Dancing with the Stars Season 35 is officially shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable seasons yet. While ABC has confirmed only four celebrities so far, a longtime Reddit insider has dropped fresh clues pointing toward three unexpected names: social media personality Connor Wood, Love Thy Nader star Sarah Jane Nader, and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives personality Conner Leavitt.
The latest speculation surfaced on August 19 and has fans connecting clues, celebrity relationships and previous DWTS links. But there is an important catch: none of these latest names has been officially confirmed by ABC. The network has scheduled its full Season 35 cast and professional pairing reveal for September 2 on Good Morning America, so the ballroom mystery is still very much alive.
More Judging Panel Shakeups: DWTS isn’t the only competition show whose format is under the microscope this season. For more, read our story on America’s Got Talent Season 21’s judges and callback format change.
DWTS Season 35 Rumors: Connor Wood, Sarah Jane Nader and Conner Leavitt Enter the Spotlight
The newest name attracting attention is social media influencer Connor Wood, better known online as “Fibula.” The Reddit insider’s August 19 clues reportedly included “bones,” “bumble bees,” and podcasts. Fans connected those clues to Wood, and the insider indicated that the guess was correct.
Wood previously worked at Bumble before being laid off during the pandemic. He later built a major TikTok presence and developed a substantial social media following. His DWTS connections have also caught attention: he currently follows professional dancers Rylee Arnold and Emma Slater, although those follows do not appear to be recent. He is also friends with Dylan Efron, who competed on Season 34.
The “bones” clue combined with Wood’s “Fibula” nickname made the theory easier for fans to piece together. Still, his name was not among the most prominent pre-season speculation, which is exactly why the latest rumor came as a surprise.
Then there is Sarah Jane Nader, whose possible casting would bring another member of the Nader family into the DWTS universe.
The insider first posted the clue “sister”, followed by “Yacht.” Fans quickly connected those hints to Brooks Nader, who competed on Season 33, and her sister Sarah Jane. The insider subsequently indicated that Sarah Jane was the correct guess. Again, this remains an unconfirmed claim.
Sarah Jane is already familiar to some viewers because of Brooks’ DWTS run. She has also gained attention independently, including after being spotted on a date with former Saturday Night Live comedian Pete Davidson. She previously made headlines while celebrating Brooks’ birthday on a yacht, giving the insider’s “Yacht” clue an especially interesting connection.
Sarah Jane is one of four Nader sisters: Brooks, Sarah Jane, Mary Holland and Grace Ann. The sisters have appeared together on Hulu’s reality series Love Thy Nader, which has been renewed for a second season expected later in 2026.
If Sarah Jane does join Season 35, she would also continue DWTS’ recent crossover with Hulu reality personalities. Season 33 featured The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives stars Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt.
More Reality Romance Fallout: Since Sarah Jane’s rumored casting keeps circling back to her dating life, it’s worth catching up on how another headline-grabbing reality couple’s season wrapped up. For more, read our post on Love Island USA Season 8 winners Aniya and Carl.
Conner Leavitt Could Bring Another Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Connection
The third fresh rumor is perhaps the most unexpected: Conner Leavitt, husband of Whitney Leavitt.
Conner was also named in Reddit speculation on August 19. Fans had already begun suspecting him after Whitney and Conner appeared to tease an announcement, while the latest insider post added more fuel to the theory.
If accurate, Conner’s casting would give Season 35 another direct connection to The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Whitney competed on Season 34, making her husband’s potential appearance a notable continuation of the franchise’s reality-TV crossover.
And there is an unintentionally hilarious detail: Connor Wood and Conner Leavitt have extremely similar first names. Wood spells his “Connor,” while Leavitt spells his “Conner.” Fans have already joked about how DWTS would distinguish them once voting begins.
Married Reality Drama: Since Conner’s own rumored casting is tied to his marriage to a reality star, it’s a good moment to check in on another show built entirely around real-life couples. For more, read our guide on Married at First Sight Season 20 heading to Peacock.
The Bigger DWTS Season 35 Cast Rumor List Is Getting Serious
These three names are only the newest additions to a much longer list of reported or strongly rumored contestants.
