ABC Dancing with the Stars has returned for Season 35, bringing 16 celebrities into the ballroom for another live competition filled with new partnerships, demanding routines, judges’ scores and audience voting. The 2026 season opened with a special two-night premiere on September 15 and 16, giving viewers an early look at the new cast before the competition moves into its regular weekly schedule.
The new season features a wide-ranging group of celebrities from entertainment, sports, television, music, food and digital media. Each celebrity has been paired with a professional dancer, creating 16 partnerships at the beginning of the competition.
The first night immediately delivered a major result. Conner Leavitt and professional dancer Adele Zaikman became the first couple eliminated from Season 35 after their salsa performance received 12 points from the three judges.
The opening week also introduced a new professional dancer to the main series. Zaikman earned her place in the professional lineup after winning Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, giving her an opportunity to compete on the flagship show.
With the premiere now underway, the remaining couples face the challenge of improving their technique, responding to the judges and earning enough viewer support to continue.
Season 35 Begins With a Two-Night Premiere
ABC changed the usual opening-week rhythm for Season 35 by dividing the celebrity performances across two nights.
The first episode aired September 15, followed by the second premiere episode on September 16. The arrangement gave the male and female contestants separate opportunities to introduce themselves to viewers.
The first night featured the male celebrities, while the female celebrities took the ballroom on the second night.
The opening theme centered on music connected to the celebrities’ birth years. Each contestant performed to a major song associated with the year they were born, allowing the routines to combine personal history with the show’s familiar ballroom format.
The special premiere format also meant that elimination pressure arrived almost immediately.
Rather than waiting several weeks before sending a couple home, the competition produced its first departure during the opening broadcast.
That made every early performance important. A celebrity could not rely on several weeks of competition to build momentum before facing the possibility of elimination.
Who Is Competing in Season 35?
The Season 35 cast includes 16 celebrities representing a wide range of professional backgrounds.
The announced couples are:
| Celebrity | Professional Dancer |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Sarah Jane Nader | Hailey Bills |
| 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 |
| Conner Leavitt | Adele Zaikman |
The cast gives Season 35 a mixture of established entertainment figures and personalities entering a completely different competitive environment.
Actors, musicians, athletes, television personalities and digital creators all face the same basic challenge once they step onto the ballroom floor.
They must learn choreography, perform live and work closely with professionals who understand the technical demands of competitive dance.
Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman Leave First
The first elimination of Season 35 came during the September 15 premiere.
Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman performed a salsa to Tag Team’s “Whoomp! (There It Is).” The routine earned 12 out of 30 from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli.
That score placed significant pressure on the partnership during the first elimination of the season.
The show’s results combine judges’ scores with votes from viewers. As a result, the judges’ scores do not operate as the sole factor determining which couple leaves.
Leavitt and Zaikman ultimately received the result that ended their Season 35 run.
Their departure was particularly notable because Zaikman had only just earned her place as a professional dancer on the main series.
She won Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, a competition designed to identify a new professional dancer for the flagship program. Her first season on the main show therefore began with a high-profile opportunity but ended after one competitive performance.
The early elimination also demonstrated the pressure facing every new partnership.
There is very little room for adjustment when the competition begins with immediate public voting and elimination.
Harry Shum Jr. Starts With the Highest Score
While one couple left after the first night, several others immediately established themselves with strong judges’ scores.
Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson recorded 21 out of 30, giving them the highest judges’ score among the male celebrities competing on opening night.
Shum Jr. performed a cha-cha and earned praise for his presentation and performance ability.
His entertainment background made him a natural performer in front of cameras, but the competition still required him to master ballroom technique and choreography.
Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach also made an early impression.
The Paralympic athlete received 20 out of 30 for his tango. His performance attracted attention because of the way he incorporated his prosthetic equipment into the routine.
The opening scores created an early snapshot of the leaderboard.
However, the first-night numbers do not establish the final direction of the season. Couples will receive new routines and new scores as the competition continues.
The First Night Shows How Important Viewer Voting Can Be
One of the most important elements of the show’s format is the combination of professional judging and public participation.
The judges evaluate each performance and award points. Viewers then have an opportunity to support their favorite couples through the show’s voting system.
That process can produce results that differ from a simple ranking based only on judges’ scores.
Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson, for example, received 10 out of 30 from the judges during the first night. Despite receiving the lowest judges’ score of that evening, they remained in the competition.
The result illustrates why viewers cannot assume that the couple with the lowest score will automatically be eliminated.
Public voting remains an important part of the competition.
There was also a technical problem involving online voting during the September 15 broadcast. Viewers were informed that online votes would not count for that night’s result, with text voting used for the premiere.
The voting process remains an important part of each live episode, making it essential for viewers to follow the instructions provided during the broadcast.
Adele Zaikman’s Journey to the Main Ballroom
Season 35 introduced Adele Zaikman under circumstances different from most of the professional dancers.
Instead of simply joining the regular professional lineup, Zaikman earned her position through Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro.
The spinoff gave dancers an opportunity to compete for a professional position on the main show.
Zaikman won the competition and secured her place for Season 35.
Her promotion gave viewers a new professional dancer to follow during the main competition.
She was paired with Conner Leavitt for the season.
The partnership lasted only one episode after their elimination during the opening night.
Although the result ended Zaikman’s first celebrity partnership quickly, her appearance marked her arrival on the main Dancing with the Stars stage.
