Dancing with the Stars Season 35 premiere hits tech issue as voting goes down on ABC — live updates

Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars is officially underway, but not without a technical difficulty.

Co-host Julianne Hough alerted viewers tuning in that voting is currently down on ABC’s website. Viewers can continue to send votes in via text.

The hit reality competition series is currently airing its season premiere on ABC and Disney+. Streaming is available the next day on Hulu.

Season 35 will welcome back returning judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli, alongside co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough.

Among the stars set to compete are Bravo darling Ciara Miller, Step Up actor Jenna Dewan, 10 Things I Hate About You star Julia Stiles, Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn, Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson and Paralympian Ezra Frech.

Last season saw Robert Irwin and Witney Carson take home the coveted Mirrorball Trophy. Carson is paired with Guillermo Rodriguez for this season.

More on DWTS

• DWTS Season 35 full cast announced
• How to watch DWTS Season 35
• Online voting is down

Conner and Adele take the stage!

01:35 , Caitlin Hornik

Adele makes her pro debut with Conner, dancing a salsa to “Whoomp! There It Is” by Tag Team.

Fans angered over voting tech issue

01:33 , Caitlin Hornik

Viewers have voiced their concerns on social media over the voting issue flagged during the live broadcast by Julianne Hough.

“voting being down on premiere night with an elimination tn… #dwts pls yall get ur s*** tg,” one person wrote on X.

So, I already did my 10 texts for #TeamBrittay on #DWTS but not their website isn't working. How is that fair? @officialdwts

— Gloria (@TheGloriaSophia) September 16, 2026

Voting is down on the ABC site

01:28 , Caitlin Hornik

Julianne Hough alerted viewers after Tyler and Sharna received their score that voting is currently down on the ABC site.

Viewers can still text their votes by messaging the designated keyword to 21523.

Tyler and Sharna's score

01:27 , Caitlin Hornik

Tyler and Sharna received a 17 out of 30 from the judges, including 6 each from Carrie Ann and Bruno.

Judge's comments on Tyler and Sharna

01:26 , Caitlin Hornik

“I’m very pleasantly surprised,” Bruno Tonioli said. “You can move it. You have natural musicality,” he continued, adding that Tyler has so much potential.

“Your foot came off the ground,” Carrie Ann Inaba said. “Lifts are still a thing!” she continued, earning the first boos of the season from the audience.

After offering a few points and technical aspects to work on, Derek Hough said, “you’re gonna be fantastic.”

Sharna returns to the ballroom!

01:23 , Caitlin Hornik

Sharna has returned to the ballroom after a five year absence!

She and her partner, Tyler Cameron, will perform a tango to “Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz.

The troupe dancers take the stage!

01:21 , Caitlin Hornik

Clad in hot pink ensembles, the four troupe dancers looked fabulous!

This season’s troupe includes Kamri Peterson, Onye Stevenson, Jaxon Willard, and Carter Williams.

Jackson and Emma's score

01:16 , Caitlin Hornik

Carrie Ann, Derek, and Bruno each awarded Jackson and Emma a 5, for a total of 15 points out of 30.

The pair seemed disappointed, as did the audience. There were whispers and murmurs - and minimal applause.

Carrie Ann Inaba thinks Jackson and Emma could be competition favorites

01:14 , Caitlin Hornik

“Fantastic way to start the season,” judge Inaba said during critiques.

The judges were mostly kind to Jackson and Emma, pointed out a few technical issues, but were excited by the pair’s potential.

Derek Hough's first comments

01:13 , Caitlin Hornik

“The ballroom is back!” judge Derek Hough said, along with a reminder that the scores will land lower to start the season and that dancers have to earn every point!

Jackson Olson and Emma Slater kick off the competition

01:09 , Caitlin Hornik

The Savannah Banana and his pro partner will perform a cha-cha to “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls! How FUN!

Tonight is all about the men!

