Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars is officially underway, but not without a technical difficulty.
Co-host Julianne Hough alerted viewers early on that voting was down on ABC’s website. Co-host Alfonso Ribeiro updated fans during the broadcast to say that online voting would be thrown out for tonight only.
Despite the glitch, the season’s first elimination went ahead as planned. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Conner Leavitt and new pro dancer Adele Zaikman were sent packing after receiving one of the lowest scores from the judges and not enough votes from viewers.
Night one of the two-night premiere saw the male stars and their pro partners take the ballroom stage to perform their first routines. Scores were largely on the lower side, but returning judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli were encouraging — mostly.
The standout performance of night one was Paralympian Ezra Frech, partnered with pro Daniella Karagach, who scored a 20 out of 30 on a moving tango to “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson. Grey’s Anatomy star Harry Shum Jr. and his partner Jenna Johnson scored a 21 out of 30 for the top score of the night.
Other stars competing this season are Bravo darling Ciara Miller, Step Up actor Jenna Dewan, 10 Things I Hate About You star Julia Stiles, Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn and Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson.
The hit reality competition series returns Wednesday for night two of the premiere at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. Streaming is available the next day on Hulu.
More on DWTS
- DWTS Season 35 full cast announced
- How to watch DWTS Season 35
- Online votes are being thrown out for tonight only
- Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman are eliminated
- Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach receive praise for their routine
To recap night one ...
04:02 , Caitlin Hornik
Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman were sent packing, though they weren’t last on the leaderboard heading into the elimination:
- Harry and Jenna: 21
- Ezra and Daniella: 20
- Tyler and Sharna: 17
- Taylor and Britt: 16
- Connor and Rylee: 16
- Jackson and Emma: 15
- Conner and Adele: 12
- Guillermo and Witney: 10
The judges’ scores started low and increased as the night went on, as per usual.
Aside from the scores and critiques, ABC’s online voting glitched, resulting in only text message votes being counted for tonight’s elimination.
The Season 35 premiere continues Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET!
But wait, there's more!
03:29 , Caitlin Hornik
Night two of the DWTS Season 35 premiere kicks off Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. Streaming will be available the next day on Hulu.
What will the judges think of the women and their respective pro dancers? We’ll see!
Whitney Leavitt seen in the audience after husband's elimination
03:09 , Caitlin Hornik
Whitney, who placed fourth on Season 34 of DWTS, was teary-eyed when her husband Conner was eliminated.
She was visibly disappointed to see her Conner and his partner Adele get sent home after just one dance.
The couple going home is ...
03:00 , Caitlin Hornik
Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman.
It’s a bummer for brand new pro Adele. She won the reality series to land a coveted spot as a pro on DWTS.
But Conner just didn’t have the special sauce - or the fan base.
Seconds from elimination ...
02:56 , Caitlin Hornik
Who will it be?
Alfonso and Julianne said there were double the votes compared to last season’s premiere despite the technical glitch!
Fans want Julianne back as a pro!
02:55 , Caitlin Hornik
“Aww that was such a cute and gorgeous dance by Julianne! She needs to come back as a pro!!” one fan wrote on X.
“Can Julianne please be either a judge or a pro again next season?? Her talent is so wasted as a host #dwts,” another wrote.
julianne is just like me bc i too would choreograph an entire sponsorship ad just to dance with jan #dwts
— Caitlin Weigel (@CaitlinWiggle) September 16, 2026
Did Julianne Hough just dance in Capezio shoes?
02:53 , Caitlin Hornik
Not to be judgy but ... those shoes looked so amateur and did her no justice!!!
Voting is CLOSED!
02:50 , Caitlin Hornik
We are minutes away from the first elimination of the season ...
Scores are deceiving. I don’t think Guillermo and Witney will go home. Maybe Conner Leavitt and Adele? But that would surely be a gut punch to the brand new pro ...
Leaderboard update!
02:47 , Caitlin Hornik
Heading into the first elimination, here’s how the leaderboard is looking:
- Harry and Jenna: 21
- Ezra and Daniella: 20
- Tyler and Sharna: 17
- Taylor and Britt: 16
- Connor and Rylee: 16
- Jackson and Emma: 15
- Conner and Adele: 12
- Guillermo and Witney: 10
Harry and Jenna's score!
