Dancing with the Stars Season 35 Cast Revealed: First Celebrities Confirmed as Ballroom Buzz Begins
The ballroom is officially warming up again. Dancing with the Stars Season 35 has been confirmed, and the first two celebrity contestants have already been revealed: Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller. ABC announced Season 35 on April 22, 2026, during Hulu’s “Get Real” event, with the show expected to return in fall 2026 on ABC and Disney+.
For fans, this early cast reveal is exciting because it gives the new season a clear reality-TV flavor right from the start. Both Higgins and Miller arrive with strong fan bases, sharp personalities, and recent exposure through The Traitors, making them exactly the kind of contestants who can drive conversation before the first dance even begins.
But there is one important thing to know: the full Dancing with the Stars Season 35 cast has not been revealed yet. As of now, only Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller are confirmed. More celebrity names, professional partners, and full cast details are expected closer to the season premiere.
Dancing with the Stars Season 35 Is Officially Happening
After a successful Season 34, ABC is bringing Dancing with the Stars back for Season 35. The renewal was announced during Hulu’s unscripted programming event, where returning hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough helped promote the upcoming season.
The show is expected to premiere in fall 2026, likely around the traditional September window, though ABC has not yet confirmed an exact premiere date. Season 35 will continue airing on ABC and Disney+, keeping the live broadcast and streaming model that has helped the show reach both longtime TV viewers and younger streaming audiences.
The confirmed return is not surprising. Dancing with the Stars remains one of America’s most durable reality competition shows because it blends celebrity culture, live performance, emotional storytelling, fan voting, and weekly spectacle in a way few shows can match.
Maura Higgins Joins DWTS Season 35
The first major name confirmed for Season 35 is Maura Higgins, best known for her breakout appearance on Love Island and later reality-TV work, including The Traitors.
Higgins is a smart casting choice because she brings personality, confidence, and international reality-TV recognition. She is already familiar to viewers who follow dating shows, celebrity competitions, and social media-driven entertainment. Her name has also recently been connected to U.S. reality-TV speculation, including rumors around The Bachelorette, though Entertainment Weekly reported that Higgins herself shot down those rumors.
On Dancing with the Stars, Higgins could be one of the season’s most talked-about contestants. She has the kind of screen presence that can translate well to live TV, especially if she pairs emotional storytelling with strong performance growth.
The big question is whether she can handle the technical side of ballroom dance. Reality-TV confidence helps, but DWTS demands discipline, timing, footwork, stamina, and vulnerability. If Higgins commits fully, she could become a fan favorite.
Ciara Miller Confirmed for Season 35
The second confirmed celebrity contestant is Ciara Miller, known for Bravo’s Summer House and her appearance on The Traitors.
Miller brings a different type of star power. She is already familiar to Bravo viewers, and Bravo fans are known for being highly active online. That could help her in a fan-voted competition where audience engagement matters almost as much as judges’ scores.
Her casting also shows that DWTS is continuing to lean into reality-TV personalities with built-in communities. These contestants often bring drama, humor, relatability, and loyal fan support. That makes them valuable in a competition where weekly voting can change the outcome.
For Miller, the ballroom could be a chance to show a new side of herself. Viewers who know her from Summer House may be curious to see how she handles choreography, pressure, and live performance.
Why These First Two Cast Members Matter
The early reveal of Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller gives Season 35 a clear direction: reality TV is going to be a major part of the season’s identity.
Both women come from shows where personality matters. Both know how to handle cameras. Both have fan bases that are active on social media. Both recently appeared on The Traitors, which gives the casting a timely connection to current reality-TV conversation.
That matters because Dancing with the Stars is not only about dance. It is about transformation. The most successful contestants often have a strong narrative: the underdog, the comeback story, the surprising performer, the emotional breakthrough, or the personality who becomes more disciplined each week.
Higgins and Miller both have the potential to bring that kind of storyline.
Full Cast Has Not Been Announced Yet
Although some headlines may suggest that the Dancing with the Stars Season 35 cast has been revealed, the full lineup is still not public. Entertainment Weekly reported that only two celebrities have been announced so far: Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller.
That means fans should be careful with rumored cast lists circulating online. Rumors are part of every DWTS preseason, but until ABC or the show confirms a contestant, those names should be treated as speculation.
This is especially important because DWTS casting often changes before the season begins. Celebrities may be approached, negotiations may happen, schedules may conflict, and some names may leak without being finalized.
For now, the confirmed Season 35 celebrity cast is:
Maura Higgins
Ciara Miller
Everything else remains unconfirmed.
Hosts and Judges Expected to Return
Season 35 is expected to bring back Alfonso Ribeiro as host and Julianne Hough as co-host. The judging panel is also expected to include Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli, according to early season information.
