performed with Zaikman during the first night of competition. The pair received 12 out of 30 for their opening routine before being eliminated.
For Zaikman, the appearance marked her debut as a professional dancer on the main series after winning Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro.
Sarah Jane Nader and Hailey Bills
The second elimination came on September 16.
Sarah Jane Nader and professional partner Hailey Bills were sent home after performing a jive to Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi.” The couple received 14 out of 30.
Their elimination was particularly notable because Nader and Bills formed one of the season’s same-sex partnerships.
With those two eliminations complete, 14 couples remain in the competition.
Who Is Still Competing on DWTS Season 35?
ABC announced 16 celebrity contestants for Season 35. The remaining 14 include:
| Celebrity | Professional Partner |
|---|---|
| Tatyana Ali | Jan Ravnik |
| Tyler Cameron | Sharna Burgess |
| Giada De Laurentiis | Alan Bersten |
| Jenna Dewan | Val Chmerkovskiy |
| Ezra Frech | Daniella Karagach |
| Amber Glenn | Pasha Pashkov |
| Taylor Hanson | Britt Stewart |
| Maura Higgins | Mark Ballas |
| Ciara Miller | Brandon Armstrong |
| Jackson Olson | Emma Slater |
| Guillermo Rodriguez | Witney Carson |
| Harry Shum Jr. | Jenna Johnson |
| Julia Stiles | Ezra Sosa |
| Connor Wood | Rylee Arnold |
ABC’s official Season 35 announcement confirms the original 16 pairings, including the two teams already eliminated.
Major Stars Bringing Different Backgrounds to the Ballroom
Season 35 features one of the show’s largest casts, with 16 celebrities, tying Seasons 9 and 31 for the largest cast in the show’s history.
The lineup spans television, film, music, food, social media, reality television and professional sports.
Julia Stiles
Julia Stiles entered the competition with an extensive acting résumé that includes 10 Things I Hate About You, Save the Last Dance, the Bourne franchise, Dexter and Silver Linings Playbook.
She is partnered with Ezra Sosa.
Jenna Dewan
Dewan brings an unusually strong dance background to the competition. Before becoming known for acting, she worked as a backup dancer and later starred in Step Up.
She is partnered with Val Chmerkovskiy.
Harry Shum Jr.
The Glee and Step Up star also has extensive dance experience, having previously worked as a professional backup dancer.
Shum Jr. is partnered with Jenna Johnson.
Ezra Frech
Paralympic gold medalist Ezra Frech brings an athletic background to the ballroom. ABC identifies him as a world-record holder and advocate for adaptive sports.
He is partnered with Daniella Karagach.
Amber Glenn
Olympic gold medalist and U.S. national champion Amber Glenn is competing with Pasha Pashkov. Her competitive figure-skating background gives her significant performance experience, although ballroom dancing presents a different technical challenge.
Maura Higgins
Reality television personality Maura Higgins is partnered with Mark Ballas. Higgins attracted early attention during the Season 35 premiere after receiving one of the night’s top scores.
Maura Higgins Makes an Early Impact
One of the biggest talking points from the opening week was Higgins’ performance.
Higgins and Mark Ballas received 21 out of 30 for their foxtrot, placing them among the strongest performers on the leaderboard.
Higgins later described Ballas as a “miracle worker” while discussing the preparation behind the routine with Entertainment Weekly.
Her performance immediately became one of the storylines to watch as the competition moves forward.
Ezra Frech and Harry Shum Jr. Also Stand Out
Ezra Frech and Harry Shum Jr. were among the other contestants who attracted attention during the opening week.
Entertainment Weekly identified Higgins, Frech and Shum Jr. as early standouts after the first week based on leaderboard performances.
However, with many weeks remaining, the leaderboard can change substantially as dance styles become more difficult and audience voting continues to influence the results.
DWTS Season 35 Week 2: Viral Hits Night
The next episode arrives Tuesday, September 22, with a Viral Hits theme.
The remaining celebrities will perform routines connected to popular contemporary songs and viral music trends.