02:44 , Caitlin Hornik
“The chemistry between you two is off-the-charts,” Bruno said.
“You are so electric when you perform,” Carrie Ann said. “You gotta watch where your weight is. That’s gonna be your biggest problem,” she said. “Well done!”
Derek “really enjoyed” their routine, saying only that!
The duo received a 21 out of 30 for the new highest score of the night!
Voting is closing SOON!
02:42 , Caitlin Hornik
Get those last text votes in! Voting will close momentarily!
Harry and Jenna are the final couple to dance tonight!
02:41 , Caitlin Hornik
The duo are performing a cha-cha to “Let’s Groove” by Earth, Wind & Fire.
They started off with a medical theme in a nod to Harry’s role on Grey’s Anatomy.
This routine is smooooooth. They’re very in sync with each other. The lunes are clean. The bodies are rolling. This is fun! Definitely a highlight of the night!
Harry looks at ease!
Judges react to Taylor and Britt
02:34 , Caitlin Hornik
Derek immediately called out Taylor’s “good save,” and added, “you should be really happy man.”
“That was a proper, real quickstep,” Bruno exclaimed. “It is the hardest dance to do. You conquered it very well.”
Carrie Ann said that every once in a while she hears late judge Len Goodman in her head, and she did on this occasion, echoing Bruno in that the routine was a “perfect quickstep.”
The duo received a 16 out of 30 from the judges!
Taylor and Britt are up!
02:30 , Caitlin Hornik
The pair are performing a quickstep to “Tell Her About It” by Billy Joel.
Poor Taylor is nervous - you can just tell. His face has been slapped into a line and he’s a half-second ahead of Britt.
They have good energy, but he might be packing his bags sooner rather than later ...
We're almost done with night one ...
02:26 , Caitlin Hornik
It’s already 9:25 p.m. ET, which means we are just minutes away from the first elimination of the season ...
Connor and Rylee's score
02:21 , Caitlin Hornik
The pair received a 16 out of 30, moving into third place!
Judges react to Connor and Rylee
02:19 , Caitlin Hornik
“I was pleasantly surprised by that dance,” Carrie Ann said, saying there was a “sweetness and softness” to how Connor dances. “There was no ick in that dance at all.”
Derek said the pair are like “a double dose of dopamine. So charismatic. Your timing was actually pretty good for the most part.”
Bruno added that the two have “a wonderful thing going on there.”
“Keep up your performance level, because you’re a performer,” Bruno said.
Connor and Rylee's first dance
02:17 , Caitlin Hornik
The pair are dancing a cha-cha to “I Like It, I Love It” by Tim McGraw.
The routine started with Connor on a mechanical bull ...
They have good chemistry! He’s not perfect (who is on night one) but if they have a solid fan base they could do decently.
Ezra and Daniella take the lead!
02:14 , Caitlin Hornik
The pair received a 20 out of 30 for the highest scores of the night!
Voting reminder!
02:12 , Caitlin Hornik
For tonight only, votes are only being counted via text. Online voting was down due to a technical issue and is being completely disregarded for tonight only!
Judges celebrate Ezra and Daniella
02:08 , Caitlin Hornik
“So strong. So focused. So in control. You really look like a leading man,” Bruno said. “You were actually leading the dance all the way through.”
“This is what’s so special about our show. Showing people what’s possible in the face of adversity,” Carrie Ann said. “That was unbelievable. I am in awe.”
“Seeing you, it’s very emotional. It really is. Your frame was fantastic,” Derek said. “Moving forward, it’s discovering what is possible.”
Ezra and Daniella take the stage
02:06 , Caitlin Hornik
The pair are dancing a tango to “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson.
Ezra opened up about being an above-the-knee amputee and the challenges that presents while tackling this journey.
But their tango is thrilling and emotional and really beautiful. The most moving performance of the night so far.
Julianne Hough stumbles over Ezra Frech's introduction
02:03 , Caitlin Hornik
She couldn’t spit the phrase “Paris Paralympian” out and had to restart three times ... awkward!
The pros hit the stage for a group number!
02:01 , Caitlin Hornik
Val Chmerkovskiy and Mark Ballas opening a group number? I am SAT!
The number featured the female stars and their respective pros who will all take the stage tomorrow for night two!