01:08 , Caitlin Hornik

The male stars and athletes paired with pros will perform tonight; the women will take the stage tomorrow.

Voting will only be open tonight for the men - so plan accordingly.

Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro are in the house!

01:04 , Caitlin Hornik

The DWTS hosts look fresh and fabulous!

“It’s great to have you back with us after last year’s record-breaking season,” Ribeiro said.

We are BACK!

01:03 , Caitlin Hornik

Season 35 is officially underway with a sexy smattering of pros dancing to "Dancing On My Own" by Robyn. It’s bursting with energy and passion, and featured real-life pairings! So fun to watch real partners do their thing!

5 minute warning!

Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:55 , Caitlin Hornik

Five minutes to showtime! A new season of Dancing With the Stars is nearly here!

Meet the couples: Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten

Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:52 , Caitlin Hornik

The Emmy-winning celebrity chef known for her Food Network show Everyday Italian will be partnered with Bersten to compete for the Mirrorball trophy.

De Laurentiis, 56, has more than 2.5 million Instagram followers alone after her hit cooking show ran for 12 seasons.

15 minutes to showtime!

Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:45 , Caitlin Hornik

Is your popcorn ready yet? If not, you only have 15 minutes to be in position ...

Meet the couples: Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach

Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:41 , Caitlin Hornik

Paralympian gold medalist Frech, 21, is partnered with Daniella Karagach.

Born with congenital limb differences, Frech is an above-the-knee left-leg amputee who co-founded adaptive sports organization Angel City Sports.

Meet the couples: Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold

Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:35 , Caitlin Hornik

Social media personality Wood, 30, is known to his 1.3 million followers across social media as “Fibula.” He hosts a podcast with his friend, Brooke Averick, and is also known for his stand-up comedy.

Wood will be paired with Arnold, 21, who is ballroom royalty as the younger sister of former pro Lindsay Arnold. She rose to fame as a dancer after competing on Dancing With the Stars: Juniors.

30 minutes until the premiere kicks off!

Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:30 , Caitlin Hornik

Don’t be late! Remember - the premiere is streaming live on ABC and Disney+. Set up your TV for cable or streaming a few minutes early to avoid missing a moment of the action. Premiere night is the best!

Meet the couples: Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart

Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:27 , Caitlin Hornik

Hanson, who is one-third of the pop-rock band Hanson, will dance with Stewart this season.

The father of seven, 43, rose to fame with his two brothers in the Nineties with their hit song “MMMBop.”

Meet the couples: Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik

Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:19 , Caitlin Hornik

Widely known for her character Ashley Banks on the hit Nineties sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Ali will be paired with Ravnik.

The casting will make a reunion for Ali, 47, with host Ribeiro, who played Carlton Banks on the iconic series.

Meet the couples: Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov

Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:07 , Caitlin Hornik

Olympian gold medalist Amber Glenn, 26, will dance alongside Pasha Pashkov this season.

If Glenn wins the competition, she would become the fourth figure skater to win the Mirrorball Trophy.

One hour until showtime!

Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:00 , Caitlin Hornik

The anticipation is growing ...

Sharna Burgess returns after five years away from the ballroom

Tuesday 15 September 2026 23:56 , Caitlin Hornik

Burgess, making her comeback after five years away from the ballroom, will be paired with Tyler Cameron.

Cameron, 33, became a fan favorite in Bachelor Nation after finishing on Hannah Brown’s season 15 of The Bachelorette as the runner-up. He will soon be hosting the HGTV show Let’s Go Back to Your Place, which is set to premiere in 2027.

Meet the couples: Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa

Tuesday 15 September 2026 23:48 , Caitlin Hornik

Stiles, a beloved Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated movie star, will compete for the Mirrorball Trophy with Sosa.

The actor, 45, skyrocketed to fame for her breakout role as Kat Stratford in the 1999 romance 10 Things I Hate About You. After the movie, which co-starred the late Heath Ledger, she went on to star in projects like the Bourne franchise, Dexter, Silver Linings Playbook and Hustlers.

