Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Debuts to 6.7M Viewers

WHO:

Deadline - The competitors in Season 35 of "Dancing With the Stars" include male celebrities and their professional partners.

WHAT:

Deadline - The Season 35 premiere continued with a second night featuring "Ladies Night" and another elimination.

Deadline - The Season 35 premiere attracted 6.67 million total live + same-day viewers, according to preliminary data from Nielsen.

Variety - The premiere reached 6.7 million viewers, marking a 24% increase from the Season 34 premiere, which had 5.4 million viewers in 2025.

Variety - The episode is noted as the series' best opener in six years.

WHERE:

Deadline - The show premiered on ABC and Disney+.

WHEN:

Variety - The Season 35 premiere occurred on a Tuesday night.

WHY:

Variety - The increase in viewership is attributed to the show's return and the anticipation surrounding the new season.

HOW:

Deadline - The premiere featured only male celebrities and their pro partners competing.

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 03:02 UTC)

The Season 35 premiere continued with a second night featuring "Ladies Night," which brought excitement and drama to viewers. This episode also included another elimination, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. As the competition heats up, audiences are eager to see who will make it to the next round.

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(UPDATED September 16, 2026 22:04 UTC)

The Season 35 premiere of "Dancing With the Stars" showcased male celebrities paired with their professional partners and aired on ABC and Disney+. This exciting opener attracted 6.67 million total live and same-day viewers, marking a 24% increase from last season's premiere, which had 5.4 million viewers in 2025, making it the series' best opener in six years. The surge in viewership is being credited to the show's highly anticipated return and the fresh energy of the new season.