When does dwts premiere 2026? Dancing with the Stars Season 35 premieres Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET, with a second premiere episode scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, also at 8 p.m. ET. The two-night launch will air live on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available to stream on Hulu the following day.
The return is now less than a week away, and ABC has confirmed the complete celebrity lineup, professional pairings, hosts and judging panel. Season 35 will begin with a special two-night rollout before settling into its regular Tuesday schedule.
For viewers planning their fall television schedule, the premiere date is now official. There is no need to wait for another announcement about when the new season begins.
When Does DWTS Premiere in 2026?
The 35th season of Dancing with the Stars begins on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET.
The opening event will continue the following night. The second episode airs on Wednesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET.
Both premiere episodes are scheduled for a two-hour window, running from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET. ABC and Disney+ will carry the episodes live, while Hulu will offer each episode for streaming the next day.
The two-night launch gives viewers an early look at all 16 celebrity contestants and their professional partners. It also gives the new couples an opportunity to establish themselves before the series moves into its regular weekly schedule.
After the opening two nights, Dancing with the Stars will continue on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. New episodes will stream on Hulu the following day.
For fans searching when does dwts premiere 2026, the key answer is therefore straightforward: the new season starts September 15, followed by a second premiere episode on September 16.
Why DWTS Has a Two-Night Premiere
Season 35 is using a two-night premiere format rather than beginning with only one episode.
The first episode arrives Tuesday, September 15. The second episode follows Wednesday, September 16. Both nights begin at 8 p.m. ET.
This schedule gives the show a larger opening window as the new celebrities enter the ballroom. The format also allows viewers to see more of the season’s cast at the start of the competition.
ABC has officially described Season 35 as a two-night premiere, confirming that the September 15 and September 16 broadcasts are both part of the season launch.
Once those two episodes conclude, the competition shifts to its regular Tuesday-night home.
Where to Watch Dancing With the Stars Season 35
U.S. viewers have several confirmed options for watching the new season.
| Viewing option | Season 35 availability |
|---|---|
| ABC | Live on September 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. ET |
| Disney+ | Live simulcast of the premiere |
| Hulu | Episodes available the following day |
| Regular schedule | Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET after the premiere |
ABC and Disney+ will simulcast the two-night premiere live. Hulu will make the episodes available the following day.
That means viewers who miss the live broadcast will not have to wait until the following week’s episode to catch up. The next-day Hulu availability provides another way to follow the competition.
The live schedule also makes September 15 the most important date for viewers who want to experience the opening night as it happens.
Who Is in the DWTS 2026 Cast?
Season 35 features 16 celebrities, representing television, film, music, sports, reality television, comedy and social media.
ABC has confirmed the complete celebrity and professional-dancer lineup.
The Season 35 couples are:
- Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik
- Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess
- Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten
- Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy
- Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach
- Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov
- Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart
- Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas
- Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman
- Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong
- Sarah Jane Nader and Hailey Bills
- Jackson Olson and Emma Slater
- Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson
- Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson
- Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa
- Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold
The lineup includes several performers with recognizable connections to television and entertainment, along with athletes and reality personalities.
Among the most recognizable names are The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star Tatyana Ali, actress Jenna Dewan, actress Julia Stiles, chef and television personality Giada De Laurentiis, musician Taylor Hanson and Grey’s Anatomy star Harry Shum Jr.
The cast also includes Olympic and Paralympic champions, reality television figures and digital creators.
A New Professional Dancer Joins the Ballroom
One of the notable changes for Season 35 is the arrival of professional dancer Adele Zaikman.
Zaikman earned her place on the professional roster after winning the inaugural season of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro. The competition concluded on August 31, and her prize included a professional position on the main Dancing with the Stars ballroom.
She will compete alongside Conner Leavitt during Season 35.
Her promotion gives the new season a direct connection to the show’s professional-development competition. Instead of simply adding another returning professional, the series is bringing its latest winner into the main ballroom.
That makes Zaikman’s debut one of the confirmed changes viewers can watch when the new season begins.
Sharna Burgess Returns to the Competition
Another major development is the return of Sharna Burgess.
Burgess is back in the competition for the first time since Season 30 in 2021. She will partner with Tyler Cameron during Season 35.
Her return adds another familiar professional dancer to a roster that includes several established names.
Cameron is known from reality television and has also built a career in real estate, construction and media. His pairing with Burgess gives the season another high-profile reality television connection.
Their partnership will be one of the couples viewers meet when the competition begins September 15.
Who Are the DWTS Season 35 Judges?
The judging panel remains unchanged for the new season.
Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough will judge the Season 35 contestants.
Inaba and Tonioli have been part of the judging panel since the show’s first season. Hough originally competed as a professional dancer before becoming a judge beginning with Season 29.
Their continued presence means the new celebrities will face a familiar judging panel from the beginning.
Each performance will be evaluated as the couples compete for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
The judges’ scores will form one part of the competition, while viewer participation remains an important part of the show’s format.
Who Is Hosting DWTS Season 35?
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough are returning as co-hosts.
Ribeiro joined the hosting team in Season 31 after previously winning Season 19 with professional dancer Witney Carson. Julianne Hough, a two-time Mirrorball winner as a professional dancer, returned to the ballroom as a co-host in Season 32.
