‘Dancing with the Stars’ 2026 began with a two-night premiere, featuring 16 celebrities competing alongside professional dancers for the Mirrorball Trophy.
Conner Leavitt and Sarah Jane Nader became the first celebrities eliminated, leaving 14 couples competing after the opening week.
Harry Shum Jr. and Maura Higgins topped their respective premiere nights, setting the stage for the next round of competition.
The ballroom barely opened its doors for the new season of ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ but the competition already delivered two emotional exits. Season 35 began with a special two-night premiere on September 15 and 16, bringing 16 celebrities and their professional partners together for the new season. By the end of the opening week, two couples had already seen their Mirrorball Trophy dreams come to an end.
The first elimination came on September 15, when Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman were sent home. Leavitt, known for The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, performed a salsa to Tag Team's ‘Whoomp! (There It Is)’ during the opening night.
The routine earned the couple 12 out of 30 points from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli. The judges appreciated Leavitt's energy and enthusiasm but pointed to issues with his technique, timing and salsa movements.
Leavitt's exit also marked an early end to Zaikman's first season as a professional dancer on the main show. She earned her place in the professional cast after winning ‘Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro.’ Despite the elimination, both spoke positively about their experience in the ballroom.
Meanwhile, Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson finished the first night at the top of the leaderboard with 21 points, followed by Paralympic athlete Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach, who scored 20.
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The second night of the premiere brought the female celebrities into the competition, but another couple was eliminated before Week 2 could begin.
Sarah Jane Nader and Hailey Bills became the second couple to leave Season 35. The pair performed a jive to Avril Lavigne's “Sk8er Boi” and received 14 out of 30 points. Their performance faced criticism over timing and synchronization, and the combined result of judges' scores and viewer votes was not enough to keep them in the competition.
Nader's elimination came after she, Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik, and Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten were placed in the bottom three. Ali and De Laurentiis ultimately survived the first elimination of their season.
At the other end of the leaderboard, Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas made a strong impression, scoring 21 points for their foxtrot. Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy followed with 19, while Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa and Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov each scored 18.
With the two eliminations complete, 14 celebrity-professional couples remain in Season 35. The remaining celebrities include Julia Stiles, Jenna Dewan, Tatyana Ali, Taylor Hanson, Ezra Frech, Amber Glenn, Connor Wood, Tyler Cameron, Giada De Laurentiis, Harry Shum Jr., Guillermo Rodriguez, Maura Higgins, Ciara Miller and Jackson Olson.
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The two-night premiere set the stage for the regular competition, with the remaining couples now heading into the next round. ‘Dancing with the Stars’ will continue on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming on Hulu the following day.
For now, the ballroom already delivered two departures, several standout performances and plenty of early surprises. With 14 couples still competing, the pressure will only increase as the season moves forward.
Who were the first celebrities eliminated from ‘Dancing With the Stars’ 2026?
Conner Leavitt and Sarah Jane Nader were the first two celebrities eliminated from Season 35 after the show's two-night premiere.
Who was Conner Leavitt’s professional dance partner?
Conner Leavitt partnered with Adele Zaikman during the premiere. The pair performed a salsa and scored 12 out of 30 points.
Who was Sarah Jane Nader’s professional dance partner?
Sarah Jane Nader competed with professional dancer Hailey Bills. Their jive to Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi” earned 14 out of 30 points.
How many couples remain on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 35?
Fourteen celebrity-professional couples remain after the opening week's eliminations, with the surviving contestants continuing their pursuit of the Mirrorball Trophy.
When and where does ‘Dancing With the Stars’ 2026 continue?
The competition continues Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with new episodes streaming on Hulu the following day.