Who Is in the Cast of 'Dancing With the Stars' Season 35? Meet the Confirmed Contestants — Including Jenna Dewan, Ciara Miller and More

The cast of Dancing With the Stars Season 35 was officially announced on Wednesday, September 2.

In a May interview with Entertainment Tonight, host Julianne Hough revealed she had been "getting a lot of people sliding into [her] DMs," expressing their interest in joining the next season.

When asked how DWTS is making things bigger and shaking it up for the next season, she explained, "You know what? I always say, 'Don't fix what isn't broken,' and Dancing With the Stars has always stayed consistent and true to who it is, and the voice of authenticity and craftsmanship. And really, just like family."

Ahead of the new season's premiere, here's everything to know about the celebrity contestants on DWTS.

Fresh off the 2026 Olympic Games, gold medalist figure skater Amber Glenn is swapping the ice for the ballroom in DWTS Season 35. She will make her debut on the dance competition series with her pro partner, Pasha Pashkov.

During Hulu's Get Real House event on April 22, Disney named Ciara Miller as one of the first two celebrity cast members for DWTS Season 35.

"I am so excited to join Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars. I feel like this is the perfect moment," she shared in a video message. "I feel like I'm opening a new chapter, and I'm so excited to share it with all of you guys."

While at the fifth annual Las Culturistas Culture Awards in Los Angeles in June, Miller told E! News she had been focusing on her physical health before her DWTS debut.

"Looks are not indicative of being in shape," she said. "I do huff and puff going up the stairs, so I gotta get back into the gym and work on my stamina."

The Bravo star continued, "I'm just trying to get in shape because I don't want to be wheeled out on a stretcher. That'll be the saddest thing that happens."

She will put her performance skills to the test with pro partner Brandon Armstrong.

Following her time on Bravo's Summer House, Miller joined the cast of Peacock's The Traitors Season 3.

Following in his wife Whitney Leavitt's footsteps, Conner Leavitt will hit the DWTS stage with new pro Adele Zaikman.

Whitney, who made it to the semi-finals alongside her pro partner Mark Ballas during DWTS Season 34, reportedly gave her husband some sweet advice.

"Honestly, she said this to me so many times, 'This experience goes by fast. In the blink of an eye it's going to be over. Be present. Have fun. Build relationships with the people around you. You're just going to learn so much so just soaking it all in,'" Conner told E! News.

Funnyman Connor Wood is ready to get serious in his quest for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy with his pro partner Rylee Arnold.

In an interview with Page Six's "Virtual Reali-Tea" co-hosts Danny Murphy and Evan Real, the comedian said being tapped to join DWTS was a "pipe dream" for him.

"You don't say no to Dancing With the Stars,” he added.

Alongside pro partner Daniella Karagach, two-time Paralympian Ezra Frech aims to "change the way the world sees disability" by competing on DWTS.

"I literally feel like I was put on this earth for that reason, and I've attempted to do it through track and field my whole life, and then now I get the opportunity to hopefully do that through dance," the athlete, who was born with congenital limb differences, told Us Weekly on September 2 after the full cast for DWTS Season 35 was announced.

After years of saying no, Giada De Laurentiis has finally said "yes" to the ballroom.

The Emmy Award-winning celebrity chef revealed DWTS had approached her "maybe 10 times over the years," but she repeatedly turned down the opportunity.

"And I was always like, 'No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,'" she said.

Explaining why the timing finally felt right, the Food Network star shared, "This time, I thought, with my daughter pushing me and with my daughter out of my house, this is a really good time for me to go on a new adventure and push myself to do something I've never done."

Jimmy Kimmel's right-hand man, Guillermo Rodriguez, confirmed his DWTS casting during the June 17 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

"Guillermo will become the first parking lot security guard to dance with the stars," the late-night talk show host supported his sidekick during the episode of late-night chat show. "This is going to be great. Don't lose a single adorable pound."

"I'm excited. I'm very happy," the TV personality responded.

He is paired with reigning Mirrorball champion Witney Carson, who won DWTS Season 34 alongside Robert Irwin.

Harry Shum Jr. is returning to his dance roots after showcasing his skills in Glee and Step Up.

The Grey's Anatomy actor, who is paired with Jenna JohnsonChmerkovskiy, said joining DWTS still makes him nervous despite his previous dance experience.