She previously showed off her dancing skills in the 2001 movie Save the Last Dance.

Next, she is slated to appear in thriller series Recap as well as holiday movie Unbearable Christmas.

Meet the couples: Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson

Tuesday 15 September 2026 23:36 , Caitlin Hornik

The Grey’s Anatomy and Crazy Rich Asians actor, 44, is partnered with pro Johnson on this season of DWTS.

Like Jenna Dewan, Shum comes into the competition with some experience as a dancer and choreographer — and he notably used his dancing skills in his role as Mike Chang on Glee.

Meet the couples: Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy

Tuesday 15 September 2026 23:23 , Caitlin Hornik

The star of ABC’s police procedural The Rookie as well as hit 2006 dance movie Step Up, Dewan will return to her dancing roots on this season of DWTS.

The dance floor will be familiar for the actor as she started her career as a backup dancer for artists like Janet Jackson and went on to work with stars including Pink, Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott.

Dewan, 45, will be paired with pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy.

DWTS judge defends dance backgrounds of celebrities Julia Stiles and Jenna Dewan

Tuesday 15 September 2026 23:12 , Caitlin Hornik

Carrie Ann Inaba has defended the season 35 contestants who are catching flak for their previous dance experience.

In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly on the topic, longtime judge Inaba defended the casting decision, stating that ballroom is very different from the celebrities’ past training.

“What’s difficult — and I don’t think people realize this — is when you go from being a jazz dancer or a hip-hop dancer or all the other forms of dancing [to ballroom], the weight placement is so different,” Inaba explained.

Ellie Muir reports:

DWTS judge defends dance backgrounds of Julia Stiles and Jenna Dewan

Meet the couples: Jackson Olson and Emma Slater

Tuesday 15 September 2026 23:02 , Caitlin Hornik

Savannah Bananas baseball star Olson, 28, will trade in his cleats for dance shoes with pro Emma Slater this season.

The second baseman for the Georgia-based barnstorming exhibition team — who has amassed more than 3 million followers across TikTok and Instagram — was announced as part of the season 35 cast at the Disney Upfronts presentation in May. Olson’s inclusion appears to be part of the network’s strategy to expand its reach to include social media stars.

“I was a shy kid that never danced, never put myself out there, and never entertained,” he admitted in September on Good Morning America. “And now I kind of manifested this whole thing.”

Meet the couples: Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas

Tuesday 15 September 2026 22:39 , Caitlin Hornik

Irish reality star Higgins, 35, is best known to U.S. audiences from her recent appearance on The Traitors season four, where she made it to the finale, but she’s long been known to U.K. viewers from turns on I’m a Celeb and Love Island.

Higgins has been eager to appear on DWTS since the show’s executive producer and casting head Deena Katz cast her in The Traitors. “[Maura] texts me every time she’s coming to L.A. She wants to have lunch. She’s been dying to do the show, and she’s fantastic. She’s great television,” Katz told The Hollywood Reporter.

“[Maura] is exactly what our show is, and she’s having a moment right now, so that was a no-brainer. And knowing what was going to happen with Traitors and seeing the buzz about her, she was fantastic.”

Higgins will be paired up with The Next Pro judge Mark Ballas, who she competed against on The Traitors.

Meet the couples: Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong

Tuesday 15 September 2026 22:19 , Caitlin Hornik

The 30-year-old Summer House star was one of the first two celebrity cast members announced. Miller joined the season 35 cast last month, amid a fierce friendship fallout with Summer House co-star Amanda Batula over her relationship with Miller’s ex-boyfriend, West Wilson.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about having Miller on DWTS, executive producer and casting head Deena Katz said: “I already knew Ciara. She was on Traitors, and she’s wonderful. She’s stunning, she’s gorgeous; she’s all these things.

“And then the stuff that happened to her, it was a really of the moment thing that we all felt like it was the right time. We really wanted her on the show, but it was also the right time to announce her.”

