Dancing with the Stars Season 35: The Full Cast, Scores & Elimination Guide

Dancing with the Stars is back and trending after its two-night Season 35 premiere on ABC and Disney+, which kicked off with a stacked celebrity cast, high scores from reality star Maura Higgins, and the season’s first two eliminations. Here’s a complete guide to Season 35: the full cast and pro partners, how the premiere week scored and played out, how voting works, and everything else you need to follow the season as it unfolds. With a mix of reality personalities, veteran actors, elite athletes, and musicians all competing for the Mirror Ball Trophy, this season has already produced plenty to talk about after just two nights on the air.

Quick Answer: What’s Happening on Dancing with the Stars Right Now?

Dancing with the Stars Season 35 premiered over two nights, September 15 and 16, 2026, with the male celebrities competing on night one and the female celebrities on night two. Conner Leavitt and pro partner Adele Zaikman were the first couple eliminated on night one, followed by Sarah Jane Nader and pro partner Hailey Bills on night two. Reality star Maura Higgins and pro partner Mark Ballas posted the season’s first standout score, earning a seven-paddle score of 21 out of 30, the highest of the premiere. The season is hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, with Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli, and Carrie Ann Inaba returning on the judging panel.

Dancing with the Stars Season 35: Overview

Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars marks another chapter for the long-running ABC ballroom competition, which pairs celebrities with professional dancers for weekly performances judged on technique, showmanship, and audience appeal. It remains one of the most-watched unscripted shows on network television each fall. This season is hosted by Season 19 champion Alfonso Ribeiro, with former professional dancer and judge Julianne Hough returning as co-host. The judging panel again features Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli, and Carrie Ann Inaba, continuing the trio’s role from recent seasons. Their familiar chemistry and contrasting critique styles remain a big part of the show’s weekly appeal.

With a new season comes a fresh wave of anticipation each year, and this one delivered from the very first night. The season kicked off with a special two-night premiere format: the male celebrities took the ballroom floor on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, followed by the female celebrities on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. Regular weekly episodes air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.

Dancing with the Stars Season 35: Full Cast and Pro Partners

Season 35 features a mix of reality television personalities, actors, athletes, and other public figures, each paired with a professional dancer:

• Maura Higgins (Love Island, The Traitors) & Mark Ballas
• Ciara Miller (Summer House) & Brandon Armstrong
• Tyler Cameron (television personality) & Sharna Burgess
• Jenna Dewan (The Rookie, Step Up) & Val Chmerkovskiy
• Julia Stiles (10 Things I Hate About You) & Ezra Sosa
• Tatyana Ali (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) & Jan Ravnik
• Sarah Jane Nader (Love Thy Nader) & Hailey Bills
• Conner Leavitt (The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives) & Adele Zaikman
• Jackson Olson (Savannah Bananas second baseman) & Emma Slater
• Guillermo Rodriguez (Jimmy Kimmel Live! sidekick) & Witney Carson
• Harry Shum Jr. (actor & dancer) & Jenna Johnson
• Amber Glenn (Olympic figure skater) & Pasha Pashkov
• Giada De Laurentiis (celebrity chef, Food Network) & Alan Bersten
• Taylor Hanson (Hanson) & Britt Stewart
• Ezra Frech (Paralympic athlete) & Daniella Karagach
• Connor Wood (celebrity) & Rylee Arnold

Night One Recap: The Men Take the Floor

The men opened the season on September 15, with each celebrity performing an introductory routine before scores were tallied for the night’s first elimination. Fitness and Bachelor Nation personality Tyler Cameron drew attention during his critiques when judge Derek Hough briefly mispronounced his name, a moment that quickly circulated on social media despite not affecting his performance. Lighthearted moments like that one are a regular part of the show’s live-broadcast charm, alongside the more serious business of scoring and eliminations each week. By the end of the night, Conner Leavitt and pro partner Adele Zaikman had the lowest combined score-and-vote total and were sent home after performing a salsa to “Whoomp! (There It Is)” by Tag Team, becoming the first couple eliminated from Season 35.

Full Night One Scores (Men)

Night one focused on introducing the season’s male celebrities, with detailed judges’ scores for the full group released alongside night two’s combined premiere-week coverage. Conner Leavitt’s salsa to “Whoomp! (There It Is)” ultimately wasn’t enough to keep him and Adele Zaikman in the competition, making them the season’s first couple sent home.

