The ballroom is set to shine even brighter this fall as Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) gears up for its landmark 35th season, and the first two celebrity contestants are already stirring up excitement across reality TV fandoms. On April 22, 2026, at Disney’s much-anticipated Get Real unscripted TV event in Los Angeles, it was revealed that Maura Higgins—best known for her bold turns on Love Island UK and The Traitors US—and Ciara Miller, a mainstay of Bravo’s Summer House and a recent face on The Traitors, will be swapping intrigue and villa drama for sequins and salsa steps.
The announcement, which quickly rippled through entertainment outlets like Deadline, Variety, and People, marks a high-profile start to the new season, which will premiere on ABC and Disney+ this fall, with next-day streaming on Hulu. The full cast and the professional dance pairings are still under wraps, but the inclusion of Higgins and Miller is already promising a season packed with both competitive fire and personal storylines that fans have followed for years.
For Maura Higgins, the DWTS call was a dream come true—quite literally. As she candidly told USA TODAY, “I manifested it really hard. It’s on my vision board. It’s the one show I really want to do. This is the last show I really want to do as a contestant.” Higgins, 35, hails from Ballymahon, Ireland, and first shot to fame on Love Island UK in 2019. She later became a breakout star on Peacock’s The Traitors US, where her unwavering loyalty to fellow reality star Rob Rausch saw her reach the finale. Yet, in a twist worthy of the show’s name, she discovered Rausch was, in fact, a Traitor, leaving her empty-handed despite her confidence. As she told Elite Daily, “I was 1,000,000% convinced that I was winning the show. I said to the camera, ‘Just give me my money. I’ve won.’ I was that sure.” Still, Higgins insists she’s “not a sore loser.”
Higgins’ reality TV résumé doesn’t stop there. She’s also hosted Love Island USA: Aftersun and Love Island Games: Aftersun, and has worked as a red-carpet correspondent for A24 at the premiere of The Drama. Interestingly, she turned down invitations to compete on the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars and the British hit Strictly Come Dancing—all in hopes of landing on the U.S. edition. “I turned down anything that would jeopardize Dancing with the Stars in America,” she confessed. “I’m just being honest. I really wanted this one.”
As for her dance skills? Higgins is keeping her expectations realistic—and her energy reserves high. “I’m not going to start working my ass off now, because by the time August comes, I’ll be absolutely shattered,” she joked to USA TODAY. “I’m going to take some daytime naps, because I’m going to need it.” She’s also hoping to be paired with longtime pro Mark Ballas, but says she’ll have to wait and see who she gets when rehearsals begin in August.
Ciara Miller, meanwhile, enters the ballroom with her own share of headlines and reality TV drama. The 30-year-old nurse and model has been a fixture on Bravo’s Summer House for five seasons and recently competed on Season 3 of The Traitors US. Her personal life has been the subject of much speculation, particularly after her ex-boyfriend West Wilson and her close friend Amanda Batula confirmed their romantic relationship in May 2025—a revelation that sent shockwaves through the show’s fanbase and promises to be a hot topic at the upcoming Summer House reunion.
Miller, unable to attend the Los Angeles event due to work commitments in New York, sent a video message brimming with anticipation: “I wanted to be there. I wish I could be there, but I had some unfinished business in New York that I need to wrap up. But I am so excited to join Season 35. I feel like this is the perfect moment; I’m opening a new chapter. I can’t wait to put my energy on the dance floor.” When asked about the prospect of joining The Bachelorette in the future, she was characteristically direct, telling Glamour, “F--- no. I’m way too private.”
Both Higgins and Miller have dabbled in red-carpet reporting, with Miller recently covering the Euphoria Season 3 premiere for HBO. Their crossover appeal promises to draw viewers from multiple reality TV franchises, a strategy that seems to be working wonders for DWTS. Last season, the show posted its highest-rated finale in nearly a decade, with a whopping 72 million votes cast during the finale and nearly half a billion votes across the season, according to People. Robert Irwin and his pro partner Witney Carson ultimately took home the coveted Mirrorball Trophy in November 2025.
This fall, Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro will return as hosts, while the judging panel will once again feature Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli. The series is produced by BBC Studios, with Conrad Green serving as showrunner and executive producer, alongside Ryan O’Dowd, Krystal Whitney, Alex Cross, and Jenny Groom. Deena Katz and Quinn Lipton are on board as co-executive producers.
The excitement doesn’t stop there. Disney also announced the launch of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, a new competition premiering July 13, 2026, on ABC. Hosted by last season’s champion Robert Irwin, the show will see 12 up-and-coming dancers compete for a spot as a professional on Season 35. Mark Ballas and his mother, Shirley Ballas, will judge, with a rotating lineup of guest judges and mentors keeping things fresh.
For longtime fans and newcomers alike, Season 35 of DWTS is shaping up to be a can’t-miss event—blending the drama and personalities of reality TV with the glitz and athleticism of the ballroom. With Higgins and Miller leading the charge, and the promise of more celebrity announcements to come, the dance floor is primed for another season of surprises, rivalries, and perhaps a few unexpected alliances. Stay tuned as the full cast is revealed and the countdown to fall’s most dazzling competition begins.
With fresh faces, returning favorites, and a record-breaking audience, Dancing with the Stars is ready to keep viewers on their toes—one cha-cha at a time.