This is good news for fans who enjoy the current rhythm of the show. Ribeiro brings warmth and experience, while Julianne Hough has a deep DWTS history as both a former professional dancer and judge. The judging panel also gives the show a balance of technical critique, performance energy, and emotional reaction.
Keeping familiar hosts and judges helps stabilize the show while the celebrity cast changes each season.
A New Spinoff Could Affect the Pro Lineup
One of the most interesting developments around Season 35 is the upcoming spinoff Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, which will premiere on July 13, 2026, on ABC. The show will feature 12 hopeful dancers competing for a chance to join the Season 35 professional cast.
The spinoff will be hosted by Season 34 winner Robert Irwin, while Mark Ballas and Shirley Ballas will serve as judges. Returning DWTS pros are expected to appear as rotating mentors and guest judges, with more details to be announced later.
This adds a fresh twist to the new season. Instead of only wondering which celebrities will compete, fans now also have a reason to watch who might become the next professional dancer on the main show.
That could make Season 35 feel more connected, more competitive, and more interactive before it even premieres.
Why DWTS Season 35 Casting Is Starting Early
The early casting reveal is likely strategic. Dancing with the Stars thrives on preseason buzz, and announcing Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller months before the premiere gives fans time to speculate, debate, and build interest.
Executive producer and casting director Deena Katz recently teased that casting is still underway after Higgins and Miller were revealed, indicating that the show is still shaping the final lineup.
That slow rollout can be powerful. Instead of dropping every name at once, the show can keep fans engaged over time with announcements, rumors, interviews, and social media reactions.
For Bing search traffic, this is also why interest in terms like “Dancing with the Stars Season 35 cast,” “DWTS 2026 contestants,” “Maura Higgins DWTS,” and “Ciara Miller Dancing with the Stars” is likely to keep growing.
What Kind of Celebrities Could Join Next?
ABC has not confirmed the rest of the cast, but based on past seasons, fans can expect a mix of celebrity categories.
DWTS usually casts from several familiar groups:
Reality TV stars
Actors and sitcom favorites
Athletes
Musicians
Social media personalities
Former child stars
News or lifestyle personalities
Olympians
Viral pop-culture figures
The show works best when the cast has variety. A good DWTS season needs strong dancers, emotional underdogs, funny personalities, nostalgic names, and contestants who surprise viewers.
With Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller already confirmed, the show has started with a reality-TV foundation. The next reveals may bring balance through sports, music, acting, or internet culture.
Who Could Be a Strong Early Favorite?
It is too early to name a true favorite because professional partners have not been announced, and the full celebrity lineup is still unknown. However, both confirmed contestants have qualities that could help them go far.
Maura Higgins has bold personality and performance confidence. If she develops strong technique, she could become one of the season’s most entertaining contestants.
Ciara Miller has a loyal Bravo fan base and could benefit from strong viewer support. If she shows steady improvement, she could become a classic DWTS journey contestant.
Still, DWTS is unpredictable. Some celebrities arrive with high expectations and struggle. Others begin quietly and become breakout stars. The professional partner pairing will matter a lot.
What Fans Should Watch Next
The next major updates will likely include:
More confirmed celebrity contestants
Professional dancer lineup
The winner of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro
Official premiere date
Pairing announcements
Judges’ return confirmation
First rehearsal footage
Theme-night schedule
The professional partners are especially important. A celebrity’s DWTS journey often depends heavily on chemistry with their pro. The right partnership can turn a mid-tier contestant into a finalist.
Why Season 35 Could Be a Big One
Season 35 has the potential to be a major season for several reasons.
First, the show is coming off strong momentum. Entertainment Weekly noted that Season 34 brought record-breaking vote counts and a ratings boost, giving the franchise a strong platform heading into the new season.
Second, the early casting of reality-TV personalities suggests ABC wants social media conversation from the beginning.
Third, the new pro-focused spinoff could refresh the professional dancer side of the franchise and introduce new talent to viewers before the main competition begins.
Finally, Season 35 is a milestone number. Long-running reality shows often use anniversary-style seasons to bring bigger names, stronger themes, and more nostalgic moments.
Final Verdict
Dancing with the Stars Season 35 is officially on the way, but the full cast has not been revealed yet. As of now, the first two confirmed celebrity contestants are Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller, both bringing reality-TV star power and strong fan interest into the ballroom.
ABC is expected to premiere the new season in fall 2026, with Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough returning as hosts. The judging panel is also expected to include Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli.
For now, the Season 35 story is just beginning. Higgins and Miller give the season an exciting start, but the real buzz will build as more celebrity names, professional partners, and premiere details are announced.
The ballroom is not fully set yet—but the first two stars are already stepping into the spotlight.