Previous reports and insider discussions have linked Season 35 to:
| Celebrity | Known for |
| Giada De Laurentiis | Food Network personality |
| Jenna Dewan | Step Up, The Rookie |
| Harry Shum Jr. | Glee, Grey’s Anatomy |
| Tyler Cameron | Former Bachelorette contestant |
| Tatyana Ali | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air |
| Taylor Hanson | Singer-songwriter, member of Hanson |
| Ezra Frech | Paralympic track-and-field gold medalist |
On August 20, another report said sources had confirmed Jenna Dewan and Tyler Cameron for the season. However, ABC has not included either among its officially announced contestants, meaning they remain source-based reports rather than official network confirmations.
That distinction matters.
More Kitchen Competition Drama: Speaking of Food Network names like Giada De Laurentiis potentially trading the kitchen for the ballroom, another culinary competition just had its own elimination shakeup. For more, read our story on Kim Alter’s elimination in America’s Culinary Cup Episode 2’s meat challenge.
Who Has ABC Officially Confirmed for Dancing with the Stars Season 35?
For now, only four celebrities have received official confirmation from ABC.
Ciara Miller — The Summer House and The Traitors alum was announced in April at Hulu’s Get Real House event. ABC confirmed Miller and Maura Higgins as the first two celebrity contestants revealed.
Maura Higgins — The Love Island UK and The Traitors star was announced alongside Miller, bringing another reality-TV personality with a strong international fan base to Season 35.
Jackson Olson — The social media personality and Savannah Bananas second baseman was announced in May at Disney Upfronts. ABC subsequently confirmed his participation and described him as an internet personality and Savannah Bananas second baseman.
Guillermo Rodriguez — The longtime Jimmy Kimmel Live! sidekick was confirmed in June, becoming the fourth officially announced celebrity. He is paired with returning professional dancer Witney Carson, who won Season 34 and is pregnant.
More Unexpected Exits: With official confirmations this hard-won on DWTS, it’s a reminder that reality TV casts can shift fast in the other direction too. For more, read our post on why Levi Banks exited Big Brother Season 28.
DWTS Season 35 Professional Cast and The Next Pro Twist
ABC has not released the complete professional pairings yet. Hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough are expected to return, alongside judges Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli.
There is also one professional position tied to the new spin-off Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro. Twelve up-and-coming dancers compete for the chance to earn a professional dancer position on Season 35. ABC describes it as an audition-style competition where the dancers live together and compete for their place on the main show.
Robert Irwin hosts the spin-off, while Mark Ballas and Shirley Ballas serve as judges. Returning professionals participate as mentors and guest judges.
The finale is scheduled for August 31, meaning the newest professional dancer should be known before the main season begins.
When Will the Full DWTS Season 35 Cast Be Revealed?
ABC has confirmed that the complete celebrity cast and professional dancers will be revealed exclusively on Good Morning America on September 2, 2026.
Season 35 is scheduled to premiere on September 15, with ABC’s fall schedule also listing a special Dancing with the Stars night on September 16.
Until that reveal, the official picture remains limited to Ciara Miller, Maura Higgins, Jackson Olson and Guillermo Rodriguez.
Connor Wood, Sarah Jane Nader and Conner Leavitt remain unverified Reddit/insider rumors, while Giada De Laurentiis, Jenna Dewan, Harry Shum Jr., Tyler Cameron, Tatyana Ali, Taylor Hanson and Ezra Frech have also been connected to the season through earlier spoiler reports and insider discussions.
The biggest question now is whether the September 2 announcement confirms the latest surprises — or completely changes the Season 35 cast everyone thinks they know.
More Next Pro Coverage: Since that spin-off is actively deciding who earns a spot on the main ballroom floor, it’s worth keeping up with how the competition is playing out. For more, read our recap of DWTS: The Next Pro Episode 4’s double elimination.
Disclaimer: This article is based on research using the supplied verified information, ABC announcements, and the reported Reddit/insider claims and source-based casting reports described above. Rumored contestants have been clearly identified as unconfirmed and should not be treated as official ABC cast announcements unless and until the network confirms them. The official full cast and professional pairings are expected to be revealed by ABC on Good Morning America on September 2, 2026.
Official / Primary:
- ABC / Disney announcements via Hollywood Reporter
- TV Insider
- Entertainment Weekly (Guillermo announcement)
- Cast & premiere reporting:
- Us Weekly (Jenna Dewan / Tyler Cameron report, Aug 19):
- Cosmopolitan (rumor roundup)
- Wikipedia Season 35 page
Image Credit: Instagram / @fibula
Leave a Reply