Updated: September 16, 2026
The ballroom is back — and Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars is bringing together a headline-making mix of Hollywood stars, athletes, reality-TV personalities, musicians, chefs and digital creators. From Jenna Dewan and Julia Stiles to Giada De Laurentiis and Olympic champion Amber Glenn, here’s everything fans need to know about the new season, including the celebrity cast, professional dancers, judges, hosts, premiere format and how to watch.
The DWTS Season 35 Cast Is Packed With Familiar Faces
The new season features 16 celebrities, each taking on the challenge of learning ballroom and Latin dancing with a professional partner.
Among the biggest names in this year’s lineup are:
- Jenna Dewan — partnered with Val Chmerkovskiy
- Julia Stiles — partnered with Ezra Sosa
- Giada De Laurentiis — partnered with Alan Bersten
- Tatyana Ali — partnered with Jan Ravnik
- Tyler Cameron — partnered with Sharna Burgess
- Ezra Frech — partnered with Daniella Karagach
- Amber Glenn — partnered with Pasha Pashkov
- Ciara Miller — partnered with Brandon Armstrong
- Taylor Hanson
- Maura Higgins
- Harry Shum Jr.
- Connor Wood
- Jackson Olson
- Guillermo Rodriguez
- Conner Leavitt
- Sarah Jane Nader
The cast brings together performers with very different backgrounds, making the competition one of the franchise’s broadest celebrity mixes.
Jenna Dewan Is Bringing Her Dance Background to DWTS
Jenna Dewan is one of the contestants attracting significant attention this season.
Best known to many fans for Step Up, Dewan has a long history with dance and is entering the ballroom with Val Chmerkovskiy.
Her participation also comes while she continues her work on ABC’s The Rookie, meaning fans will see her take on a very different kind of performance challenge.
Julia Stiles Is Ready for a Completely New Challenge
Actress Julia Stiles is another major Hollywood name joining the cast.
The star of 10 Things I Hate About You, Save the Last Dance and The Bourne films is partnered with Ezra Sosa.
Although Stiles has extensive acting experience, DWTS requires contestants to master unfamiliar choreography and perform live under the judges’ scrutiny.
Giada De Laurentiis Swaps the Kitchen for the Ballroom
Celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis is leaving the kitchen behind — at least temporarily — to compete for the Mirrorball Trophy.
She is partnered with Alan Bersten.
De Laurentiis has described the opportunity as a chance to step outside her normal professional environment, with encouragement from her daughter.
Olympic and Paralympic Champions Enter the Competition
Sports fans also have plenty to watch this season.
Amber Glenn, an Olympic gold medalist, is partnered with Pasha Pashkov.
Paralympic gold medalist Ezra Frech is paired with Daniella Karagach.
Both athletes bring elite competitive experience into a ballroom where the scoring system, choreography and performance requirements are very different from their usual sports.
Who Are the DWTS Hosts?
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough return as co-hosts.
They will oversee the live competition, introduce performances, interview contestants and guide viewers through eliminations.
Who Are the DWTS Judges?
The judging panel includes three familiar faces:
- Carrie Ann Inaba
- Bruno Tonioli
- Derek Hough
The judges provide scores and feedback as the celebrities progress through the competition.
Season 35 Gets a Two-Night Premiere
The new season launched with a special two-night premiere.
The opening format divides the celebrity introductions between the two broadcasts, with the male celebrities performing on the first night and the female celebrities taking the ballroom on the second.
There is also a special musical theme: contestants perform to a No. 1 song from the year they were born.
When Does DWTS Air?
The Season 35 premiere began on September 15, 2026, with the second premiere episode airing September 16.
Following the special launch, the regular schedule moves to Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.
Episodes are also available on Hulu the following day.
A New Pro Joins the Ballroom
Another change this season is the addition of professional dancer Adele Zaikman.
Zaikman earned her place on the main show after winning the inaugural season of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro.
Her arrival provides a new connection between the franchise’s professional-development competition and the main series.
Who Will Win the Mirrorball?
With 16 celebrities starting the competition, the season now moves into the weekly battle for points, votes and survival.
Contestants will have to learn new dances, perform live and adapt to the judges’ feedback as the competition progresses.
The opening episodes establish the field, but the later weeks will determine which celebrity-professional partnerships advance toward the Mirrorball Trophy.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did DWTS Season 35 premiere?
Season 35 premiered with a special two-night event beginning September 15, 2026.
Who is competing on DWTS Season 35?
The Season 35 cast includes Jenna Dewan, Julia Stiles, Giada De Laurentiis, Tatyana Ali, Tyler Cameron, Ezra Frech, Amber Glenn, Ciara Miller, Taylor Hanson, Maura Higgins, Harry Shum Jr., Connor Wood, Jackson Olson, Guillermo Rodriguez, Conner Leavitt and Sarah Jane Nader.
Who hosts Dancing with the Stars?
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough are the Season 35 co-hosts.
Who are the DWTS judges?
The judging panel consists of Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.
Where can I watch DWTS Season 35?
The show airs on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available on Hulu the following day.
What is the Mirrorball Trophy?
The Mirrorball Trophy is the championship prize awarded to the winning celebrity-professional partnership at the end of the season.
Is Jenna Dewan leaving The Rookie?
No. Dewan’s DWTS participation is being coordinated alongside her continuing work on The Rookie.
Final Word
Season 35 is bringing together a particularly wide-ranging group of celebrities, from Hollywood actors and television personalities to elite athletes, musicians and food-TV stars.
With a two-night premiere, a new professional dancer and a cast featuring several recognizable names, Dancing with the Stars is once again putting celebrities outside their usual comfort zones — one routine at a time.