Entertainment Weekly has confirmed the following Week 2 dances and songs:
| Couple | Dance | Song |
|---|---|---|
| Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov | Tango | “All the Things She Said” — Harrison |
| Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong | Tango | “No Broke Boys” — Disco Lines & Tinashe |
| Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold | Tango | “12 to 12” — Sombr |
| Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach | Cha-cha | “Low” — Flo Rida |
| Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten | Salsa | “Bella Ciao” — Becky G |
| Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson | Paso Doble | Rihanna song |
| Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson | Viennese Waltz | “Iris” — Goo Goo Dolls |
| Jackson Olson & Emma Slater | Foxtrot | “That’s So True” — Gracie Abrams |
| Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy | Jive | “Animal” — KATSEYE |
| Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa | Tango | “The Door” — Teddy Swims |
| Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas | Cha-cha | “September” — Earth, Wind & Fire |
| Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik | Foxtrot | “What Was I Made For?” — Billie Eilish |
| Taylor Hanson & Britt Stewart | Cha-cha | “Cake by the Ocean” — DNCE |
| Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess | Salsa | “Girls” — The Kid LAROI |
The episode is scheduled for Tuesday, September 22 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+.
What’s Coming After Viral Hits Night?
Season 35 already has several future themes confirmed.
According to the Dancing With the Stars Official Podcast information reported by Entertainment Weekly, the upcoming schedule includes:
- Week 2: Viral Hits Night
- Week 3: Yacht Rock Night
- Week 4: Mariah Carey Night
- Week 5: Theme not yet revealed
- Week 6: Dedication Night
- Week 7: Horror Movie Night
- Week 8: Disney Night
- Week 9: Grammy Night
The schedule gives fans several major themed episodes to anticipate as the season develops.
Who Hosts DWTS Season 35?
Season 35 continues with Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough as co-hosts.
The judging panel consists of:
- Carrie Ann Inaba
- Bruno Tonioli
- Derek Hough
ABC confirmed the hosts and judging panel as part of its Season 35 announcement.
DWTS Voting and Elimination Format
Audience voting remains an important part of the competition, working alongside the judges’ scores to determine which couples remain in the competition.
The Season 35 premiere also introduced additional attention around the voting process because of the two-night format and the presence of two contestants with the same first name.
After the unusual two-night opening, the series now moves into its regular Tuesday schedule.
What Should Fans Watch for in Week 2?
The second week presents several interesting storylines.
Can Maura Higgins maintain her momentum? Her opening-week score put her among the early standouts, and she now faces the cha-cha with Mark Ballas.
How will Ezra Frech handle the cha-cha? Frech’s athletic background has already generated attention, and his Week 2 routine will give viewers another opportunity to see how he adapts to a different dance style.
Will Harry Shum Jr. continue his strong start? With a professional dance background and a Viennese waltz ahead, his performance will be closely watched.
Can Jenna Dewan turn her dance experience into higher scores? Despite her extensive dance history, her first performance did not automatically guarantee a top leaderboard position.
Which couple will face elimination next? With 14 couples remaining, the competition becomes more consequential as the season moves toward themed episodes and increasingly demanding routines.
DWTS Season 35 Schedule and How to Watch
New episodes of Dancing With the Stars Season 35 air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+.
Episodes are also available on Hulu the following day.
The official ABC listing confirms the Tuesday 8/7c schedule for the series.
Final Takeaway
DWTS Season 35 has already started with a fast-moving competition. Sixteen celebrities entered the season, two couples were eliminated during the two-night premiere, and 14 remain heading into Viral Hits Night.
The next major update comes on September 22, when the remaining couples return to the ballroom for their second performances of the season.
With Yacht Rock Night, Mariah Carey Night, Dedication Night, Horror Movie Night, Disney Night and Grammy Night already announced for later weeks, there is plenty more ahead before Season 35 reaches its finale.
For America Newsline readers, this page can be updated after each Tuesday episode with the latest scores, elimination results, dance performances, voting developments and confirmed Season 35 news.