The ballroom is officially open again, and Dancing With the Stars Season 35 is bringing a seriously stacked lineup. Jenna Dewan, Julia Stiles, Harry Shum Jr., Tatyana Ali, Tyler Cameron, Giada De Laurentiis, Olympic and Paralympic champions, reality stars and social-media personalities are all ready to compete for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
The complete 16-couple cast and professional pairings were revealed on Good Morning America Wednesday, September 2. The season begins with a two-night premiere on Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming the following day on Hulu.
More Fall Reality Lineups: DWTS isn’t the only heavy-hitter kicking off a fresh season this fall. For more, read our article on Survivor Season 51’s 21 new castaways entering CBS’ unpredictable “Open Era”.
‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 35 Cast and Pro Partners: Full 16-Couple Lineup
| Celebrity contestant | Professional partner |
| 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 |
| Conner Leavitt | Adele Zaikman |
| Ciara Miller | Brandon Armstrong |
| Sarah Jane Nader | Hailey Bills |
| Jackson Olson | Emma Slater |
| Guillermo Rodriguez | Witney Carson |
| Harry Shum Jr. | Jenna Johnson |
| Julia Stiles | Ezra Sosa |
| Connor Wood | Rylee Arnold |
Ciara Miller, Maura Higgins, Guillermo Rodriguez and Jackson Olson had been announced before the full reveal, with ABC previously confirming Miller, Higgins and Olson, while Rodriguez’s participation was also revealed ahead of September 2.
More Ballroom Buzz: The rumor mill was already spinning before ABC made it official. For the full rundown, read our post on the cast rumors that swirled ahead of the official Season 35 reveal.
Jenna Dewan and Julia Stiles Bring Major Dance-Movie Nostalgia
Jenna Dewan is arguably one of the season’s most intriguing contestants. The actress and former professional dancer, best known for Step Up, will compete with Val Chmerkovskiy as the 2006 movie celebrates its 20th anniversary.
During GMA, Dewan was asked whether fans could expect Step Up moves.
“Yes, we have to right?”
She added:
“This is like such a crazy, huge moment for me. For Step Up, it’s the 20th anniversary of it,”
Chmerkovskiy acknowledged the pressure surrounding her dance background:
“I think there’s incredible expectation from general, rightfully so, and I’m excited for that.”
Julia Stiles is bringing another major dance-film anniversary into the ballroom. The actress, director, writer and producer will compete with Ezra Sosa during the 25th anniversary year of Save the Last Dance, which premiered in January 2001.
A longtime fan, Stiles said:
“I’m truly obsessed with the show and I have been for over a decade,”
She added:
“It’s been a secret dream to be there, and I was always just too scared to say yes until now.”
Her former Save the Last Dance co-stars Kerry Washington and Sean Patrick Thomas even surprised her with a video message.
More Reality Casting News: Star-studded reveals aren’t just a ballroom thing this fall. For more, read our story on the 21 new castaways entering Survivor’s unpredictable “Open Era”.
Harry Shum Jr., Tatyana Ali and Tyler Cameron Add More Star Power
Grey’s Anatomy and Glee star Harry Shum Jr. will dance with Jenna Johnson. Shum previously worked as a professional backup dancer, and his experience immediately became part of the GMA reveal when he demonstrated a dance move.
Judge Bruno Tonioli reacted:
“I think he’s in business.”
Tatyana Ali, known for playing Ashley Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, will compete with Jan Ravnik, adding another nostalgic TV connection.
Meanwhile, Bachelor Nation personality Tyler Cameron is paired with Sharna Burgess. Burgess is returning after a five-season absence, having last competed in Season 30 in 2021 with Brian Austin Green.
When announcing her return, Burgess said:
“I’m back! Some of you guys guessed it. Yes, I am here with a special announcement to finally confirm I’m back on Dancing with the Stars, baby,”
She continued:
“I’m going to be competing for that Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. I can’t wait to be back in the ballroom with my dancing family, and mostly it feels so good to be coming home. I’ll see you all soon.”
More Bravo Buzz: New faces are shaking up more than one franchise this season. For more, read our post on Tracy Tutor joining The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 16.
Giada De Laurentiis, Olympic and Paralympic Champions Join the Battle
Celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis is trading the kitchen for the ballroom with Alan Bersten. Asked whether dancing was as demanding as cooking, she admitted:
“It’s a lot rougher than I thought it would be! I figured my grandmother was a dancer, and I thought maybe I got some of those genes. Definitely not.”
Paralympic track-and-field gold medalist Ezra Frech will compete with Daniella Karagach, while Olympic figure-skating gold medalist Amber Glenn partners with Pasha Pashkov.
