Dancing With the Stars, the venerable ABC dancing competition, is set to return for its 35th season this fall, marking a significant moment with the announcement of its initial celebrity cast members and the unveiling of an ambitious new companion series. During Hulu’s Get Real House 2026 presentation, a platform dedicated to spotlighting the unscripted slate across Hulu and ABC, the network confirmed the renewal of Dancing With the Stars and revealed the first two high-profile participants: Summer House breakout star Ciara Miller and international reality television sensation Maura Higgins, known for her appearances on The Traitors and Love Island. This early casting revelation signals a strategic move to capitalize on the show’s recent resurgence and expand its cultural footprint.
A New Chapter for the Mirrorball: Ciara Miller and Maura Higgins Join Season 35
The inclusion of Ciara Miller and Maura Higgins marks a bold and calculated step for Dancing With the Stars, aiming to attract diverse viewership by tapping into established fanbases from other popular reality franchises. Ciara Miller, a fixture on Bravo’s Summer House for five consecutive seasons, has cultivated a devoted following, making her a particularly compelling "coup" for the ABC program. Her casting leverages her current visibility, especially in the wake of a highly publicized personal drama unfolding on her primary series. Maura Higgins, a recognized name across both sides of the Atlantic through her stints on Love Island and The Traitors, brings an international appeal, further broadening the show’s potential audience. The full roster of celebrities and their professional dance partners for Season 35 remains under wraps, with ABC promising further announcements at a later date. The upcoming season will maintain its dual broadcast model, airing live on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming available on Hulu, a strategy that proved successful in enhancing accessibility and viewership in previous seasons.
The Resurgence of a Reality Television Giant: DWTS’s Strategic Comeback
Dancing With the Stars first premiered on ABC in June 2005, introducing American audiences to a format that had already captivated millions in the UK as Strictly Come Dancing. Over nearly two decades, the show has become a cultural institution, pairing celebrities with professional ballroom and Latin dancers to compete for the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, named in honor of the show’s beloved head judge who passed away in 2023. The program has undergone various evolutions, including changes in hosts, judges, and broadcast platforms. For its 31st and 32nd seasons, the show made a groundbreaking move to Disney+, becoming the first live series to stream exclusively on the platform. However, for its 33rd and 34th seasons, it returned to ABC while simultaneously streaming on Disney+, a hybrid model that seemingly struck the right chord with viewers.
Season 34, in particular, heralded a remarkable comeback for the long-running series. After 20 years on air, the show experienced a significant revitalization, evidenced by resurgent ratings and unprecedented audience interaction. The finale of Season 34 achieved its highest viewership in a decade, a testament to the production team’s strategic adjustments. Executive producers and showrunners credited this surge in popularity to several key factors, including the potent influence of social media platforms like TikTok, which amplified memorable performances and contestant narratives, fostering an all-time high in viewer engagement. Crucially, casting decisions played a pivotal role, bringing in personalities who resonated deeply with contemporary audiences and drove online conversation. This renewed vigor provides the perfect springboard for the upcoming season and the ambitious expansion of the Dancing With the Stars brand.
Ciara Miller: From "Summer House" Drama to the Dance Floor
Ciara Miller’s journey to the Dancing With the Stars ballroom is a compelling narrative of reality television stardom. Originally an ICU nurse, Miller transitioned into modeling and subsequently gained widespread recognition as a cast member on Bravo’s Summer House. The series, which follows a group of young professionals sharing a summer house in the Hamptons, became a platform for Miller to establish herself as a fan-favorite, admired for her candid personality and relatable experiences. Her entry into the "Bravosphere," the interconnected universe of Bravo reality shows, positioned her for broader mainstream appeal.
Miller’s casting on Dancing With the Stars is particularly timely, as she is currently at the center of a major "scandal" rocking the Bravosphere. The drama, unfolding in the currently airing season of Summer House, revolves around a newfound romantic relationship between her former best friend, Amanda Batula, and her ex-boyfriend, West Wilson. Miller expressed being "blindsided" by this development, a storyline that has garnered immense audience support for her across social media platforms. This wave of public sympathy and intense interest surrounding her personal life positions her as a highly watched figure, potentially translating into significant viewership for Dancing With the Stars. The ongoing Summer House reunion, where Miller is slated to address the scandal, is expected to further amplify her profile just as she embarks on her DWTS journey.