Leaderboard update
01:58 , Caitlin Hornik
Tyler and Sharna are in the lead with 17.
Jackson and Emma are in second with 15.
Conner and Adele sit in third place with 12.
And Guillermo and Witney are sitting in fourth place with 10.
As a reminder, one couple will be eliminated tonight ...
Guillermo and Witney's score
01:53 , Caitlin Hornik
The pair received a 10 out of 30 from the judges, for the new lowest score of the evening.
There were audible gasps and boos from the audience after the scores were revealed.
Judges encourage Guillermo and Witney
01:51 , Caitlin Hornik
Derek blatantly said the technique wasn’t there but said it was “well done.”
Bruno said no one would ever forget it. “It will go viral. Technique can only get better,” he said.
Carrie Ann said it was “super entertaining.”
Guillermo and Witney take the stage
01:49 , Caitlin Hornik
The pair are dancing a cha-cha to “Mr. Big Stuff” by Jean Knight.
During the intro package, Guillermo admitted to not being the best dancer. But you can’t say he’s not trying! This cha-cha is basic but sweet.
Robert Irwin makes an appearance!
01:48 , Caitlin Hornik
Last season’s mirrorball winner appeared to help introduce his pro partner, Witney Carson, who is paired with Jimmy Kimmel Live star Guillermo Rodriguez.
Online voting issues persist
01:46 , Caitlin Hornik
“Please make sure to text all of your votes for tonight and tonight only we are throwing out online votes. So text only tonight, okay?” co-host Alfonso Ribeiro told the crowd after the commercial break at about 8:45 p.m. ET.
Conner and Adele get the lowest score of the night
01:42 , Caitlin Hornik
The pair was given a 12 out of 30 by the judges, scoring straight 4s across the board. Not entirely surprising given the harsh critiques...
The judges did not like it ...
01:38 , Caitlin Hornik
“That was fun and I love your enthusiasm, but it was a bit chaotic,” Carrie Ann said. “It all needs to work together.”
Derek called it “goofy” and “playful” but said there wasn’t enough salsa. “Your performance quality is off the charts,” he continued adding, “hopefully you’re here next week.”
“Rhythm is the key of all Latin dances,” Bruno said. “The hips, darling, don’t lie. So I want to see that.”
This feels ... off
01:36 , Caitlin Hornik
The music feels too slow. The routine feels a bit clunky. But holy moly Adele can DANCE! What an asset to the ballroom.
Conner and Adele take the stage!
01:35 , Caitlin Hornik
Adele makes her pro debut with Conner, dancing a salsa to “Whoomp! There It Is” by Tag Team.
Fans angered over voting tech issue
01:33 , Caitlin Hornik
Viewers have voiced their concerns on social media over the voting issue flagged during the live broadcast by Julianne Hough.
“voting being down on premiere night with an elimination tn… #dwts pls yall get ur s*** tg,” one person wrote on X.
So, I already did my 10 texts for #TeamBrittay on #DWTS but not their website isn't working. How is that fair? @officialdwts
— Gloria (@TheGloriaSophia) September 16, 2026
Voting is down on the ABC site
01:28 , Caitlin Hornik
Julianne Hough alerted viewers after Tyler and Sharna received their score that voting is currently down on the ABC site.
Viewers can still text their votes by messaging the designated keyword to 21523.
Tyler and Sharna's score
01:27 , Caitlin Hornik
Tyler and Sharna received a 17 out of 30 from the judges, including 6 each from Carrie Ann and Bruno.
Judge's comments on Tyler and Sharna
01:26 , Caitlin Hornik
“I’m very pleasantly surprised,” Bruno Tonioli said. “You can move it. You have natural musicality,” he continued, adding that Tyler has so much potential.
“Your foot came off the ground,” Carrie Ann Inaba said. “Lifts are still a thing!” she continued, earning the first boos of the season from the audience.
After offering a few points and technical aspects to work on, Derek Hough said, “you’re gonna be fantastic.”
Sharna returns to the ballroom!
01:23 , Caitlin Hornik
Sharna has returned to the ballroom after a five year absence!
She and her partner, Tyler Cameron, will perform a tango to “Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz.
The troupe dancers take the stage!
01:21 , Caitlin Hornik
Clad in hot pink ensembles, the four troupe dancers looked fabulous!