Taylor Hanson of Hanson will dance with Britt Stewart, while reality personalities Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller compete with Mark Ballas and Brandon Armstrong, respectively. Higgins is known for Love Island and The Traitors, where she finished second, while Miller is known for Summer House and her wider Bravo, fashion and red-carpet presence.
More Reality TV Comebacks: Franchise connections and returning favorites are trending across the genre this season. For more, read our story on Love Island USA’s Season 9 renewal with Ariana Madix returning to host.
New Pros, Digital Stars and Two Familiar Franchise Connections
Conner Leavitt, husband of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt, will compete with Adele Zaikman. Whitney appeared in Season 34.
Sarah Jane Nader, sister of Season 33 contestant Brooks Nader, will dance with Hailey Bills.
Zaikman won the inaugural season of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, earning her place as a main-show professional. Bills previously appeared on Dancing With the Stars Juniors and later joined the main show’s troupe before becoming a professional. Her pairing with Nader marks the show’s second female-female celebrity/pro partnership after Jenna Johnson and JoJo Siwa in Season 30.
Savannah Bananas player and social-media personality Jackson Olson is paired with Emma Slater, bringing his baseball-meets-entertainment energy into the ballroom. Jimmy Kimmel Live! sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez will compete with reigning champion Witney Carson.
Rodriguez has worked with Jimmy Kimmel for more than two decades and is known for comedy segments and Oscars red-carpet appearances. Alfonso Ribeiro also revealed he learned about Tatyana Ali’s casting through social media:
“I’ve said many times, the show never tells me anything, literally keep me in the dark until the last minute about everything.”
Comedian and podcaster Connor Wood rounds out the cast with Rylee Arnold.
‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 35 Hosts, Judges, Premiere and Ratings
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough return as hosts, with Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough on the judging panel.
Derek Hough teased:
“You can expect what you know and love about ‘Dancing With the Stars’ but also an energized show,”
He added:
“We have so much momentum. The cast is incredible. The pros are energized.”
And:
“It’s going to be an incredible season. I cannot wait.”
Julianne Hough also teased a fashion-focused theme night:
“The fashion is going to be really fun with one specific theme night. For me at least, I’m very excited.”
Another huge storyline is Witney Carson returning while in her second trimester with her third child. According to the supplied report, she is the first DWTS professional to compete this far along in a pregnancy. After winning Season 34 with Robert Irwin, Carson will now partner with Guillermo Rodriguez.
Season 34’s finale drew 9.24 million viewers across ABC and Disney+, up 45% from the previous year’s 6.37 million and becoming the show’s most-watched finale in nine years. It also delivered a 2.15 adults 18-49 rating versus 1.14 previously, more than 72 million fan votes, and major gains among younger viewers and on social media.
ABC said Season 34 averaged 10 million total viewers across 35 days of multiplatform viewing and ranked as the No. 1 entertainment series among Adults 18-49 for the second consecutive season.
Season 35 premieres September 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, followed by Tuesday episodes. Hulu streams episodes the following day. The Dancing With the Stars Official Podcast, hosted by Season 34 contestant Andy Richter, returns September 10, while the first-ever live DWTS After Party, hosted by Robert Irwin, follows the September 16 premiere.
With 16 couples, two new main-show professionals, Sharna Burgess back, major Hollywood nostalgia and a ratings comeback to defend, Season 35 has plenty riding on it.
More Judging Panel Shake-Ups: Ballroom judges aren’t the only panel changing things up on primetime this fall. For more, read our article on Kenan Thompson stepping in for Simon Cowell on America’s Got Talent during his back-surgery recovery.
Disclaimer: This article is based on thorough research of information available as of September 2, 2026. The story was compiled from the official ABC Season 35 cast announcement and press release, Good Morning America coverage of the full cast, premiere, hosts and judges, ABC News’ report on Sharna Burgess’ return, TheWrap‘s Season 34 finale ratings report, and PEOPLE‘s Season 35 cast reveal and celebrity interviews. Cast, scheduling, streaming availability and other program details may be updated by ABC, Disney or the show’s producers.
Sources
- ABC — Official Season 35 Cast Announcement and Press Release
- Good Morning America — Full Season 35 Cast and Professional Partners
- Good Morning America — Season 35 Cast, Premiere Date, Hosts and Judges
- ABC News — Sharna Burgess Announces Her Season 35 Return
- TheWrap — Season 34 Finale Ratings and 9.24 Million Viewers
- PEOPLE — Season 35 Cast Reveal and Celebrity Interviews
Featured Image Credit: Disney / Matt Sayles
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