Furthermore, Miller had been the subject of considerable speculation as a potential lead for ABC’s The Bachelorette. With that franchise currently on hold after shelving its planned 22nd season following controversies surrounding its intended star, Taylor Frankie Paul, Dancing With the Stars effectively "swooped in" to secure Miller. This move not only provides Miller with a high-profile platform but also demonstrates DWTS‘s agility in attracting sought-after reality talent, signaling a strategic victory for the dance competition. Her participation is expected to draw a dedicated Bravo fanbase to ABC, illustrating the increasing cross-pollination of audiences between major reality television networks.
Maura Higgins: A Global Reality Star’s American Debut
Joining Ciara Miller is Maura Higgins, a name synonymous with global reality television. Higgins first rose to prominence on Love Island UK, the wildly popular British dating reality show, where her fiery personality and memorable catchphrases quickly made her a fan favorite. Her success on Love Island propelled her into a broader media career, including modeling, presenting, and further reality television appearances.
Higgins further cemented her international appeal through her participation in The Traitors, a psychological reality competition series that has captivated audiences worldwide. She notably achieved a runner-up finish on Season 4 of the American version of The Traitors, showcasing her strategic prowess and adaptability. Her journey as the first UK Love Island contestant to successfully transition into the U.S. reality series circuit is noteworthy, having also hosted Love Island USA: Aftersun and Love Island Games: Aftersun. This track record of success in multiple formats and across different territories underscores her status as a "global talent" and a strategic casting choice for Dancing With the Stars. Her involvement is expected to attract a significant international following, particularly from the dedicated fanbases of Love Island and The Traitors, enhancing DWTS‘s appeal beyond its traditional American audience.
Expanding the Universe: Introducing "Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro"
Capitalizing on the renewed success of Dancing With the Stars, ABC has announced a significant expansion of the franchise with a brand-new competition series titled Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro. This innovative spin-off aims to delve into the rigorous world of professional ballroom dancing, offering viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the journey to becoming a DWTS pro. The series will feature 12 aspiring professional dancers who will move into a shared house, where they will undergo a "grueling audition process." Their ultimate goal: to earn a coveted spot as a professional dancer on Dancing With the Stars Season 35. This format not only creates a direct pipeline for new talent into the main show but also offers a fresh narrative perspective, focusing on the often-unseen dedication and skill required to reach the pinnacle of professional dance.
Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro is scheduled to premiere this summer, with its debut set for July 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. Like its parent series, it will also be available for next-day streaming on Hulu, ensuring maximum accessibility for viewers. The timing of this spin-off is strategic, designed to build anticipation for Season 35 of the flagship show and maintain audience engagement throughout the summer months. By expanding the brand, ABC aims to create a year-round presence for the Dancing With the Stars universe, fostering a deeper connection with its fanbase and potentially attracting new viewers interested in the world of competitive dance.
A Dream Team of Dance Icons: Hosts and Judges for "The Next Pro"
The judging panel and host for Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro bring a wealth of experience, celebrity appeal, and deep connections to the DWTS legacy. Robert Irwin, the charismatic wildlife conservationist and reigning Len Goodman Mirrorball Champion from Season 34, will take on the role of host. Irwin’s popularity and recent victory make him a natural choice, embodying the spirit of the show and connecting the spin-off directly to the main competition’s recent success. His transition from contestant to host offers a unique perspective, allowing him to empathize with the aspiring pros while guiding them through their journey.
The judging panel is equally star-studded, featuring two titans of the ballroom world: three-time DWTS champion Mark Ballas and his esteemed mother, Shirley Ballas. Mark Ballas is a familiar face to DWTS aficionados, having been a breakout professional dancer on the show for over a decade. His illustrious career spans television, Broadway, dance, and music, highlighted by an Emmy Award for outstanding choreography. Ballas’s deep understanding of the DWTS format, combined with his experience as a contestant on The Traitors Season 4 (alongside Maura Higgins), provides him with a multifaceted perspective on competition reality television.
