The ballroom will look reassuringly familiar when “Dancing With the Stars” returns this fall, but a newly minted professional dancer is ready to bring some fresh energy to the competition. ABC confirmed the Season 35 judging panel and hosting team during the Tuesday, September 1, episode of “Good Morning America.”
The announcement comes two weeks before the show’s two-night premiere on Tuesday, September 15.
Who Are the ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 35 Judges?
Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli will return to evaluate the celebrity contestants and their professional partners. Carrie Ann, 58, and Bruno have served as judges since the competition premiered in 2005. Bruno, 70, continues to keep his longtime colleague guessing about what he might do when the cameras start rolling.
“Every time we get out there, I never know what’s going to happen with this guy,” Carrie Ann joked during the “Good Morning America” appearance.
Derek, 41, joined the permanent judging panel in 2020 after winning the Mirrorball Trophy six times as a professional dancer. He said the cast and pros are heading into the season with plenty of enthusiasm.
“The cast is incredible,” Derek said.
“The pros are energized. They’re motivated. They’re excited. They’re ready to compete. It’s gonna be an incredible season. I cannot wait. Truly, this is just magic in a bottle, and it continues to create magic every single season.”
Who Will Host ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 35?
Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro are also returning as co-hosts. Julianne, 38, will once again conduct interviews from the skybox while Alfonso leads the live ballroom broadcast. Alfonso, 54, has hosted the series since 2022, while Julianne joined him the following year. Their return keeps the show’s core on-air team intact for another season.
Who Is the New ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Professional?
Season 35 will welcome Adele Zaikman as its newest professional dancer. Adele, 24, earned the position after winning the inaugural season of “Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro,” hosted by Season 34 champion Robert Irwin.
“I just feel like this is a celebration of all the sacrifices that I’ve done,” Adele said during the Monday, August 31, finale. “It’s just like a big ‘I made it’ moment.”
Derek served as a guest judge during the finale and praised Adele’s stage presence.
“Adele, you could just walk across the floor and you would be captivating,” he told her. “If you became a pro, you wouldn’t just fit in; you would elevate the rest of the ‘Dancing with the Stars’ cast. I really believe that.”
AJ Pritchard finished second in the competition, while Selena Hamilton placed third.
When Will the Season 35 Celebrity Cast Be Announced?
The full celebrity cast and professional pairings will be revealed Wednesday, September 2.
Maura Higgins, Ciara Miller, Jackson Olson and Guillermo Rodriguez have already been confirmed as contestants. Adele will join returning professional dancers Witney Carson and Sharna Burgess in the ballroom.
Despite online speculation, Shirley Ballas was not announced as a Season 35 judge. She previously judged “Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro” alongside her son, Mark Ballas.
“Dancing With the Stars” Season 35 premieres Tuesday, September 15, on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available on Hulu the following day.
