Dancing With the Stars is officially heading back to the ballroom for a 35th season, and the first 2 celebrities set to compete for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy have been revealed. The announcement came during Hulu’s Get Real House event in Beverly Hills, California on April 22, 2026, where the show’s producers unveiled the opening salvo of what promises to be another exciting fall lineup. Both names will be instantly recognizable to fans of recent reality television, and both bring a level of personality and unpredictability to the competition that has the potential to make Season 35 one of the most entertaining yet.
Who is competing in Season 35
1. Maura Higgins is the first confirmed celebrity contestant, and for fans who have been following her rapidly rising profile in American television, the announcement felt almost inevitable. The Irish native first came to international attention when she appeared as a contestant on Season 5 of Love Island UK in 2019, reaching the finale and becoming one of the show’s most memorable personalities. Her crossover into American television accelerated from there, with Higgins becoming the first British Love Island cast member to transition into the U.S. franchise as a presenter, hosting both Love Island USA: Aftersun and Love Island Games: Aftersun. She also competed on Dancing on Ice in 2020 and appeared on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
Most recently, Higgins captured widespread attention in the United States through her appearance on Season 4 of The Traitors on Peacock, where she played as a dedicated Faithful and made it all the way to the finale before being eliminated after her closest ally in the game, Rob Rausch, was revealed to be a Traitor. The near-victory made her one of the most talked-about personalities of the season. Higgins has admitted openly that appearing on DWTS was something she had been hoping for, calling it a genuine personal goal and describing the competition as a challenge she is ready to embrace fully. She does have some dancing experience from childhood Irish dancing lessons and her time on Dancing on Ice, though she has acknowledged that ballroom dancing will be an entirely different kind of test.
2. Ciara Miller is the second confirmed contestant, and she arrives with a loyal fanbase built over 5 seasons on Bravo’s Summer House, the popular reality series that follows a group of friends sharing a house in the Hamptons each summer. Miller has been one of the show’s most compelling and likable figures since joining, and her visibility received an additional boost through her appearance on a previous season of The Traitors — one cycle before Higgins competed — as well as on the spin-off series Winter House. Away from television, Miller has cultivated a successful modeling career based out of New York City.
Season 10 of Summer House brought Miller into the headlines for emotionally charged reasons, as rumors circulated during the season’s run that a close friend had become romantically involved with her ex-boyfriend. For Miller, who described joining DWTS as the beginning of a new chapter in her life, the show represents an opportunity to channel that energy into something celebratory and forward-looking.
The show’s returning lineup
Season 35 will once again be hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, the pairing that has become the face of the modern era of the competition. The judging panel remains intact as well, with Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough all returning to their positions. Conrad Green continues as showrunner and executive producer, with Ryan O’Dowd and Deena Katz rounding out the producing team. The show is produced in front of a live audience by BBC Studios Los Angeles Productions.
What comes next
Season 35 will air on ABC, Hulu and Disney+ in the United States beginning in fall 2026, though no specific premiere date has been announced. The professional dance partners for Higgins, Miller and the remainder of the cast have yet to be revealed. Based on the pattern of previous seasons, more celebrity announcements are expected throughout the summer ahead of the fall premiere.
Source: What’s On Disney Plus, Variety, Deadline, E! Online, ABC News