The ballroom is getting ready for a new batch of celebrities. ABC announced the first three names joining Dancing With the Stars Season 35. The show returns in fall 2026 with a mix of reality TV fan favorites and a surprise pick from the baseball world.
Producers are putting together a cast that brings drama, charm, and athletic moves to the dance floor. Two reality stars were the first to sign up. Now a social media star and baseball player is also ready to compete for the Mirrorball Trophy.
Three Celebrities Confirmed for Season 35 So Far
The first confirmed celebrity is Ciara Miller. She is known for her time on Bravo’s Summer House. Miller has been on the show for multiple seasons. Viewers watched her personal life and friendships play out on screen. She also appeared on The Traitors. Executive producer Deena Katz told The Hollywood Reporter that Miller was already on their radar. Katz said Miller is “stunning” and “wonderful.” The timing felt right after everything that happened in her life recently.
Miller shared her excitement in a video message. She said she had some business to wrap up in New York City. But she is ready to put her energy on the dance floor. She called this the perfect moment to start a new chapter.
The second confirmed celebrity is Maura Higgins. She is an Irish reality TV star. American audiences know her from The Traitors season four. British viewers remember her from Love Island UK. Higgins is 35 years old. She has built a large fanbase across both sides of the Atlantic.
Higgins has wanted to be on the U.S. version of Dancing With the Stars for a long time. She turned down offers to join the Irish and UK versions of the show. She did not want to risk losing her chance to compete in America. Katz said Higgins has been “dying to do the show.” She called Higgins “fantastic” and said she is “great television.”
The third confirmed celebrity is Jackson Olson. He is a 28-year-old second baseman for the Savannah Bananas. This is not a regular baseball team. The Savannah Bananas mix standard baseball with choreographed dance moves, sing-alongs, and a player who enters the field on stilts. Olson also has more than 2 million followers on TikTok and Instagram. He posts skits, dance trends, and videos about his life on and off the field.
Olson shared his story on Good Morning America. He said he was a shy kid who never danced or put himself out there. Now he feels like he manifested this whole experience.
How the Cast Announcements Unfolded
ABC announced Miller and Higgins during Hulu’s Get Real House event in Beverly Hills in April 2026. The network confirmed the show would return in the fall at that same event. Less than one month later, Olson joined the lineup. His name came out during Disney’s Upfront presentation on May 12, 2026.
The show will air on Tuesday nights from 8/7c to 10/9c this fall on ABC. It will also stream live on Disney+ and be available next-day on Hulu.
More Names Are Being Talked About Online
Taylor Hicks might also join the cast. He won American Idol season five. Hicks recently appeared on American Idol for the 20th anniversary of his win. The episode was a crossover with Dancing With the Stars. Fans on Twitter started guessing that he met with ABC executives about joining season 35.
Hicks talked about the rumors. He said it is not a no from him. He has been a fan of the show for years. Hicks also pointed out that no male Idol winner has ever competed on Dancing With the Stars. He said he would love to do it if he gets the gig. Hicks has some dance training. He performed in Grease on Broadway, so he knows how to work with choreography.
“I manifested it really hard. It’s on my vision board. It’s the one show I really want to do. This is the last show I want to do as a contestant.”
— Maura Higgins, to USA Today
Fans Share Their Reactions Online
Viewers are already talking about the new cast members online. Many fans called Miller a perfect fit for the ballroom. Others said Higgins’ reality TV background will help her once the live competition starts. Higgins is known for her competitive and outgoing personality.
Miller has already started campaigning for her dream partner. She told E! News during the Met Gala livestream that she wants Val Chmerkovskiy as her pro dancer. She said she has been sending emails and putting her word in. She does not know if the producers hear her, but she is trying.
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What to Expect from Season 35
The full list of celebrity contestants and their professional partners will be announced on September 2, 2026. The announcement will happen exclusively on Good Morning America.
Before the main season starts, fans can watch a new spinoff show. Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro premieres on July 13, 2026. The show features 12 up-and-coming dancers. They live together in one house and compete for a spot as a pro dancer on Season 35. Robert Irwin will host the spinoff. He won the Mirrorball Trophy in Season 34. Mark Ballas and his mother Shirley Ballas will serve as judges.
The main show will bring back the regular team. Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough return as hosts. Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli will be back as judges.
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