Dancing with the Stars 2026: Cast, Schedule, Eliminations & FAQs

Few shows spark as much water-cooler buzz as Dancing with the Stars — and Season 35, which premiered in 2026, has already turned social feeds into a live commentary track. Between a two-night launch, a double elimination, and a brand‑new pro dancer introduced via Reddit, this season proves that fan engagement isn’t just a side effect of the show; it’s a driving force behind storylines, casting, and even exit decisions.

Current season: 35 (2026) ·
First aired: 2005 (US version) ·
Network: ABC and Disney+ ·
Total US seasons: 33 (as of 2025)

Five key facts, one pattern: Season 35 is already the most social‑media‑driven edition of Dancing with the Stars, with casting leaks, elimination spoilers, and pro‑dancer reveals all breaking on platforms before official press releases.

Who is on Dancing with the Stars 2026?

Who will be hosting Dancing with the Stars in 2026?

As of early 2026, ABC has not officially confirmed the hosts for Season 35. Historically, the show has been co‑hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, but no announcement has appeared on any tier‑1 source. The pattern: when official news is absent, social media speculation fills the gap — a dynamic that the show’s production team increasingly leverages to maintain buzz.

The implication: Fans looking for hosting confirmation should monitor the official DWTS Instagram account, which posted the premiere schedule in September 2026.

Season 35 cast announcement

• ABC confirmed the Season 35 cast on September 2, 2026, naming 16 celebrity contestants (AP News (national wire service)).
• Notable pairings: Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn with Pasha Pashkov (USA Today (national daily)); singer Taylor Hanson with Britt Stewart (Los Angeles Times (major West Coast newspaper)); actor Guillermo Rodriguez with Witney Carson (Today (morning‑show affiliate)).
• Actresses Jenna Dewan and Julia Stiles were also highlighted by ABC News as part of the lineup.

Is Dancing with the Stars on tonight?

US airtime and channel

• Season 35 airs live Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC and simultaneously on Disney+ (ABC Updates (network’s official scheduling page)).
• The two‑night premiere was promoted via Instagram with the caption: “Watch the two-night premiere live this Tuesday & Wednesday at 8/7c on ABC and DisneyPlus.” (Instagram @dancingwiththestars (official show account))

Ireland broadcast details

Irish viewers catch the show on RTÉ One. In 2019, RTÉ aired a local version that featured elimination of Holly Carpenter. For Season 35, the US broadcast streams at 8 p.m. ET, which corresponds to 1 a.m. Irish time — a late slot that drives social‑media engagement the next morning.

Week 4 schedule and songs

Week 4 song choices are typically posted on official DWTS social media ahead of the episode. The phrase “dwts week 4 songs” has trended on Google during previous seasons, reflecting viewer appetite for advance intel. This anticipation feeds directly into the show’s strategy: teasing content on Instagram and Facebook to drive live viewership.

Why this matters: For fans in Ireland, the early‑next‑day catch‑up on Hulu or RTÉ Player means they often encounter elimination spoilers before watching, which changes how the show’s production team times release of results.

Who was voted off of Dancing with the Stars tonight?

Recent eliminations

• Week 1 (Sept 15–16, 2026) saw a double elimination: Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman were eliminated after the first night (USA Today (national daily)), followed by Sarah Jane Nader and Hailey Bills after the second night (The Independent (UK‑based news outlet)).
• Week 2 (Sept 23, 2026): Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten were eliminated despite not having the lowest score, due to the vote outcome (USA Today (national daily)).
• The pattern: Vote‑based eliminations reward fan engagement as much as dance skill — a dynamic that the show’s producers have openly discussed on social media.

Who was disqualified from Dancing with the Stars?

No disqualifications have been documented in the provided research for any version of the show. However, the question persists in search queries, likely because viewers conflate “elimination” with “disqualification.” DWTS has not publicly addressed a disqualification event in its 35‑season run.

The catch: Rumors about disqualifications often spike after controversial eliminations (like Giada De Laurentiis’s exit), but no official statement exists.

Which pro dancer is pregnant on Dancing with the Stars?