Her path into the professional cast also became one of the distinctive elements of the 2026 season.
The Judges Return for Season 35
Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli continue as the judging panel for Season 35.
The three judges assess the celebrities throughout the competition and provide scores that contribute to each week’s results.
Carrie Ann Inaba has remained closely associated with the show’s judging panel since its early years.
Derek Hough continues his role as a judge after previously competing as one of the franchise’s most successful professional dancers.
Bruno Tonioli also returns to the panel, bringing his long-running experience with the program to another season.
Their combined scores provide contestants with immediate feedback after every routine.
The judges’ comments can also help viewers understand the technical differences between the performances.
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough Return as Hosts
The hosting team remains unchanged for Season 35.
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough continue to guide viewers through the live broadcasts.
Ribeiro has served as one of the show’s central hosts, while Hough brings a long history with the franchise as both a former professional dancer and a returning host.
Their responsibilities include introducing routines, speaking with contestants and helping viewers follow the voting and elimination process.
The hosts also play an important role during the fast-moving live broadcasts, particularly when the show transitions between performances, judges’ comments and results.
The Female Celebrities Take Over the Ballroom on Night Two
The second night of the premiere shifted attention to the female celebrities.
The group included Tatyana Ali, Jenna Dewan, Giada De Laurentiis, Amber Glenn, Maura Higgins, Ciara Miller, Sarah Jane Nader and Julia Stiles.
Each celebrity entered the ballroom with a different professional partner and a routine designed around the opening week’s birth-year music theme.
Jenna Dewan performed a tango to Blondie’s “Call Me.”
Julia Stiles took on the quickstep with a routine built around Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.”
Amber Glenn performed a cha-cha to Santana featuring Rob Thomas’ “Smooth.”
Giada De Laurentiis performed a tango with Alan Bersten.
Tatyana Ali danced a jive with Jan Ravnik.
Maura Higgins performed a foxtrot with Mark Ballas, while Ciara Miller performed a foxtrot with Brandon Armstrong.
Sarah Jane Nader took on a jive with Hailey Bills.
The second episode added another layer to the early competition by allowing viewers to see the other half of the original cast.
A Wide Range of Backgrounds Shapes the Competition
One of the defining features of Season 35 is the variety of experience among the celebrities.
Jenna Dewan has an extensive performance background, while Harry Shum Jr. has experience as an actor, singer and dancer.
Tatyana Ali arrives from a career spanning television and music.
Julia Stiles brings decades of acting experience to the ballroom.
Giada De Laurentiis enters from the world of cooking and television.
Taylor Hanson represents the music world, while Tyler Cameron is known for television and entertainment.
The sports contingent also adds another dimension.
Amber Glenn is an Olympic figure skater, while Ezra Frech is a Paralympic gold medalist.
The different backgrounds mean that every celebrity approaches the dance floor with a unique set of experiences.
Some contestants already understand performance and choreography. Others must learn ballroom techniques from the ground up.
The professional dancers become central to that transition.
What the Early Scores Tell Viewers
The opening-night scores offer useful information about how the judges evaluated the first performances, but they represent only the beginning of the season.
Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson opened with 21 points.
Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach followed closely with 20.
Other couples landed at different points on the first-night scoreboard.
Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson received 10, showing the range of scores among the opening performances.
The next routines will give the celebrities opportunities to address technical weaknesses and improve their scores.
A low opening score does not automatically determine a couple’s future.
Likewise, a high first score does not guarantee continued success.
Each week introduces new choreography, music and performance demands.
How the Competition Continues
Following the two-night premiere, Season 35 moves into its regular weekly schedule.
The show continues Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.
Episodes are also available for streaming on Hulu the following day.
The weekly format gives couples more time to prepare, but it also increases the difficulty of the competition.
As the season progresses, routines become more demanding and the number of remaining couples decreases.
Celebrities must balance performance, technique and audience support.
Professional partners handle much of the choreography and training, but the celebrities still have to execute the routines live.
That combination creates the central challenge of the series.
The Early Storylines to Watch
Several storylines have already emerged from the opening episodes.
The first involves Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson after their 21-point performance.
Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach also begin the season with an impressive 20-point score.
Another storyline centers on the arrival of Adele Zaikman and her rapid exit from the competition with Leavitt.
The voting issue from the first night also drew attention because of its effect on how viewers could participate.
Meanwhile, the remaining celebrities now have the opportunity to establish themselves as the competition moves beyond premiere week.
Every subsequent performance can alter the standings.
The judges can reward improvement, while viewer votes can influence which partnerships continue.
That combination keeps the competition open as the season progresses.
ABC Dancing with the Stars Season 35 Moves Forward
Season 35 has already delivered a busy opening week, with a new cast, a two-night premiere, new professional talent and the first elimination.
The competition began with 16 celebrity-professional partnerships. Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman became the first pair to leave after their salsa received 12 out of 30.
Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson established the first-night high score with 21 points, while Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach followed with 20.
The second premiere night introduced the remaining female contestants and gave viewers another collection of performances before the regular weekly schedule begins.
The cast now moves forward with new routines and another round of judging and voting.
For the celebrities still competing, the opening scores are only the first chapter of the season. Every performance from this point can change the direction of the competition.
Follow the latest Season 35 performances, scores and eliminations as the ballroom competition continues, and share your favorite moments in the comments.