Shirley Ballas, often hailed as the "Queen of Latin," brings an unparalleled level of expertise and gravitas to the panel. A world-renowned champion ballroom dancer and esteemed dance teacher, Shirley Ballas is best known globally as the head judge on BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing, the original British version of Dancing With the Stars. Her discerning eye, technical knowledge, and authoritative yet encouraging demeanor have made her a beloved figure in the dance world. Her involvement not only lends significant credibility to The Next Pro but also creates a direct lineage to the international origins of the DWTS phenomenon, further solidifying the franchise’s global standing. The combination of Robert Irwin’s fresh perspective, Mark Ballas’s seasoned DWTS insight, and Shirley Ballas’s legendary expertise promises a dynamic and insightful judging experience for aspiring pros and viewers alike.
The Broader Landscape: Unscripted Content, Social Media, and Cross-Network Synergy
The recent announcements from Dancing With the Stars underscore several prevailing trends in the television industry, particularly within the unscripted content landscape. For major networks and streamers like ABC, Disney+, and Hulu, unscripted programming remains a crucial component of their content strategy. These shows are often cost-effective to produce compared to scripted dramas, generate consistent viewership, and lend themselves well to social media engagement, which is vital for maintaining relevance in a fragmented media environment. The "Get Real House 2026 presentation" itself signifies a concerted effort by Hulu and ABC to emphasize and invest in their unscripted slate, recognizing its power to attract and retain audiences.
The casting choices for Season 35—Ciara Miller from Bravo and Maura Higgins from UK and US reality shows—exemplify the growing trend of cross-network and international talent migration within reality television. This strategy allows shows like DWTS to tap into pre-existing, loyal fanbases from other popular programs, effectively expanding their reach without needing to build celebrity profiles from scratch. The "Bravosphere," in particular, has become a fertile ground for casting, with its stars possessing built-in narratives and highly engaged followers who are likely to follow their favorites to new platforms. Similarly, international stars like Maura Higgins bring a global flavor and draw, reflecting the increasingly interconnected nature of media consumption.
Social media, especially platforms like TikTok, is no longer just a promotional tool but an integral part of a show’s success. The production team’s acknowledgement of TikTok’s role in Season 34’s resurgence highlights how virality and organic audience interaction can dramatically impact viewership and cultural relevance. This dynamic influences casting decisions, favoring personalities who are not only camera-ready but also adept at creating engaging digital content that resonates with online communities.
Finally, the launch of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, produced by BBC Studios (which also produces the flagship show), signifies a strategic move towards franchise building. With Conrad Green as showrunner and executive producer, alongside Ryan O’Dowd, Krystal Whitney, Alex Cross, Jenny Groom, Deena Katz, and Quinn Lipton, the spin-off aims to create a richer, more expansive universe around the core DWTS brand. This move allows the network to deepen its investment in a proven intellectual property, generate new revenue streams, and offer year-round content to its dedicated audience, solidifying Dancing With the Stars as a cornerstone of ABC’s entertainment offerings for years to come.
Anticipation Builds for a Dynamic Fall Season and Summer Premiere
As the television landscape continues to evolve, Dancing With the Stars demonstrates its enduring appeal and adaptability through strategic casting and franchise expansion. The early announcement of Ciara Miller and Maura Higgins for Season 35 has already ignited considerable buzz, promising a season rich with personality and compelling storylines. Coupled with the innovative Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro launching on July 13, the franchise is poised for a dynamic period of growth and increased audience engagement. With a blend of established and rising stars, a fresh format for aspiring pros, and a commitment to leveraging social media and cross-network synergies, the Dancing With the Stars universe is set to captivate audiences this summer and fall, reinforcing its status as a beloved and culturally relevant television phenomenon. The full roster of celebrity contestants and professional dancers for Season 35 will be eagerly awaited, as will the intense competition to find the next professional star for the iconic ballroom.
