Updated: September 20, 2026
Dancing With the Stars Season 35 is heading into its second week, and the competition is already generating plenty of attention after a dramatic two-night premiere that sent two celebrity contestants home.
The milestone 35th season began with 16 celebrities, but only 14 couples remain heading into Week 2, which will feature a new “Viral Hits” theme on Tuesday, September 22.
The upcoming episode will put the remaining celebrities and professional dancers on the ballroom floor with routines inspired by songs that have become popular across social media and streaming platforms.
Here is everything viewers need to know about DWTS Season 35 Week 2, including the complete couple lineup, songs, dance styles, broadcast schedule, Week 1 results and the upcoming season themes.
DWTS Season 35 Week 2: When Is It On?
Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Week 2 airs:
- Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026
- Time: 8 p.m. ET/PT
- Network: ABC
- Streaming: Disney+
- Next-day streaming: Hulu
The series continues with Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough as co-hosts, while Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli return to the judges’ table.
Viewer votes are combined with judges’ scores to determine which couples continue in the competition.
What Is the DWTS Week 2 Theme?
The theme for Week 2 is officially “Viral Hits Night.”
The September 22 episode will move away from the premiere format and give the remaining 14 celebrities a chance to perform to songs associated with viral music culture.
The theme was revealed through the official Dancing With the Stars podcast, with the season’s later themes also beginning to emerge.
Full DWTS Season 35 Week 2 Couples, Songs and Dances
Here is the complete announced Week 2 lineup:
| Celebrity & Pro | Dance | Week 2 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 | “Where Have You Been” — Rihanna |
| 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 complete Week 2 song-and-dance list was reported by Entertainment Weekly and Parade following the theme announcement.
Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson Continue to Draw Attention
One of the biggest Week 1 storylines involved Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson.
Shum Jr. finished the opening night with a 21/30, the highest score of the first night, following their cha-cha performance. The pair now moves into Week 2 with a Viennese waltz to the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris.”
The pairing has attracted additional attention because Shum Jr. already has extensive dance experience, including work as a performer, while Johnson is an established professional on the show.
Their Week 2 performance will provide a very different test from the energetic opening-night routine.
Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach Become a Major Week 2 Storyline
Paralympian Ezra Frech also generated significant discussion after his Season 35 debut with professional partner Daniella Karagach.
Frech scored 20/30 for his opening tango, with the performance drawing praise from judges and fellow contestants. Entertainment Weekly reported that contestants including Harry Shum Jr. and Connor Wood reacted positively to his performance.
For Week 2, Frech and Karagach are switching to the cha-cha, performing to Flo Rida’s “Low.”
The routine will present a completely different technical challenge from their opening tango.
Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas Prepare for “September”
Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas are another pairing attracting considerable attention heading into Week 2.
Higgins performed a foxtrot during the premiere and subsequently described Ballas as a “miracle worker” when discussing the challenges she faced during rehearsals.
Their Week 2 routine will be a cha-cha to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September.”
The song gives the pair a much more upbeat musical setting and could allow Higgins to showcase a different side of her performance style.
Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy Switch to Jive
Actress and dancer Jenna Dewan is another contestant receiving considerable attention because of her previous dance experience.
Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy will perform a jive to KATSEYE’s “Animal” in Week 2.
The routine is particularly notable because the jive requires speed, precision, stamina and sharp rhythmic timing.
Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa Return for Week 2
Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa will perform a tango to Teddy Swims’ “The Door.”
Stiles entered Season 35 with a significant dance connection through her film career, making her one of the celebrities whose previous performance experience has been part of the season’s conversation.
Her Week 2 tango will give viewers another opportunity to see how she adapts to competitive ballroom dancing.
Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart Continue Their Run
Hanson frontman Taylor Hanson and professional dancer Britt Stewart also made an early impression during the premiere.
Their Week 2 assignment is a cha-cha to DNCE’s “Cake by the Ocean.”
The pairing’s Week 2 performance will be another test of Hanson’s ability to adapt to Latin dance technique after tackling a quickstep during the premiere.
Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten Bring Salsa to Week 2
Celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis and professional dancer Alan Bersten will perform a salsa to Becky G’s “Bella Ciao.”
The pairing has also attracted off-the-floor attention because Bersten has discussed De Laurentiis’ cooking during their partnership, including meals she has prepared while they have been working together.
Now the focus shifts back to the ballroom as the pair tackles one of the competition’s most rhythm-heavy styles.
Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess Return With Salsa
Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess are scheduled to perform a salsa to “Girls” by The Kid LAROI.
Burgess’ return to the professional lineup has itself been a notable Season 35 storyline. She returned to the competition after a five-year hiatus.
