Dancing With the Stars Season 35: Full Cast, New Twists, and What to Expect
The ballroom is booking up fast: Hulu just locked in Dancing With the Stars season 35 and revealed early contenders, including Summer House standout Ciara Miller, Love Island sensation Maura Higgins, and even a Savannah Bananas second baseman.
DWTS is coming back for the big 3-5, and the cast list is already starting to take shape. There is also a new side quest happening this summer to actually pick a brand-new pro. Yes, that is a real thing they are doing now.
Who is in the ballroom so far
Hulu confirmed the show is renewed and used its Get Real House event in April to announce the first two celebrities heading to the floor: Summer House favorite Ciara Miller and Love Island alum Maura Higgins. A month later, at Disney 's Upfront presentation, internet personality and Savannah Bananas second baseman Jackson Olson joined the season 35 lineup.
- Ciara Miller (Summer House) — announced at Hulu's Get Real House event in April
- Maura Higgins (Love Island) — announced at the same April event
- Jackson Olson (Savannah Bananas second baseman, internet personality) — revealed the following month at Disney's Upfront
About those pro partners...
ABC has not revealed which pro dancers are returning yet. Ciara Miller, however, is being proactive and openly lobbying for Val Chmerkovskiy as her partner. She told E! News during the Met Gala's May livestream that she is basically emailing and campaigning to make it happen.
"I have been campaigning for Val. I do not know if they hear me, but yeah, sending out some emails, putting my word in. We will see where everyone wants to place me."
The new summer spinoff that actually picks a pro
Before season 35 kicks off, ABC is rolling out a new competition: Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro. Announced in April and airing this summer, it brings 12 up-and-coming dancers under one roof for a tough audition gauntlet, all fighting for a coveted spot as a pro on season 35.
Season 34 champ Robert Irwin — yes, the wildlife conservationist who just won the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy with pro Witney Carson — is hosting the spinoff. Longtime pro Mark Ballas and his mom, ballroom icon Shirley Ballas, are judging, with extra guest judges and mentors rotating in.
"For the first time in Dancing With the Stars history, the greatest dancers will compete for a spot as the next pro. This summer, let the fiercest dance battle begin."
Why season 35 matters
Beyond the milestone number, last season set the tone with Irwin and Witney Carson taking the newly renamed Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. Now Irwin is literally helping pick who could be teaching routines next — a very nerdy, behind-the-scenes twist for a franchise that usually keeps that part off-camera.
When it premieres
Season 35 will debut this fall on ABC and Disney+. No exact date yet — consider this the 'set your DVRs... eventually' phase.