The two-episode premiere features a surprise elimination twist.

When does Dancing With the Stars season 35 start? How to watch and vote

The two-episode premiere features a surprise elimination twist.

By Brianna Zigler

September 15, 2026 7:55 a.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough on ‘Dancing with the Stars’. Credit:

Disney/Matt Sayles

- *Dancing With the Stars* season 35 kicks off with a two-night premiere, with the men dancing on Tuesday, Sept. 15 and the women taking over on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

- The first week will feature a shocking double elimination.

- Viewers can vote for their favorite couples online and via text.

Season 35 of *Dancing With the Stars* is shaping up to be a real doozy, so get ready to put on your dancing shoes.

With beloved celebrities like Julia Stiles, Harry Shum Jr., and Tatyana Ali heading to the dance floor, viewers are more than ready for week one of the dancing competition’s latest season. Co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough are joined by returning judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli. As always, the season will open with a double premiere, back-to-back episodes airing across two nights.

In an exclusive interview with **, *DWTS* showrunner Conrad Green teased that this new season is going to keep fans on the edge of their seats. “When you see the whole cast in front of you, I think you’ll be really hard-pressed this season to work out who you think is going to be in the finals,” Green teased. “I think it’s going to be a really hot competition.”

Ahead, we’ve got your scoop for everything you need to know about the first week of *Dancing With the Stars.*

When does Dancing With the Stars start?

Sarah Jane Nader and Hailey Bills for ‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 35.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

*Dancing With the Stars* airs weekly on Tuesday nights for the majority of the season, but the first week features a two-night premiere with back-to-back episodes. The first airs on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and the second on Wednesday, Sept. 16, both at 8 p.m. ET.

Who performs on night one?

Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart for ‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 35.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

The first part of the *DWTS* premiere is guys-only, which means the pairs taking the stage will be Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess; Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach; Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart; Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman; Jackson Olson and Emma Slater; Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson; Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson; and Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold.

As for what they’ll be dancing to, the men picked songs that were No. 1 chart-toppers during their birth year. This includes “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson and “Tell Her About It” by Billy Joel.

‘Dancing With the Stars’ reveals full season 35 cast, including Jenna Dewan, Giada De Laurentiis, more

Sequins, wardrobe malfunctions, and a dance-off: An oral history of 'Dancing With the Stars' season 1

Who performs on night two?

Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa for ‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 35.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

The second night of the *DWTS* premiere is ladies’ night, so the pairings are Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik; Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten; Jenna Dewan and Valentin Chmerkovskiy; Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov; Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas; Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong; Sarah Jane Nader and Hailey Bills; and Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa.

Like the men, the women will be dancing to songs that hit the top of the charts the year they were born, like “Smooth” by Santana feat. Rob Thomas, “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton, and “Sk8er Boi” by Avril Lavigne.

How do eliminations work this week?

Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas for ‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 35.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

In a *Dancing With the Stars* first since 2018, viewers will be saying goodbye to *two* contestants during the first week of season 35.

During the Sept. 10 episode of Hulu’s *Get Real* podcast, while interviewing contestant Maura Higgins and her pro partner Mark Ballas, host Amanda Hirsch confirmed the double elimination. “This is a first [for me],” Ballas told Hirsch, with the latter noting that it was “added pressure” for the contestants. Hirsch then wondered if it will alter “the vibe for the premiere,” and Ballas said that it will.

“It’s not an even playing field,” Ballas elaborated. “The cast is split in half... Boys over there, girls over there. One of you is going from each group. That’s a little different.”

How do I vote on Dancing With the Stars?

Jan Ravnik and Tatyana Ali for ‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 35.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

For the season premiere, viewers aged 18 years or older living within the territories of the United States and Canada can vote for the male contestants on Tuesday, followed by the female contestants on Wednesday.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

Viewers can vote for their favorite couples online at the official *Dancing With the Stars* site, or by SMS text during the live voting window for each episode. Voting will open at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT and close shortly following the episode’s final competitive dance. Both voting methods are only open during the initial broadcast on ABC and simultaneous livestream on Disney+ in the Eastern and Central time zones.

No votes will be allowed during replays or delayed viewings. Fans can vote for multiple couples; they’re allowed to submit up to 10 votes on the website and 10 votes by SMS, for a total of 20 votes per couple. For SMS voting, you will text an SMS keyword indicated at the start of the voting window to 21523.

How can I watch Dancing With the Stars live?

Valentin Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Dewan for ‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 35.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

*DWTS* will air on ABC via network cable and simulcast on Disney+ both Tuesday and Wednesday. If you are unable to watch either of these ways, the episodes will also be available to stream the next day with a Hulu subscription.

- Dancing with the Stars Fandom

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Dancing”