Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Adds a New Partnership
Dancing With the Stars Season 35 is beginning to take shape, and fans now know one more professional-celebrity pairing.
Two-time Mirrorball champion Witney Carson will return to the ballroom with Guillermo Rodriguez, the long-time Jimmy Kimmel Live! personality. Carson revealed the partnership during an appearance on Good Morning America on August 17.
The announcement gives viewers an early look at one of the couples competing when the ABC dance competition returns this fall.
Witney Carson Will Dance With Guillermo Rodriguez
Carson confirmed that Rodriguez will be her celebrity partner for the upcoming season.
The professional dancer said she was excited about the pairing and described Rodriguez as fun and personable. She also joked about their different lifestyles, adding a light-hearted note to the announcement.
For Rodriguez, the partnership marks a major step from his familiar role on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to the Dancing With the Stars ballroom.
He previously confirmed his participation during an appearance on the late-night show. That made him one of the early celebrities announced for Season 35.
Witney Carson Returns After Another Mirrorball Win
Carson enters Season 35 with plenty of experience.
She previously won the competition with Alfonso Ribeiro and most recently captured the Season 34 Mirrorball Trophy alongside wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin. ABC lists Irwin as Carson’s Season 34 celebrity partner.
Carson originally joined the Dancing With the Stars troupe in 2013 before becoming a professional dancer the following year.
Her return is particularly notable because she will compete while expecting another child with her husband, Carson McAllister.
During her Good Morning America appearance, Carson acknowledged that dancing while pregnant presents a new challenge for her. She said she is excited about the experience while also recognising that it feels daunting because she has never competed this far along in a pregnancy before.
Guillermo Rodriguez Joins the Season 35 Lineup
Rodriguez is bringing a very different kind of entertainment background to the competition.
Best known for his work alongside Jimmy Kimmel, he has become a recognisable television personality through Jimmy Kimmel Live! His move into ballroom competition gives Season 35 another celebrity with a strong comedic and entertainment presence.
His participation was announced earlier in 2026, while other celebrities have also been revealed ahead of the full cast announcement.
ABC has confirmed that Ciara Miller, Maura Higgins and Jackson Olson are among the other celebrities announced for the season.
That means viewers already have several recognisable personalities to watch before the complete lineup is unveiled.
When Will the Full Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Cast Be Announced?
Fans will not have to wait much longer for the complete cast.
ABC says the full group of celebrity contestants and professional dancers will be announced on Good Morning America on Wednesday, September 2.
The announcement is expected to provide a clearer picture of the couples who will compete for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
Meanwhile, ABC has already begun building anticipation for the professional dancer lineup through Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, which follows dancers competing for a professional spot on Season 35.
When Does Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Premiere?
Dancing With the Stars Season 35 is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, on ABC and Disney+.
ABC’s fall schedule also lists a special second-night episode for Wednesday, September 16.
Episodes will also be available to stream the following day on Hulu, according to ABC’s Season 35 announcement.
The new season therefore has plenty of changes and storylines for viewers to follow, from Carson’s return as a reigning champion to Rodriguez’s first ballroom challenge.
Why This Season Could Be Especially Interesting
The Carson-Rodriguez pairing brings together two performers with very different strengths.
Carson has years of ballroom experience and already knows what it takes to reach the top of the competition. Rodriguez, meanwhile, comes from a comedy and television background rather than professional dance.
That contrast could make their progress one of the storylines to watch once rehearsals and live performances begin.
Carson also has the added challenge of competing during her pregnancy, making her Season 35 return different from her previous appearances.
For fans, the combination of a reigning champion, a first-time celebrity competitor and an expanding cast makes the countdown to the premiere particularly interesting.
Dancing With the Stars Season 35: What We Know So Far
Here are the key details currently confirmed:
- Professional dancer: Witney Carson
- Carson’s celebrity partner: Guillermo Rodriguez
- Season: 35
- Full cast announcement: September 2 on Good Morning America
- Season premiere: September 15, 2026
- Additional premiere-night episode: September 16
- Network/streaming: ABC and Disney+
- Next-day streaming: Hulu
- Previously announced celebrities: Ciara Miller, Maura Higgins and Jackson Olson
As more couples are revealed, the competition should become easier to predict. For now, Carson and Rodriguez are officially one of the first partnerships fans can start watching.