Dancing With the Stars 2026: Shocking Elimination & Voting Glitch
Dancing With the Stars 2026 is officially back, and Season 35 is already giving fans plenty to talk about. From the first elimination to a voting glitch during the premiere, the new season started with surprises. Here’s what happened, who went home, and what viewers need to know about tonight’s episode.
Dancing With the Stars 2026 Premiere: What Happened on Night 1?
Dancing With the Stars Season 35 kicked off with a special two-night premiere featuring 16 celebrity and professional-dancer couples.
Night 1 put the male celebrities in the spotlight as they performed routines inspired by No. 1 songs from their birth years. Judges’ scores and viewer votes helped determine who would continue in the competition.
The judging panel is once again made up of Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough, while Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough return as hosts.
Who Was the First DWTS Elimination of 2026?
Conner Leavitt and his professional partner, Adele Zaikman, became the first couple eliminated from Dancing With the Stars Season 35.
The pair performed a salsa during the premiere, but the combination of judges’ scores and viewer votes was not enough to keep them in the ballroom.
Their departure marked the first elimination of the new season.
The two-night premiere brought another elimination on Night 2, when Sarah Jane Nader and her professional partner, Hailey Bills, were eliminated, leaving 14 celebrity couples in the competition.
The competition continued on September 22, when Giada De Laurentiis and her professional partner, Alan Bersten, were eliminated during Viral Hits Night, leaving 13 celebrity couples remaining in Season 35.
Dancing With the Stars Voting Glitch Causes Confusion
One of the biggest stories from the Season 35 premiere happened away from the dance floor.
Online voting experienced technical problems during Night 1. Viewers were informed that online votes would not be included and that text-message votes would be used instead.
The unexpected voting issue quickly became another major talking point surrounding the Dancing With the Stars 2026 premiere.
For viewers following the competition this season, checking the show’s current voting instructions during each live broadcast is a good idea.
DANCING WITH THE STARS 2026: WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE PREMIERE?
The Dancing With the Stars Season 35 two-night premiere is now complete, and the competition has moved into its regular Tuesday schedule.
Following the premiere eliminations, the remaining celebrity couples returned to the ballroom for Viral Hits Night on Tuesday, September 22.
As Season 35 continues, viewers can expect new performances, judges’ scores, viewer voting and more eliminations as the competition for the Mirrorball Trophy continues.
Dancing With the Stars 2026 Cast
Season 35 began with 16 celebrity contestants:
Tatyana Ali
Tyler Cameron
Giada De Laurentiis
Jenna Dewan
Ezra Frech
Amber Glenn
Taylor Hanson
Maura Higgins
Conner Leavitt
Ciara Miller
Sarah Jane Nader
Jackson Olson
Guillermo Rodriguez
Harry Shum Jr.
Julia Stiles
Connor Wood
The cast brings together actors, athletes, reality-TV personalities, entertainers and other familiar faces.
How to Watch Dancing With the Stars Season 35
Dancing With the Stars 2026 Season 35 airs live Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with new performances, viewer voting and eliminations throughout the season.
Episodes are also available to stream the following day on Hulu.
After the two-night premiere, Dancing With the Stars returns to its regular Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET schedule on ABC and Disney+.
What to Watch for Next on DWTS Season 35
With three eliminations already complete and 13 celebrity couples remaining, Dancing With the Stars Season 35 is moving into the next stage of the competition.
Viewers will be watching to see which celebrities improve, which partnerships become fan favorites and who emerges as an early contender for the Mirrorball Trophy.
The voting situation will also be worth watching after the technical problems during Night 1.
Dancing With the Stars 2026 FAQ
When did Dancing With the Stars Season 35 start?
Season 35 began Tuesday, September 15, 2026, with the first night of a special two-night premiere.
WHO WAS THE FIRST COUPLE ELIMINATED FROM DWTS SEASON 35?
Conner Leavitt and professional partner Adele Zaikman were the first couple eliminated.
What time is Dancing With the Stars on?
The show airs at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.
Can I stream Dancing With the Stars?
Yes. The show streams live on Disney+, and episodes are available the following day on Hulu.
When is the next Dancing With the Stars episode?
The next Dancing With the Stars Season 35 episode airs Tuesday, September 29, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.
What’s Next?
Dancing With the Stars 2026 is now underway, with memorable performances, surprising eliminations and an unexpected voting problem already making headlines.
Fans can tune in Tuesday, September 29, for the next live Dancing With the Stars episode as Season 35 continues.
Love entertainment news? Read our 2026 Emmy Awards winners and memorable moments coverage.