Miller will be partnered with Brandon Armstrong, who has yet to win his first Mirrorball Trophy.

Double elimination confirmed for week 1

Tuesday 15 September 2026 22:02 , Caitlin Hornik

For the first time since 2018, two couples will perform their first and final dance during week 1.

The double elimination was confirmed during the September 10 episode of Hulu’s Get Real podcast.

Mark Ballas told host Amanda Hirsch: “This is a first [for me],” Ballas told Hirsch, adding that he thinks the impending double elimination will change the vibe of the first week.

“It’s not an even playing field,” Ballas continued. “The cast is split in half... Boys over there, girls over there. One of you is going from each group. That’s a little different.”

Meet the couples: Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson

Tuesday 15 September 2026 21:44 , Caitlin Hornik

After being discovered while working as a security guard at the parking lot of Hollywood Boulevard Masonic Temple studio, the home of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Guillermo Rodriguez, 55, has become a fan-favorite presence of the ABC talk show.

Rodriguez told Kimmel: “I’m excited! I’m very happy,” confirming that he was up for the challenge alongside his pro partner, Witney Carson, who is returning to the show while pregnant.

Kimmel jokingly requested that he promise not to lose “a single adorable pound,” to which Rodriguez replied: “I promise. If I lose five pounds, I’m gonna gain 10 pounds back right away!”

Hailey Bills joins DWTS as a pro dancer

Tuesday 15 September 2026 21:34 , Caitlin Hornik

Bills was promoted to pro for this season after appearing as a troupe member throughout last season.

She will be partnered with Nader, 23, who came out as bisexual during the first season of her family’s reality show Love Thy Nader. The two are the only same-sex celebrity-pro duo this year.

This marks the second all-female pairing on the show — and the third-ever same-sex duo — after JoJo Siwa and Jenna Johnson made history as a pair on season 30 of the show in 2021.

DWTS voting process revealed

Tuesday 15 September 2026 21:17 , Caitlin Hornik

For season 35 of DWTS, the voting process remains largely the same as seasons past.

Voting can be done online at the official Dancing With the Stars site or by SMS text message during the live voting window (8 p.m. ET through the episode’s final competitive dance routine) for each episode.

Votes are not allowed during replays or later viewings.

Fans are allowed to vote for multiple couples. However, there is a maximum of 20 votes per couple (10 online and 10 via text message).

To vote via text, viewers can send the designated keyword to 21523 during the live broadcast.

What is the week 1 theme?

Tuesday 15 September 2026 21:04 , Caitlin Hornik

Across both parts of the two-night premiere, couples will be dancing to songs that reached the top of the charts during the year they were born.

Some of those songs include “Smooth” by Santana feat. Rob Thomas, “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton, and “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson.

New pro dancer to debut Tuesday!

Tuesday 15 September 2026 20:41 , Caitlin Hornik

A handful of new pros have joined the cast this year.

Adele Zaikman won her place in the lineup on the inaugural season of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro.

She is paired with Conner Leavitt, husband of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt, who finished fourth during the season 34 competition.

The duo will perform Tuesday night.

How the two-part premiere will work

Tuesday 15 September 2026 20:19 , Caitlin Hornik

Couples aren’t performing both nights. Instead, each couple will take the stage during one night of the two-night premiere.

The male contestants will take the stage Tuesday, while the women will do so Wednesday.

Two couples will be eliminated total; one from each night of the premiere.

How to watch DWTS season premiere

Tuesday 15 September 2026 20:03 , Caitlin Hornik

The a two-night premiere kicks off Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. The episode will stream the next day on Hulu.

What time is Dancing with the Stars? Full cast and how to watch season 35 premiere

Full cast revealed ahead of premiere

Tuesday 15 September 2026 19:33 , Caitlin Hornik

See who’s dancing with who ahead of the season 35 premiere. Carsen Holaday reports:

Dancing with the Stars Season 35: Full cast and partners unveiled