This season’s troupe includes Kamri Peterson, Onye Stevenson, Jaxon Willard, and Carter Williams.
Jackson and Emma's score
01:16 , Caitlin Hornik
Carrie Ann, Derek, and Bruno each awarded Jackson and Emma a 5, for a total of 15 points out of 30.
The pair seemed disappointed, as did the audience. There were whispers and murmurs - and minimal applause.
Carrie Ann Inaba thinks Jackson and Emma could be competition favorites
01:14 , Caitlin Hornik
“Fantastic way to start the season,” judge Inaba said during critiques.
The judges were mostly kind to Jackson and Emma, pointed out a few technical issues, but were excited by the pair’s potential.
Derek Hough's first comments
01:13 , Caitlin Hornik
“The ballroom is back!” judge Derek Hough said, along with a reminder that the scores will land lower to start the season and that dancers have to earn every point!
Jackson Olson and Emma Slater kick off the competition
01:09 , Caitlin Hornik
The Savannah Banana and his pro partner will perform a cha-cha to “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls! How FUN!
Tonight is all about the men!
01:08 , Caitlin Hornik
The male stars and athletes paired with pros will perform tonight; the women will take the stage tomorrow.
Voting will only be open tonight for the men - so plan accordingly.
Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro are in the house!
01:04 , Caitlin Hornik
The DWTS hosts look fresh and fabulous!
“It’s great to have you back with us after last year’s record-breaking season,” Ribeiro said.
We are BACK!
01:03 , Caitlin Hornik
Season 35 is officially underway with a sexy smattering of pros dancing to "Dancing On My Own" by Robyn. It’s bursting with energy and passion, and featured real-life pairings! So fun to watch real partners do their thing!
5 minute warning!
Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:55 , Caitlin Hornik
Five minutes to showtime! A new season of Dancing With the Stars is nearly here!
Meet the couples: Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten
Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:52 , Caitlin Hornik
The Emmy-winning celebrity chef known for her Food Network show Everyday Italian will be partnered with Bersten to compete for the Mirrorball trophy.
De Laurentiis, 56, has more than 2.5 million Instagram followers alone after her hit cooking show ran for 12 seasons.
15 minutes to showtime!
Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:45 , Caitlin Hornik
Is your popcorn ready yet? If not, you only have 15 minutes to be in position ...
Meet the couples: Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach
Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:41 , Caitlin Hornik
Paralympian gold medalist Frech, 21, is partnered with Daniella Karagach.
Born with congenital limb differences, Frech is an above-the-knee left-leg amputee who co-founded adaptive sports organization Angel City Sports.
Meet the couples: Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold
Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:35 , Caitlin Hornik
Social media personality Wood, 30, is known to his 1.3 million followers across social media as “Fibula.” He hosts a podcast with his friend, Brooke Averick, and is also known for his stand-up comedy.
Wood will be paired with Arnold, 21, who is ballroom royalty as the younger sister of former pro Lindsay Arnold. She rose to fame as a dancer after competing on Dancing With the Stars: Juniors.
30 minutes until the premiere kicks off!
Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:30 , Caitlin Hornik
Don’t be late! Remember - the premiere is streaming live on ABC and Disney+. Set up your TV for cable or streaming a few minutes early to avoid missing a moment of the action. Premiere night is the best!
Meet the couples: Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart
Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:27 , Caitlin Hornik
Hanson, who is one-third of the pop-rock band Hanson, will dance with Stewart this season.
The father of seven, 43, rose to fame with his two brothers in the Nineties with their hit song “MMMBop.”
Meet the couples: Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik
Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:19 , Caitlin Hornik
Widely known for her character Ashley Banks on the hit Nineties sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Ali will be paired with Ravnik.
The casting will make a reunion for Ali, 47, with host Ribeiro, who played Carlton Banks on the iconic series.
Meet the couples: Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov
Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:07 , Caitlin Hornik
Olympian gold medalist Amber Glenn, 26, will dance alongside Pasha Pashkov this season.
If Glenn wins the competition, she would become the fourth figure skater to win the Mirrorball Trophy.
One hour until showtime!
Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:00 , Caitlin Hornik
The anticipation is growing ...
Sharna Burgess returns after five years away from the ballroom
Tuesday 15 September 2026 23:56 , Caitlin Hornik
Burgess, making her comeback after five years away from the ballroom, will be paired with Tyler Cameron.