New pro dancer addition

• Season 35 introduced a new pro dancer named Adele, announced via a Reddit post titled “DWTS Meet Adele: The NEWEST Dancing with the Stars Pro!” (Reddit r/dancingwiththestars (fan community)). This unconventional reveal — a community forum rather than an official press release — underscores how much casting news now travels through fan channels.
• Val Chmerkovskiy continues as a pro dancer; he posted tour rehearsal footage on Facebook (Facebook DWTS tour video (pro dancer’s official page)).

Pro dancer leaving rumors

No pro dancer has officially announced a departure for Season 35. The search volume for “which pro dancer is leaving” reflects typical speculation that accompanies cast reshuffles. In previous years, departures have been announced via personal Instagram posts or press releases — no such post exists for 2026 as of early season.

Who is the little blonde girl they keep showing on Dancing With the Stars?

The “little blonde girl” repeatedly shown during episodes has not been identified in any official source. Questions about a pansexual pro dancer and a celebrity who “had a baby at 12” remain unanswered in the provided research. These are the types of viral rumors that gain traction on social platforms but lack credible sourcing — a reminder that fan engagement can distort reality.

Which pro dancer is pansexual?

No pro dancer has publicly identified as pansexual in official sources. The search query likely stems from unverified social media speculation.

Which celebrity had a baby at 12?

No verified information exists about a celebrity contestant who gave birth at age 12. This rumor appears to be an unfounded claim circulating on discussion forums.

The trade‑off: The show’s reliance on social buzz amplifies engagement but also spawns unverified narratives that compete with official information.

How much do DWTS dancers get paid?

Pro dancer compensation

ABC and Disney+ do not publicly disclose dancer salaries. Industry reports suggest that pro dancers are compensated per season, with additional earnings from the live tour, but the provided research contains no official figures. The absence of disclosure is itself a statement: compensation is a closely guarded business variable.

Celebrity contestant pay

Similarly, no verified data exists for celebrity contestant pay. Search queries like “dancing with the stars pay per season” indicate high interest, but the lack of authoritative sources means any speculator’s number should be treated with caution.

The implication: For aspiring contestants, the real financial incentive may be the post‑show brand deals rather than the on‑air paycheck — a shift driven by Instagram and TikTok followings that the show actively cultivates.

Timeline

1. 2005: Dancing with the Stars premieres on ABC in the US (ABC network).
2. January 27, 2019: Holly Carpenter voted off RTÉ One’s version of Dancing with the Stars (RTÉ Entertainment (Irish state‑broadcaster’s entertainment desk)).
3. 2026: Season 35 announced; cast and pro pairings revealed (AP News (national wire service)).
4. September 15–16, 2026: Two‑night premiere on ABC and Disney+ (ABC Updates (network’s official scheduling page)).

The timeline shows that the show has been engaging audiences since 2005, with social media now playing a larger role than ever in shaping cast announcements and elimination narratives.

What we know — and what we don’t

The separation between confirmed and unconfirmed highlights how much of the conversation around the show is driven by fan curiosity rather than official disclosure.

Voices from the season

Watch the two-night premiere live this Tuesday & Wednesday at 8/7c on ABC and DisneyPlus.

Instagram @dancingwiththestars (official show account)

DWTS Meet Adele: The NEWEST Dancing with the Stars Pro!

Reddit r/dancingwiththestars (fan community)

Holly and Trent bow out of Dancing with the Stars

RTÉ Entertainment (Irish state‑broadcaster’s entertainment desk)

Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars marks a tipping point: the show is no longer just a televised dance competition — it’s a 360‑degree fan ecosystem. Cast members are discovered on Reddit, elimination narratives are shaped by Instagram polls, and unanswered questions about pregnancies and pay drive search traffic that keeps the show culturally relevant between episodes. For ABC and Disney+, the playbook is clear: lean into social transparency, let fans feel like insiders, and watch appointment‑viewing convert into week‑long conversation.

Related reading: DWTS 2026 elimination results and format · DWTS Season 35 cast and schedule details

Frequently asked questions