Their return keeps the hosting team consistent for Season 35.
The pair will guide viewers through the performances, results and competition developments throughout the season.
Their roles will begin with the September 15 premiere and continue through the season.
What Time Does DWTS Start?
For viewers in the Eastern time zone, Season 35 begins at 8 p.m. ET.
The premiere is also scheduled for 8 p.m. in the network’s listed Eastern/Pacific broadcast format, with the opening episodes running through the 10 p.m. hour. ABC’s official announcement lists the two premiere broadcasts as 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. EDT.
The first episode airs Tuesday, September 15.
The second episode airs Wednesday, September 16.
After that, the series moves to Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
Viewers should check their local ABC listings for any local programming variations, but the national Season 35 schedule has been confirmed.
What Happens After the Two-Night Premiere?
The competition will continue weekly after the September 15 and September 16 launch.
Beginning after the two-night opening, new episodes are scheduled for Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. Hulu will carry episodes the next day.
The weekly format will allow the 16 couples to compete through successive rounds as the field becomes smaller.
Each week brings new choreography, different dance styles and another opportunity for contestants to earn points from the judges and support from viewers.
The September premiere therefore marks the beginning of the full competition rather than a one-off television event.
DWTS After Party Gets Its Own Premiere
Season 35 also introduces a new companion program called the DWTS After Party.
The aftershow will be hosted by Robert Irwin, who won Season 34 with Witney Carson. The first DWTS After Party is scheduled to air live on Wednesday, September 16, at 10 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. It will stream on Hulu the following day.
The program is designed to follow the second premiere episode.
It will feature eliminated contestants, discussions of standout moments and appearances from Dancing with the Stars alumni. The official announcement also confirms that the program will include previously unseen footage and additional teases.
Because the aftershow follows the second premiere night, September 16 becomes a particularly full night for fans of the franchise.
The main competition will begin at 8 p.m., followed by the new aftershow at 10 p.m.
The Official DWTS Podcast Returns
The franchise is also continuing its official podcast for another season.
Andy Richter, who competed during Season 34, will host the second season of the Dancing with the Stars Official Podcast. The new season of the podcast begins Thursday, September 10, before the television competition starts.
The podcast will feature cast interviews, special guests, behind-the-scenes material and performance analysis.
New episodes are scheduled for Thursdays on Disney+ and Hulu as well as podcast platforms.
This means the official podcast begins before the Season 35 television premiere, giving fans another way to follow the new cast before the first ballroom performances.
What Happened in DWTS Season 34?
The previous season ended with Robert Irwin and Witney Carson winning the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy in November 2025.
They finished ahead of finalists Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy, Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach, and Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten.
The victory gave Carson her second Mirrorball Trophy. She had previously won Season 19 with Alfonso Ribeiro.
Irwin will now return to the franchise in a different role by hosting the new DWTS After Party.
That creates a direct connection between the previous season and the Season 35 launch. The reigning champion will be back in the ballroom environment, but this time as the host of the new companion show.
How Many Celebrities Are Competing in Season 35?
There are 16 celebrity contestants in the confirmed Season 35 lineup.
They come from a wide range of backgrounds, including acting, music, television, professional sports, reality television and comedy.
The cast includes:
- Tatyana Ali
- Tyler Cameron
- Giada De Laurentiis
- Jenna Dewan
- Ezra Frech
- Amber Glenn
- Taylor Hanson
- Maura Higgins
- Conner Leavitt
- Ciara Miller
- Sarah Jane Nader
- Jackson Olson
- Guillermo Rodriguez
- Harry Shum Jr.
- Julia Stiles
- Connor Wood
Each celebrity has been assigned a professional dancer, creating 16 couples for the competition.
The full lineup has already been announced, so viewers do not have to wait for additional celebrity reveals before the premiere.
The Confirmed DWTS 2026 Schedule
For quick reference, the confirmed opening schedule is:
| Date | Event | Time |
|---|---|---|
| September 10 | Official DWTS Podcast begins | — |
| September 15 | Season 35 Premiere, Night One | 8 p.m. ET |
| September 16 | Season 35 Premiere, Night Two | 8 p.m. ET |
| September 16 | DWTS After Party | 10 p.m. ET |
| After September 16 | Regular weekly episodes | Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET |
The television premiere begins September 15, while the second episode follows on September 16. Both premiere nights will be available live through ABC and Disney+. Hulu will provide next-day streaming.
The official podcast launches several days before the television season, while the new aftershow begins immediately after the second premiere episode.
When Does DWTS Premiere 2026? The Final Answer
For viewers still searching for when does dwts premiere 2026, the confirmed answer is Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.
The launch is a two-night event, with the second episode airing Wednesday, September 16, at the same time. Hulu will stream each episode the following day.
Season 35 features 16 celebrity contestants, a returning group of professional dancers, newcomer Adele Zaikman, returning professional Sharna Burgess, judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough, and hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough.
After the two-night premiere, the show will settle into its regular Tuesday schedule at 8 p.m. ET.
With the cast, schedule and viewing platforms now officially confirmed, the countdown to the Season 35 premiere is underway.
Are you excited for the Season 35 premiere, and which celebrity-pro pairing are you most interested in watching? Share your thoughts and stay tuned for the latest confirmed DWTS updates.