Cameron, 33, became a fan favorite in Bachelor Nation after finishing on Hannah Brown’s season 15 of The Bachelorette as the runner-up. He will soon be hosting the HGTV show Let’s Go Back to Your Place, which is set to premiere in 2027.
Meet the couples: Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa
Tuesday 15 September 2026 23:48 , Caitlin Hornik
Stiles, a beloved Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated movie star, will compete for the Mirrorball Trophy with Sosa.
The actor, 45, skyrocketed to fame for her breakout role as Kat Stratford in the 1999 romance 10 Things I Hate About You. After the movie, which co-starred the late Heath Ledger, she went on to star in projects like the Bourne franchise, Dexter, Silver Linings Playbook and Hustlers.
She previously showed off her dancing skills in the 2001 movie Save the Last Dance.
Next, she is slated to appear in thriller series Recap as well as holiday movie Unbearable Christmas.
Meet the couples: Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson
Tuesday 15 September 2026 23:36 , Caitlin Hornik
The Grey’s Anatomy and Crazy Rich Asians actor, 44, is partnered with pro Johnson on this season of DWTS.
Like Jenna Dewan, Shum comes into the competition with some experience as a dancer and choreographer — and he notably used his dancing skills in his role as Mike Chang on Glee.
Meet the couples: Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy
Tuesday 15 September 2026 23:23 , Caitlin Hornik
The star of ABC’s police procedural The Rookie as well as hit 2006 dance movie Step Up, Dewan will return to her dancing roots on this season of DWTS.
The dance floor will be familiar for the actor as she started her career as a backup dancer for artists like Janet Jackson and went on to work with stars including Pink, Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott.
Dewan, 45, will be paired with pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy.
DWTS judge defends dance backgrounds of celebrities Julia Stiles and Jenna Dewan
Tuesday 15 September 2026 23:12 , Caitlin Hornik
Carrie Ann Inaba has defended the season 35 contestants who are catching flak for their previous dance experience.
In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly on the topic, longtime judge Inaba defended the casting decision, stating that ballroom is very different from the celebrities’ past training.
“What’s difficult — and I don’t think people realize this — is when you go from being a jazz dancer or a hip-hop dancer or all the other forms of dancing [to ballroom], the weight placement is so different,” Inaba explained.
Ellie Muir reports:
DWTS judge defends dance backgrounds of Julia Stiles and Jenna Dewan
Meet the couples: Jackson Olson and Emma Slater
Tuesday 15 September 2026 23:02 , Caitlin Hornik
Savannah Bananas baseball star Olson, 28, will trade in his cleats for dance shoes with pro Emma Slater this season.
The second baseman for the Georgia-based barnstorming exhibition team — who has amassed more than 3 million followers across TikTok and Instagram — was announced as part of the season 35 cast at the Disney Upfronts presentation in May. Olson’s inclusion appears to be part of the network’s strategy to expand its reach to include social media stars.
“I was a shy kid that never danced, never put myself out there, and never entertained,” he admitted in September on Good Morning America. “And now I kind of manifested this whole thing.”
Meet the couples: Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas
Tuesday 15 September 2026 22:39 , Caitlin Hornik
Irish reality star Higgins, 35, is best known to U.S. audiences from her recent appearance on The Traitors season four, where she made it to the finale, but she’s long been known to U.K. viewers from turns on I’m a Celeb and Love Island.
Higgins has been eager to appear on DWTS since the show’s executive producer and casting head Deena Katz cast her in The Traitors. “[Maura] texts me every time she’s coming to L.A. She wants to have lunch. She’s been dying to do the show, and she’s fantastic. She’s great television,” Katz told The Hollywood Reporter.
“[Maura] is exactly what our show is, and she’s having a moment right now, so that was a no-brainer. And knowing what was going to happen with Traitors and seeing the buzz about her, she was fantastic.”
Higgins will be paired up with The Next Pro judge Mark Ballas, who she competed against on The Traitors.
Meet the couples: Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong
Tuesday 15 September 2026 22:19 , Caitlin Hornik
The 30-year-old Summer House star was one of the first two celebrity cast members announced. Miller joined the season 35 cast last month, amid a fierce friendship fallout with Summer House co-star Amanda Batula over her relationship with Miller’s ex-boyfriend, West Wilson.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about having Miller on DWTS, executive producer and casting head Deena Katz said: “I already knew Ciara. She was on Traitors, and she’s wonderful. She’s stunning, she’s gorgeous; she’s all these things.
