ABC revealed the complete lineup for Dancing With the Stars Season 35 on Wednesday morning, unveiling a cast that mixes actors, reality figures, athletes and a celebrity chef — a clear play for a broad audience ahead of its September premiere. The announcement, made on Good Morning America, sets up a two-night launch that could reshape the fall reality-TV conversation.
Big names and unexpected pairings
The roster includes film and television actors alongside familiar faces from competition shows and sports. Notable entries — including award-nominated actress Julia Stiles, former dancer and actor Jenna Dewan and Food Network personality Giada De Laurentiis — bring different fan bases to the ballroom.
Producers also tapped athletes and reality stars, signalling a season built on variety rather than a single demographic. Some castings carry direct links to previous seasons: one contestant has a family tie to a recent alum, while another is married to last season’s breakout participant.
Full Season 35 cast and pro partners
- Tatyana Ali (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) — Jan Ravnik
- Tyler Cameron (Bachelor Nation) — Sharna Burgess
- Giada De Laurentiis (Food Network) — Alan Bersten
- Jenna Dewan (The Rookie / Step Up) — Val Chmerkovskiy
- Ezra Frech (track and field Paralympic medalist) — Daniella Karagach
- Amber Glenn (figure skater) — Pasha Pashkov
- Taylor Hanson (musician, Hanson) — Britt Stewart
- Maura Higgins (Traitors, reality TV) — Mark Ballas
- Conner Leavitt (reality TV) — Adele Zaikman
- Ciara Miller (Summer House) — Brandon Armstrong
- Sarah Jane Nader (reality star) — Hailey Bills
- Jackson Olson (Savannah Bananas) — Emma Slater
- Guillermo Rodriguez (late-night personality) — Witney Carson
- Harry Shum Jr. (Grey’s Anatomy) — Jenna Johnson
- Julia Stiles (actor, Emmy nominee) — Ezra Sosa
- Connor Wood (podcaster) — Rylee Arnold
What this means for viewers and the season
The lineup aims to draw distinct audiences: film and TV viewers who follow Stiles and Dewan; food and lifestyle followers who tune in for De Laurentiis; sports and competition fans watching the athletes. That mixture can boost multi-platform engagement, particularly with episodes streaming the next day.
There were also notable surprises. Several names that circulated in betting markets and online rumor mills did not appear on the final roster, while others with close connections to past contestants made the cut. These choices could shape early storylines — alliances, rivalries and fan-driven voting patterns — once rehearsals and first performances begin.
Backstory on a few picks
Conner Leavitt’s casting follows his personal connection to a recent season: he is married to last year’s contestant, which adds an emotional through-line for viewers who tracked that story. Meanwhile, Sarah Jane Nader carries a family tie to the franchise, as the sibling of a former season participant.
Several high-profile names that pundits had flagged before the announcement ultimately did not join the cast. That gap between speculation and the official lineup underscores the unpredictability of preseason rumor cycles and how producers keep final choices under wraps until a coordinated reveal.
When it all starts
The new season debuts over two nights: Sept. 15 and Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. New episodes will be available to stream on Hulu and Disney+ the following day, giving viewers multiple ways to catch the ballroom action.
Expect early weeks to focus on establishing chemistry between celebrities and their pro partners, with judges’ scores and audience votes quickly shaping who becomes a frontrunner.
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