Dancing with the Stars is expected to bring in record-breaking ratings once again.
Over the past few years, ABC’s hit reality competition has experienced a significant resurgence with its viewers due to their trending contestants like Alix Earle or Robert Irwin. The show is set to return in the fall of 2026 with another star-studded lineup, and the first two guests have already been announced.
The Traitors stars Ciara Miller and Maura Higgins are set to put on their dancing shoes and lead the cast of Season 35. Ciara, 30, was originally on Bravo’s Summer House, while Maura appeared on the fifth season of Love Island UK.
Speaking to The Express, Amore Phillip, CEO of Apples & Oranges Public Relations, said the two ladies set high expectations for the stars set to join them.
“That’s a strong opening for Season 35,” the expert explained. “Both had massive breakout moments in 2025 and they bring two very different audiences, Summer House fans and Traitors fans, into the ballroom.
Amore said the focus is really going to be on ABC holding onto the younger viewers they captured with their last season, which saw a 53% audience share among adults 18 to 34, which is the largest for any broadcast entertainment series since the Friends finale in 2004.
“They’re going to protect that younger audience at all costs,” she added.
The PR expert believes a lot is riding on this season.
“With the new spinoff, Dancing With The Stars: The Next Pro, launching this summer, they need the main show to feel fresh and exciting,” she pointed out.
“Expect the full cast to skew toward names that are genuinely trending right now, not just famous,” she concluded. “That’s the formula that brought the ratings back, and they’re not going to mess with it.
The full cast of Dancing with the Stars Season 35 will be revealed on Good Morning America weeks before the premiere.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.the-express.com ’