“And then the stuff that happened to her, it was a really of the moment thing that we all felt like it was the right time. We really wanted her on the show, but it was also the right time to announce her.”
Miller will be partnered with Brandon Armstrong, who has yet to win his first Mirrorball Trophy.
Double elimination confirmed for week 1
Tuesday 15 September 2026 22:02 , Caitlin Hornik
For the first time since 2018, two couples will perform their first and final dance during week 1.
The double elimination was confirmed during the September 10 episode of Hulu’s Get Real podcast.
Mark Ballas told host Amanda Hirsch: “This is a first [for me],” Ballas told Hirsch, adding that he thinks the impending double elimination will change the vibe of the first week.
“It’s not an even playing field,” Ballas continued. “The cast is split in half... Boys over there, girls over there. One of you is going from each group. That’s a little different.”
Meet the couples: Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson
Tuesday 15 September 2026 21:44 , Caitlin Hornik
After being discovered while working as a security guard at the parking lot of Hollywood Boulevard Masonic Temple studio, the home of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Guillermo Rodriguez, 55, has become a fan-favorite presence of the ABC talk show.
Rodriguez told Kimmel: “I’m excited! I’m very happy,” confirming that he was up for the challenge alongside his pro partner, Witney Carson, who is returning to the show while pregnant.
Kimmel jokingly requested that he promise not to lose “a single adorable pound,” to which Rodriguez replied: “I promise. If I lose five pounds, I’m gonna gain 10 pounds back right away!”
Hailey Bills joins DWTS as a pro dancer
Tuesday 15 September 2026 21:34 , Caitlin Hornik
Bills was promoted to pro for this season after appearing as a troupe member throughout last season.
She will be partnered with Nader, 23, who came out as bisexual during the first season of her family’s reality show Love Thy Nader. The two are the only same-sex celebrity-pro duo this year.
This marks the second all-female pairing on the show — and the third-ever same-sex duo — after JoJo Siwa and Jenna Johnson made history as a pair on season 30 of the show in 2021.
DWTS voting process revealed
Tuesday 15 September 2026 21:17 , Caitlin Hornik
For season 35 of DWTS, the voting process remains largely the same as seasons past.
Voting can be done online at the official Dancing With the Stars site or by SMS text message during the live voting window (8 p.m. ET through the episode’s final competitive dance routine) for each episode.
Votes are not allowed during replays or later viewings.
Fans are allowed to vote for multiple couples. However, there is a maximum of 20 votes per couple (10 online and 10 via text message).
To vote via text, viewers can send the designated keyword to 21523 during the live broadcast.
What is the week 1 theme?
Tuesday 15 September 2026 21:04 , Caitlin Hornik
Across both parts of the two-night premiere, couples will be dancing to songs that reached the top of the charts during the year they were born.
Some of those songs include “Smooth” by Santana feat. Rob Thomas, “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton, and “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson.
New pro dancer to debut Tuesday!
Tuesday 15 September 2026 20:41 , Caitlin Hornik
A handful of new pros have joined the cast this year.
Adele Zaikman won her place in the lineup on the inaugural season of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro.
She is paired with Conner Leavitt, husband of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt, who finished fourth during the season 34 competition.
The duo will perform Tuesday night.
How the two-part premiere will work
Tuesday 15 September 2026 20:19 , Caitlin Hornik
Couples aren’t performing both nights. Instead, each couple will take the stage during one night of the two-night premiere.
The male contestants will take the stage Tuesday, while the women will do so Wednesday.
Two couples will be eliminated total; one from each night of the premiere.
How to watch DWTS season premiere
Tuesday 15 September 2026 20:03 , Caitlin Hornik
The a two-night premiere kicks off Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. The episode will stream the next day on Hulu.
What time is Dancing with the Stars? Full cast and how to watch season 35 premiere
Full cast revealed ahead of premiere
Tuesday 15 September 2026 19:33 , Caitlin Hornik
See who’s dancing with who ahead of the season 35 premiere. Carsen Holaday reports:
Dancing with the Stars Season 35: Full cast and partners unveiled