Night Two Recap: The Women Take Over

Night two, on September 16, showcased the season’s female celebrities. Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn and pro partner Pasha Pashkov posted an early high score of 18 out of 30, quickly matched by Julia Stiles and pro partner Ezra Sosa, who tied that score with a quickstep to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.” The night’s biggest moment came from reality star Maura Higgins and pro partner Mark Ballas, who became the first female celebrity of the season to earn a seven-paddle score from all three judges, finishing with a 21 out of 30, the highest score of the two-night premiere. Jenna Dewan and pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy also impressed, scoring a 19 out of 30. By the end of the night, Sarah Jane Nader and pro partner Hailey Bills had the lowest combined total and were eliminated after performing a jive to “Sk8er Boi” by Avril Lavigne, becoming the second couple sent home this season.

Full Night Two Scores

Who Has Been Eliminated From Dancing with the Stars Season 35?

• 1st eliminated: Conner Leavitt & Adele Zaikman (Night 1, Sept. 15, 2026)
• 2nd eliminated: Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills (Night 2, Sept. 16, 2026)

Additional eliminations will be updated here as the season progresses week to week. Check back weekly for the latest results, since this section will be refreshed after each new episode airs.

How Does Dancing with the Stars Voting Work?

Each couple’s fate is decided by a combination of judges’ scores and live viewer votes. Voting opens during the East Coast broadcast of each episode and closes shortly after the final performance of the night, meaning West Coast viewers typically have roughly until 6:45 p.m. Pacific Time to cast a vote for their favorite couple before voting closes. The couple with the lowest combined total of judges’ scores and audience votes is eliminated at the end of each episode. Voting is generally available through the official Dancing with the Stars website, the ABC app, and text message, depending on the season’s current voting partner. Fans of an early front-runner like Maura Higgins, or of a couple sitting closer to the bottom of the leaderboard, should treat every episode’s voting window as important from week one onward, since premiere-week momentum doesn’t guarantee safety once the full field of remaining couples starts performing every single week.

Meet the Professional Dancers of Season 35

Season 35’s professional dancers include a mix of longtime DWTS veterans and rising troupe members stepping into bigger roles this season:

• Mark Ballas — A multiple-time champion pro, paired with Maura Higgins
• Val Chmerkovskiy — A veteran champion pro, paired with Jenna Dewan
• Sharna Burgess — A longtime fan-favorite pro, paired with Tyler Cameron
• Jenna Johnson — A former champion pro, paired with Harry Shum Jr.
• Witney Carson — A veteran champion pro, paired with Guillermo Rodriguez
• Alan Bersten — A longtime pro, paired with Giada De Laurentiis
• Daniella Karagach — A former champion pro, paired with Ezra Frech
• Pasha Pashkov — A rising pro, paired with Amber Glenn
• Britt Stewart — A former champion pro, paired with Taylor Hanson
• Rylee Arnold — A rising pro, paired with Connor Wood
• Ezra Sosa — A troupe member stepping into a bigger role, paired with Julia Stiles
• Jan Ravnik — A returning pro, paired with Tatyana Ali
• Brandon Armstrong — A returning pro, paired with Ciara Miller
• Emma Slater — A veteran pro, paired with Jackson Olson
• Hailey Bills — A first-time pro promoted from the troupe, paired with Sarah Jane Nader
• Adele Zaikman — A pro dancer, paired with Conner Leavitt

How Does DWTS Scoring Work?

Each of the three judges scores a couple’s routine on a scale of 1 to 10, with those three scores combined for a maximum possible total of 30 points per performance during single-dance weeks. A perfect night, all three judges awarding a 10, is often referred to informally as a “three tens” or a full “30 out of 30.” During weeks with multiple routines per couple, such as team dances or double-dance nights later in the season, the maximum possible score increases accordingly. Judges typically weigh technical execution, musicality, showmanship, and overall improvement week to week, with scores generally expected to rise as celebrities become more comfortable and skilled as the season progresses.

Tips for Voting on Dancing with the Stars

• Watch live when possible. Voting opens and closes fastest during the East Coast broadcast, so watching live gives you the most time to vote before the window closes.
• Vote through multiple methods. Depending on the season’s current voting partner, you may be able to vote via the official DWTS website, the ABC app, and text message; using more than one method within the allowed limits can maximize your support for a favorite couple.
• Don’t wait for West Coast airtime. If you’re on the West Coast, voting typically closes shortly after the East Coast broadcast ends, well before your local primetime airing — plan to vote earlier in the evening.
• Check for vote limits. Some voting methods cap the number of votes per person per couple; check the current season’s official rules on the show’s website for specifics.
• Follow official show accounts. The show’s official social media accounts often post reminders when voting is open and closing, which can help you avoid missing the window during a busy episode night.

