The 35th installment of Dancing with the Stars launched with a split-screen extravaganza on September 15-16, 2026. ABC aired a two-night premiere, dedicating the first evening to the male celebrity competitors and the second to the women. Each contestant paired with a professional partner and performed a routine set to a chart-topping song from their birth year. As the glittering Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy loomed, judges’ scores were combined with live audience voting to decide who would stay and who would bow out.
On the opening night, the male cohort took a turn at a salsa number to Tag Team’s “Whoomp! (There It Is).” After the judges handed out their marks, the lowest-scoring couple — Conner Leavitt dancing with pro Adele Zaikman — was announced as the first contestant to leave the competition. The following evening, the female stars delivered a high-energy jive to Avril Lavigne’s 2002 hit “Sk8er Boi.” Despite a spirited effort, Sarah Jane Nader and her partner Hailey Bills received a combined score of 14 out of 30 and were the second contestant eliminated.
Highlights from the performances and judges’ critiques
Judging panelist Carrie Ann Inaba opened the second night by reminding viewers that the scores would reflect room for growth. She awarded a modest 4 out of 10 to Jan Ravnik and Tatyana Ali, emphasizing that contestants must earn every point. Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli provided their characteristic blend of praise and candor throughout both evenings.
Among the night’s standouts, Maura Higgins teamed with Mark Ballas for a foxtrot to Alannah Myles’ “Black Velvet,” earning a lofty 21 out of 30 – the highest score of the second night. Conversely, Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong’s foxtrot to Whitney Houston’s “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” lingered near the bottom with just 15 points.
Julia Stiles, a Golden Globe nominee, debuted with professional Ezra Sosa in a quickstep set to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.” The pair garnered a solid 18 points, with each judge assigning a uniform 6. Stiles, who confessed to being obsessed with the series, remarked that a Mirrorball win could feel more meaningful than an Emmy or Oscar. Jenna Dewan, known from “Step Up,” partnered with Val Chmerkovskiy for a tango to Blondie’s “Call Me,” scoring 19 out of 30 and earning praise for her “fire” and “power.”
Other notable entries included Giada De Laurentis and Alan Bersten’s tango to “Venus” (16 points), Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov’s cha-cha to Santana’s “Smooth” (18 points), and Tatyana Ali with Jan Ravnik delivering a jive to Amii Stewart’s “Knock on Wood” (12 points). Each performance was met with a mix of encouragement and constructive criticism, with Tonioli frequently noting the contestants’ character-driven storytelling.
Where to watch and who remains in the competition
The show continues to air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, with same-day streaming on Disney+ and next-day availability on Hulu. The parent company, The Walt Disney Company, oversees all three distribution platforms. As the competition progresses, the remaining lineup includes:
- Julia Stiles with Ezra Sosa
- Jenna Dewan with Val Chmerkovskiy
- Tatyana Ali with Jan Ravnik
- Taylor Hanson with Britt Stewart
- Ezra Frech with Daniella Karagach
- Amber Glenn with Pasha Pashkov
- Connor Wood with Rylee Arnold
- Tyler Cameron with Sharna Burgess
- Giada De Laurentis with Alan Bersten
- Harry Shum Jr. with Jenna Johnson
- Guillermo Rodriguez with Witney Carson
- Maura Higgins with Mark Ballas
- Ciara Miller with Brandon Armstrong
- Jackson Olson with Emma Slater
Each of these pairs will vie for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy, relying on a blend of technical skill, charisma, and audience support. The competition’s format ensures that both judges’ scores and viewer votes shape the weekly outcomes, keeping the suspense high as the season unfolds.