Their Week 2 salsa will be another major test as the celebrity contestants begin adjusting to different dance styles from week to week.
Who Was Eliminated in DWTS Season 35 Week 1?
Season 35 opened with an unusual two-night premiere on September 15 and 16.
The first night featured the male celebrities, while the second night featured the female celebrities. The format resulted in two eliminations during premiere week.
First elimination: Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman
On September 15, Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman were eliminated after performing a salsa to Tag Team’s “Whoomp! (There It Is).”
Second elimination: Sarah Jane Nader and Hailey Bills
On September 16, Sarah Jane Nader and Hailey Bills were eliminated after performing a jive to Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi.”
That left 14 couples entering Week 2.
Complete List of Remaining DWTS Season 35 Couples
The remaining couples are:
- Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov
- Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong
- Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold
- Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach
- Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten
- Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson
- Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson
- Jackson Olson & Emma Slater
- Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy
- Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa
- Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas
- Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik
- Taylor Hanson & Britt Stewart
- Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess
ABC News confirms these 14 couples remain following the two premiere-night eliminations.
DWTS Season 35 Upcoming Schedule and Themes
The competition is already mapped out beyond Week 2.
According to the season theme information revealed through the official podcast, the upcoming schedule includes:
Week 2 — September 22
Viral Hits Night
Week 3
Yacht Rock Night
Week 4
Mariah Carey Night
Week 5
Theme has not yet been announced
Week 6
Dedication Night
Week 7
Horror Movie Night
Week 8
Disney Night
Week 9
Grammy Night
The announced themes were reported by Entertainment Weekly after being revealed on the show’s official podcast.
Why Week 2 Could Be Important
Week 1 was about introductions. Week 2 is where the celebrities begin demonstrating whether they can adapt quickly between dance styles.
Several couples are moving from one very different style to another:
- Harry Shum Jr. moves into the Viennese waltz.
- Ezra Frech switches to the cha-cha.
- Maura Higgins moves from foxtrot to cha-cha.
- Jenna Dewan takes on the jive.
- Giada De Laurentiis moves into salsa.
- Tyler Cameron also takes on salsa.
- Julia Stiles moves into tango.
- Tatyana Ali will perform a foxtrot.
That variety makes Week 2 an important early checkpoint for both the celebrities and their professional partners.
How DWTS Season 35 Voting Works
Viewer voting remains an important part of the competition.
According to current reporting, live viewer votes are combined with judges’ scores to determine which couples are in danger of elimination. Voting opens during the live broadcast and closes shortly after the final performance.
Because voting and judging both influence the results, a couple’s position on the leaderboard does not necessarily tell the entire story.
Where to Watch Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Week 2
Fans can watch DWTS Season 35 Week 2 live Tuesday, September 22, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+.
The episode will subsequently become available to stream on Hulu the following day.
DWTS Season 35: What to Watch Next
The biggest storylines heading into September 22 include the contrasting dance styles facing the remaining celebrities, the continued attention around Harry Shum Jr., Ezra Frech and Maura Higgins, and how contestants with previous dance experience respond as the competition becomes more technically demanding.
With 14 couples remaining, Week 2 is also the first opportunity for the season’s contestants to establish momentum beyond their introductory performances.
And with Yacht Rock Night, Mariah Carey Night, Dedication Night, Horror Movie Night, Disney Night and Grammy Night already announced for later in the season, the format is set to become increasingly theme-driven as Season 35 progresses.
DWTS Season 35 Week 2 Quick Facts
Show: Dancing With the Stars
Season: 35
Week: 2
Episode theme: Viral Hits Night
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Time: 8 p.m. ET/PT
Live on: ABC and Disney+
Next-day streaming: Hulu
Remaining couples: 14
Eliminated in Week 1: Conner Leavitt/Adele Zaikman and Sarah Jane Nader/Hailey Bills
Hosts: Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough
Judges: Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli
Final Word
Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Week 2 is set to bring a major change of pace after the two-night premiere. The remaining 14 couples will perform viral-hit routines ranging from tango and salsa to cha-cha, jive, foxtrot, paso doble and Viennese waltz.
With Harry Shum Jr., Ezra Frech, Maura Higgins, Jenna Dewan, Julia Stiles, Taylor Hanson, Giada De Laurentiis and the rest of the cast facing new dance styles, Tuesday’s episode will provide the first major look at how quickly the celebrities can adapt.
America Newsline will continue tracking DWTS Season 35 results, scores, eliminations, songs, performances and upcoming themes as new information becomes available.
This article was updated September 20, 2026. Schedule and Week 2 performance information reflects currently announced details and may be updated by ABC or Disney+.