The Judges and Hosts of Season 35

• Derek Hough — Judge, six-time Dancing with the Stars champion professional dancer
• Bruno Tonioli — Judge, longtime Dancing with the Stars panelist
• Carrie Ann Inaba — Judge, original panelist since the show’s first season
• Alfonso Ribeiro — Host, Season 19 Dancing with the Stars champion
• Julianne Hough — Co-host, former professional dancer and judge

Storylines to Watch This Season

Several early storylines are already shaping up heading into Season 35’s first full week of competition. Maura Higgins’ seven-paddle premiere score has instantly made her and pro partner Mark Ballas early frontrunners to watch, That kind of instant standout moment is exactly what producers hope for heading into a new season, since an early frontrunner narrative tends to drive additional viewer engagement through the season’s crucial middle weeks. while Jenna Dewan’s strong 19-point debut suggests she could be a serious contender given her dance background from Step Up and past experience on the ballroom floor. Meanwhile, athletes Amber Glenn and Ezra Frech bring elite competitive backgrounds from figure skating and Paralympic sport respectively, often a strong predictor of ballroom success in past DWTS seasons. Both have already shown the kind of body control and stage presence that tends to translate well into ballroom scoring, even before technical dance training catches up to their natural athleticism. As the season moves into its regular weekly episodes, fans will be watching to see which early standouts can maintain momentum and which cast members face pressure heading into the show’s typically unforgiving mid-season eliminations.

Meet the Standout Contestants of Season 35

With sixteen celebrities in the cast, a few names have already drawn extra attention heading into the season’s first full week:

Maura Higgins

The Irish television personality, known to American audiences from Love Island and The Traitors, opened the season with the premiere’s highest score, a seven-paddle 21 out of 30 alongside pro partner Mark Ballas, instantly positioning her as an early favorite to watch.

Jenna Dewan

Best known for The Rookie and her earlier film work in the Step Up franchise, Jenna Dewan brought genuine dance training into the competition, and her strong 19-point debut with pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy reflected that background.

Tyler Cameron

A familiar face from reality television and modeling, Tyler Cameron competed on night one with pro partner Sharna Burgess, part of a men’s lineup that also included actor Harry Shum Jr. and Jimmy Kimmel Live! sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez.

Amber Glenn and Ezra Frech

Two of the season’s elite athletes, Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn and Paralympic athlete Ezra Frech bring competitive backgrounds that have historically translated well to ballroom performance in past DWTS seasons, making both worth watching as the competition progresses.

Giada De Laurentiis

The celebrity chef and longtime Food Network host rounds out the season’s more unexpected casting choices, joining pro partner Alan Bersten for her first foray into competitive ballroom dance.

Common Dance Styles You’ll See This Season

New viewers following along this season will hear judges reference a recurring set of ballroom and Latin dance styles throughout the competition:

• Cha-cha — A playful, rhythmic Latin dance built around sharp hip movements and a distinctive triple-step count.
• Salsa — A high-energy Latin dance with quick footwork and close partner connection, as seen in Conner Leavitt’s premiere routine.
• Jive — A fast, bouncy swing-style dance often used for high-energy, upbeat song choices, as seen in Sarah Jane Nader’s elimination routine.
• Quickstep — A brisk ballroom dance characterized by fast-paced walking and gliding steps around the floor, as seen in Julia Stiles’ premiere routine.
• Foxtrot — A smooth, elegant ballroom dance built on long, flowing movements.
• Tango — A dramatic, sharp ballroom dance built around sudden stops and staccato movements.
• Samba — A bouncy Brazilian dance with continuous hip movement, often paired with upbeat, percussive music.
• Paso Doble — A bold, theatrical dance inspired by Spanish bullfighting, typically reserved for more experienced dancers as the season progresses.

New viewers shouldn’t worry about memorizing every style right away — judges and hosts typically name the dance at the start of each routine, and the differences become much easier to spot after watching just a few episodes. Understanding these terms makes it easier to follow judges’ critiques each week, since specific technical feedback — like frame, footwork, or musicality — tends to vary significantly depending on which of these styles a couple has drawn for that week’s episode.