"So I think the elements — I think it's performance, that's what's fun," he pointed out in an interview with Us Weekly. "Telling the story is just stuff that I'm really excited about, but the stuff I'm nervous about is really the technique of it all."

Jackson Olson became the third confirmed DWTS Season 35 cast member when his participation was announced on May 12.

"Jackson Olson is not just a standout second baseman for the Savannah Bananas; he's also a prolific content creator known for his macro baseball insights and captivating storytelling on family, relationships, food, and the journey of coming-of-age," his ABC bio reads. "With a keen eye for detail and a knack for weaving narratives that resonate deeply with audiences, Olson's social channels serve as a hub for inspiration, laughter and heartfelt reflection."

The description adds, "Whether he's sharing the joys of eating ballpark food or something over-the-top delicious, the triumphs and tribulations of love and family, or the intricacies of life on and off the field, Jackson Olson invites followers into his world with authenticity and warmth, leaving a lasting impression on all who engage with his content."

Reflecting on the DWTS opportunity, the baseball player admitted during an appearance on Good Morning America that he "never thought any of this was possible" as a kid.

"I was a shy kid that never danced, never put myself out there, never entertained, and found a passion for it ... I kind of manifested this whole thing," he said, adding his teammates were "all super pumped" when they heard about the news.

For DWTS Season 35, he will attempt to bring home the Mirrorball with the help of pro dancer Emma Slater.

Jenna Dewan is literally stepping up on the dance floor of DWTS Season 35.

Famous for her breakout role in Step Up, the former backup dancer will shine take on a new challenge in the ballroom with her pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy.

"I'm not naïve to the expectations that people have for Jenna, rightfully so. We're going to do our best. There's no guarantees," Val told People after the Season 35 cast was revealed.

Julia Stiles will take on a new dance genre for DWTS Season 35 with pro dancer Ezra Sosa.

The Save the Last Dance actress is not alone in her journey, as her husband and their three kids are supporting her quest for the Mirrorball.

"That's the crazy thing. This is the first time I'm not hiding behind a character, or like a script. This is me. It's not Sarah, it's not any of the other characters I've played. It's just Julia," she told E! News ahead of her DWTS appearance. "But, I am ready."

Maura Higgins, who was part of the cast of Traitors Season 4, will also be making her way to the dance floor.

"I'm a strong believer in manifesting. I had it on my vision board," she said after her DWTS casting was announced. "And now it is happening, which I cannot believe, and I know it's going to be so, so hard. But because I really want to do it, I'm going to put my all into it."

Maura's friend and DWTS pro Mark reportedly gave her advice ahead of the competition he described as a "marathon."

"He was like, 'it's intense,'" she told People in June. "I've never done anything like that. So I was like, oh, maybe I should relax before I go into training."

Maura and Mark will officially reunite as dance partners on DWTS.

In 2024, Brooks Nader was partnered with Gleb Savchenko for DWTS Season 33. Two years later, her sister Sarah Jane Nader will show off her moves in the ballroom with new pro Hailey Bills.

"Iconic family behavior, by the way," Sarah Jane told People after she and Hailey became the second all-female pairing on DWTS following Jenna and JoJo Siwa in Season 30.

Tatyana Ali will begin her DWTS journey with pro dancer Jav Ravnik.

Even her The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air brother, DWTS co-host Alfonso Ribeiro, had no idea she was joining the program until the official announcement was made.

"I had to wait to tell Alfonso because of the NDAs and all that. And then I waited too long, because by the time I spoke to the producers, and they heard that I hadn't told him, they were like, 'Don't say anything!'" she told Entertainment Weekly. "That was actually one of the hardest parts in this pre-process, is I wanted to talk to him so bad and tell him so bad."

Also joining DWTS Season 35 is Taylor Hanson, one-third of the music group Hanson.

"I really have virtually no dance experience. And I think that's part of the whole quest," he told Extra. "One of the things I love about this is being able to be an example of facing your fear. I mean, it's scary, like, I'm gonna go learn to dance in front of the world."

He added, "I've spent a lot of time behind a keyboard… so this is a huge leap and I'm a fan of learning by doing."

Taylor will have pro Britt Stewart by his side as he adjusts to the ballroom

Paired with Sharna Burgess, The Bachelorette alum Tyler Cameron will swap the final rose for the Mirrorball Trophy in Season 35 of DWTS.