Dancing with the Stars reveals season 35 hosts and judges
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough will return as the DWTS season hosts for Season 35, ABC confirmed on Sept. 1 during Good Morning America. Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli are back on the judges' panel. The full celebrity cast arrives Sept. 2 on GMA, with the two-night premiere set for Sept. 15 and 16.
ABC's long-running ballroom competition is locking in its familiar on-air team just weeks before the mirrorball spins again. The Sept. 1 GMA segment set the stage for a full cast reveal one day later, keeping momentum high ahead of back-to-back premiere nights.
Key Takeaways
- Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough return as co-hosts; they have led the show together since 2023.
- Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli resume judging duties for Season 35.
- Four celebrities are confirmed so far, with the remaining cast and pro pairings revealed Sept. 2 on GMA.
- Season 35 premieres Tuesday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
- Episodes stream live on Disney+ and arrive on Hulu the next day.
Who are the DWTS Season 35 hosts?
Ribeiro and Hough are back in the ballroom for another season. Ribeiro, who won the Mirrorball Trophy in Season 19 with pro Witney Carson, has co-hosted alongside Hough since Season 32.
Hough competed as a pro in the show's early years, winning consecutive championships in Seasons 4 and 5. She later served as a judge from Seasons 19 through 24, with the exception of Season 22, before stepping into the hosting role in 2023.
Who is returning on the judges' panel?
Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli will once again score the celebrity dancers. Inaba and Tonioli have been fixtures on the panel since the series debuted, while Derek Hough transitioned from pro to judge in 2020 after nearly a decade on the floor and six Mirrorball wins.
During the GMA announcement, Derek Hough said fans can expect "what you know and love" about the show, plus an energized season with "so much momentum" and an "incredible" cast. For more on the latest celebrity TV announcements, see our Celebrity Breaking News hub.
Which celebrities are confirmed for Season 35?
ABC has named four stars ahead of the full cast reveal. "Summer House" personality Ciara Miller, "Love Island" favorite Maura Higgins, Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson, and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" staple Guillermo Rodriguez are set to compete.
Rodriguez will dance with Carson, the reigning champion after winning Season 34 with Robert Irwin. Carson recently revealed she is pregnant with her third child. Pro Sharna Burgess is also returning after a five-year break from the series; she won her first Mirrorball in Season 27 while partnered with Bobby Bones.
When does Season 35 premiere and how can you watch?
"Dancing with the Stars" Season 35 kicks off with back-to-back episodes on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Viewers can stream live on Disney+, with episodes available on Hulu the following day.
The remaining celebrity-pro pairings are expected during Good Morning America on Sept. 2, roughly two weeks before the premiere.