The wait is finally over. ABC pulled back the curtain on the full “Dancing With the Stars” Season 35 lineup during a live “Good Morning America” reveal on September 2, pairing sixteen celebrities with their professional partners ahead of the show’s two-night premiere on September 15 and 16. This season’s cast blends reality TV darlings, Hollywood veterans, musicians, and Olympic athletes into one of the more unpredictable rosters in recent memory. Here’s a closer look at who’s competing for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy this year.
The Full Lineup, Celebrity by Celebrity
Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess — The former “Bachelorette” standout, now known for his real estate ventures and Prime Video series “Going Home with Tyler Cameron,” pairs with a fan-favorite pro making her long-awaited return to the ballroom after five years away.
Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson — “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” sidekick Guillermo, who famously got his start as a security guard in the show’s parking lot over two decades ago, is partnered with Carson, who is pregnant with her third child and will make history as the first pro to compete on the show while expecting.
Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik — The “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” alum who played Ashley Banks brings decades of on-camera experience to her pairing with Ravnik.
Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten — The celebrity chef and longtime Food Network star trades her kitchen for the dance floor alongside Bersten.
Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy — The “Step Up” actress and current “The Rookie” star, who has danced professionally before, teams up with veteran pro Chmerkovskiy for what many expect to be one of the season’s stronger technical pairings.
Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach — The Paralympic gold medalist, who won two golds at the 2024 Paris Games in the T63 high jump and 100 meters, joins Karagach on the floor.
Conner Leavitt & Adele Zaikman — The “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” personality is paired with Zaikman, fresh off her win on “DWTS: Next Pro.”
Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong — The “Summer House” star, one of the season’s earliest confirmed contestants, dances with Armstrong.
Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills — The “Love Thy Nader” star is paired with Bills in what marks only the third same-sex pairing in the show’s history.
Jackson Olson & Emma Slater — The Savannah Bananas second baseman brings his athletic background to his partnership with Slater.
Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson — The “Grey’s Anatomy” actor, known for his dance background from the “Step Up” film franchise, pairs with Johnson.
Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa — The acclaimed film and TV actress joins Sosa for her ballroom debut.
Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold — The comedian and social media personality known online as Fibula, who co-hosts a popular podcast, is partnered with Arnold.
Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas — The “Traitors” and “Love Island UK” breakout, one of the season’s first announced contestants, reunites with a familiar face in Ballas, who she bonded with during her time on “The Traitors.” Higgins has said she thinks their existing friendship will help him handle her energy in the ballroom.
Taylor Hanson and Amber Glenn round out the announced roster, with Hanson bringing his music career into the competition and Glenn arriving fresh off winning gold with Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics as a three-time U.S. national figure skating champion.
The Team Behind the Season
Alfonso Ribeiro returns as host for a fourth consecutive season, joined once again by co-host Julianne Hough. Ribeiro’s history with the franchise runs deep — he previously competed as a celebrity contestant himself, winning Season 19. At the judges’ table, Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli are all back, keeping the panel’s chemistry intact for another year.
A Roster Built for Chaos, in the Best Way
What stands out most about this cast is just how little the contestants have in common on paper. A celebrity chef, a Paralympic athlete, an Olympic figure skater, multiple reality TV personalities, and a handful of seasoned actors are all being thrown into the same competition, judged by the same panel, and set to the same demanding rehearsal schedule. That kind of range has historically made for some of the show’s most memorable seasons, and early buzz suggests Season 35 could be no exception.
Following a Hard Act to Beat
This new class of contestants has real pressure to live up to. Season 34 ended with wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin taking home the Mirrorball Trophy, paired with Witney Carson, after a nail-biting final round against influencer Alix Earle and gymnast Jordan Chiles. With Carson back this season and pregnant, and a cast full of strong potential frontrunners, comparisons to last year’s finale are likely to follow the competition all the way to the ballroom.
Mark Your Calendars
“Dancing With the Stars” Season 35 kicks off with a two-night premiere on Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, airing live from 8 to 10 p.m. ET on ABC and streaming simultaneously on Disney+, with next-day availability on Hulu.