How to Watch Dancing with the Stars Season 35

Dancing with the Stars airs live Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and simulcasts on Disney+, with episodes available for next-day streaming on Hulu. Viewers without cable can watch through Disney+, Hulu + Live TV, or other ABC-carrying live TV streaming services.

Looking Back: What Happened on Season 34?

Season 35 follows a Season 34 campaign that saw a competitive field of celebrities, including Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast members Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt, Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying, Boy Meets World actress Danielle Fishel, and yoga instructor and podcaster Hilaria Baldwin, work through weekly eliminations toward the season finale. Elaine Hendrix and Dylan Efron rounded out the season’s final weeks in fifth and fourth place respectively, reflecting the kind of late-season competitiveness that has become a hallmark of the show in recent years. That established pattern, a wide-open early field narrowing into a genuinely competitive final few weeks, is exactly the shape Season 35 appears to be following early on, based on the premiere week’s scores and eliminations. Fans who followed Season 34 closely will likely recognize similar dynamics this time around: a handful of early standouts, a wave of mid-season surprises as judges’ scoring standards tighten, and at least one or two beloved contestants whose elimination sparks noticeable fan pushback on social media, a pattern that has repeated across nearly every recent season of the show.

The Mirror Ball Trophy and Season Format

Every season of Dancing with the Stars builds toward the same prize: the Mirror Ball Trophy, awarded to the winning celebrity-and-pro couple at the season finale. The competition typically runs for roughly ten to eleven weeks, with couples performing new routines each episode, often built around a weekly theme, and facing progressively tougher scoring and elimination pressure as the field narrows. Certain weeks throughout the season traditionally feature special formats, including team dances, trio rounds, or a widely anticipated “Halloween Night” themed week, though Season 35’s specific themed weeks had not been fully detailed at the time of the premiere. As the competition advances, expect combined scores to matter more heavily, and previously safe couples to face genuine jeopardy as the judges raise their scoring standards week over week. It’s also common for at least one dance style, most often the paso doble or the contemporary freestyle round later in the season, to produce a genuine surprise, either a technically weaker couple pulling off an unexpectedly strong performance or a previously dominant couple stumbling on unfamiliar footing.

A Quick History of Dancing with the Stars

Dancing with the Stars first premiered in 2005 as the American adaptation of the British series Strictly Come Dancing, and has since become a fixture of network television, running for over three decades of combined seasons and helping launch or revive the profiles of numerous celebrity contestants and professional dancers alike. The show’s format, pairing celebrities with professional partners for weekly judged performances building toward a season-ending finale, has remained largely consistent even as hosts, judges, and voting mechanics have evolved over the years.

Why Dancing with the Stars Keeps Drawing Big Audiences

More than two decades into its run, Dancing with the Stars continues to draw strong ratings and heavy social media engagement each season, and a few factors help explain that staying power. The show’s celebrity casting consistently mixes genuinely famous names with rising reality stars and athletes, giving different segments of the audience their own reason to tune in. Its live-voting format also gives viewers a direct, ongoing stake in outcomes week after week, something scripted television generally can’t replicate. And because routines are graded on visible technical criteria, judges’ critiques offer casual viewers an easy way to follow along and form their own opinions, even without any ballroom dance background themselves. That combination, familiar faces, viewer agency, and an easy-to-follow format, has kept the show a reliable ratings performer for ABC each fall, and Season 35’s strong premiere-week numbers and social buzz around Maura Higgins’ standout score suggest that pattern is holding again this year. The show’s willingness to keep refreshing its cast with a broader mix of reality personalities, athletes, and musicians alongside more traditional Hollywood names has also helped it stay relevant to younger audiences who might not otherwise tune into a legacy network competition series, giving it a wider cross-generational appeal than many of its original 2005-era competitors ever achieved.

