Dancing with the Stars season 35 eliminations began immediately, cutting the original 16-celebrity field to 14 after the two-night premiere. Conner Leavitt and Sarah Jane Nader became the first stars sent home as judges’ scores and viewer votes shaped the competition, as Baltimore Chronicle notes.
The new season premiered on September 15 and 16, 2026. ABC confirmed the unusual format before the premiere, with male celebrities dancing on the first night and female celebrities competing one day later. ABC announced 16 celebrity-professional pairings for the season.
Who was eliminated from Dancing with the Stars season 35?
The first elimination came on September 15. Conner Leavitt and professional partner Adele Zaikman left after their opening-night performance.
The pair performed salsa to “Whoomp! (There It Is)” by Tag Team. Their run ended after just one competitive dance. Leavitt received 12 points from the judges.
One night later, Sarah Jane Nader and Hailey Bills became the second eliminated couple. They performed a jive to Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi.” The pair received 14 points before leaving the ballroom.
The premiere therefore produced these results:
| Premiere night | Eliminated celebrity | Professional partner | Dance |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 15 | Conner Leavitt | Adele Zaikman | Salsa |
| September 16 | Sarah Jane Nader | Hailey Bills | Jive |
The double elimination leaves 14 celebrities competing for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. Future results will continue to depend on both judges’ scores and audience voting.
Who is still on Dancing with the Stars season 35?
After the opening eliminations, these couples remain in the competition:
- Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa
- Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy
- Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik
- Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart
- Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach
- Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov
- Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold
- Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess
- Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten
- Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson
- Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson
- Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas
- Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong
- Jackson Olson and Emma Slater
ABC’s official cast announcement confirms the season’s celebrity and professional pairings.
The field is now considerably tighter. Every subsequent performance can change the standings, because viewer votes are combined with the judges’ scores.
When is Dancing with the Stars season 35 on?
Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. Episodes are available for streaming the following day on Hulu.
Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli returned as judges. Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough are again hosting the competition.
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