Sources and Further Reading

• ABC News — Dancing with the Stars Season 35: See Who Is Eliminated
• The Hollywood Reporter — DWTS Season 35 Premiere: Male Celebs’ Scores and Elimination
• The Hollywood Reporter — DWTS Season 35 Premiere: Female Celebs’ Scores and Elimination
• Wikipedia — Dancing with the Stars Season 35
• Good Morning America — Meet the Season 35 Celebrity Cast and Their Pro Dance Partners
• ABC.com — Official Dancing with the Stars Show Page
• TVLine — Dancing With the Stars Reveals Season 35 Full Cast
• TheWrap — Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Cast

What’s Next: Week One of Regular Episodes

With the two-night premiere complete and two couples already eliminated, Season 35 moves into its first regular weekly episode next, where all fourteen remaining couples will perform together in the same episode for the first time this season. Expect judges to raise their scoring standards slightly compared to premiere week, as is typical once celebrities have had a full week of additional rehearsal time, and expect the leaderboard to start separating early frontrunners like Maura Higgins and Jenna Dewan from couples who are still finding their footing. This guide will be updated with new scores and eliminations as the season continues to unfold week by week.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dancing with the Stars Season 35

Who was eliminated first on Dancing with the Stars Season 35?

Conner Leavitt and pro partner Adele Zaikman were the first couple eliminated, voted off on night one of the premiere on September 15, 2026.

Who has the highest score so far on DWTS Season 35?

Maura Higgins and pro partner Mark Ballas posted the highest premiere-week score, earning a seven-paddle 21 out of 30 on night two.

Who are the judges on Dancing with the Stars Season 35?

Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli, and Carrie Ann Inaba are the judges for Season 35, with Alfonso Ribeiro hosting alongside co-host Julianne Hough.

How can I vote on Dancing with the Stars?

Voting opens during each episode’s East Coast broadcast and closes shortly after the final performance, typically through the official DWTS website, the ABC app, or text message.

What time does Dancing with the Stars air?

Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, simulcasting on Disney+, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.

Who is on the Dancing with the Stars Season 35 cast?

The Season 35 cast includes Maura Higgins, Ciara Miller, Tyler Cameron, Jenna Dewan, Julia Stiles, Tatyana Ali, Sarah Jane Nader, Conner Leavitt, Jackson Olson, Guillermo Rodriguez, Harry Shum Jr., Amber Glenn, Giada De Laurentiis, Taylor Hanson, Ezra Frech, and Connor Wood.

How does Dancing with the Stars elimination work?

The couple with the lowest combined total of judges’ scores and live viewer votes is eliminated at the end of each episode, though occasionally multiple couples may be eliminated during a single week depending on the season’s format.

Is Julianne Hough a judge or host this season?

Julianne Hough is serving as co-host alongside Alfonso Ribeiro for Season 35, not as a judge; the judging panel consists of Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli, and Carrie Ann Inaba.

When did Dancing with the Stars Season 35 premiere?

Season 35 premiered over two nights, September 15 and 16, 2026, with the male celebrities competing on the first night and the female celebrities on the second.

Where can I stream Dancing with the Stars?

Episodes are available to stream live on Disney+ alongside the ABC broadcast, with next-day episodes available on Hulu.

Will there be a double elimination on DWTS Season 35?

Double eliminations are a recurring possibility on Dancing with the Stars, sometimes happening during a season’s second week or another surprise moment; whether Season 35 includes one has not been confirmed beyond the premiere week’s two single eliminations.

Who is favored to win DWTS Season 35?

It’s early in the season, but Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas enter the first full week as an early favorite following their premiere-topping score, alongside Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy given Dewan’s dance background.

How many couples compete each season?

Season 35 features sixteen celebrity-and-pro couples, in line with recent seasons’ typical cast sizes, though the exact number has varied across the show’s history.

Are there team dances on DWTS?

Yes, team dance weeks are a recurring feature on Dancing with the Stars in past seasons, typically occurring later in the season and grouping remaining couples into two or more teams for a single collaborative routine.

Can eliminated couples return to DWTS?

Some past seasons have included a “redemption” or wildcard mechanic allowing an eliminated couple to return; whether Season 35 will include a similar twist has not been announced as of the premiere.

How long has Dancing with the Stars been on the air?

Dancing with the Stars premiered in 2005, making Season 35 part of a run spanning more than two decades on American television.

Dancing with the Stars Season 35 is off to a fast start, with Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas setting an early bar with the premiere’s top score, and two couples already eliminated as the competition narrows heading into its first full weekly episode. With a cast blending reality television personalities, veteran actors, elite athletes, and musicians, this season has plenty of storylines to follow as the couples fight to stay on the dance floor each week. Browse more entertainment and TV coverage on our blog for more recaps as the season continues. Whether the frontrunners hold their lead or a surprise contender emerges, Season 35 has already proven it still knows how to deliver a genuinely entertaining opening week.

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