‘Dwts’ Season 35 Premiere Gets A Bold Two-Night Elimination Twist

Premiere Dates and a Major Format Shakeup

Dancing With the Stars Season 35 is sashaying back into the ballroom on Tuesday, September 15 and Wednesday, September 16. This year brings a sharper edge to opening night — producers will eliminate contestants during the two-night premiere, a notable change from recent seasons.

Hulu’s Get Real podcast helped break the news that the first week won’t be a warm-up round. Instead of protecting the cast after splitting the field across two nights, the show will send home one male and one female celebrity at the end of the premiere week.

Two eliminations — a throwback move

“This is the first time since 2018 that one male celebrity and one female celebrity will be sent home after the two-night premiere,” podcast host Amanda Hirsch confirmed on the show. That return-to-form moment raises the stakes immediately and sets a tense tone for the competition.

Professional dancer Mark Ballas acknowledged the uneven-feeling setup on the same podcast, noting the split cast creates a different kind of pressure for competitors who won’t get to face the entire field right away.

“Viewers will see a very different opening — and competitors will have to rethink how they approach week one.”

Who’s Dancing When – Meet Night One and Night Two

Producers have split the cast by gender for the two premiere nights, which means Tuesday and Wednesday will each have their own energy and expectations. Tuesday’s episode spotlights the men, while Wednesday showcases the women — and each group knows one of them will be leaving early.

Tuesday night – The men taking the floor

On Tuesday viewers will see Bachelorette alum Tyler Cameron, Paralympian Ezra French, singer Taylor Hanson, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Conner Leavitt, Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olsen, Jimmy Kimmel Live star Guillermo Rodriguez, actor Harry Shum Jr., and influencer Connor Wood. They’ll be dancing with pros and fighting to avoid being the one male sent home after the premiere week.

This male-heavy night should feel competitive from the start – several contestants bring entertainment backgrounds that could make early judging and audience votes interesting.

Wednesday night – The women’s big debut

Wednesday will spotlight Maura Higgins, actress Julia Stiles, reality personality Sarah Jane Nader, Summer House star Ciara Miller, Olympian Amber Glenn, actress Jenna Dewan, chef Giada De Laurentiis, and actress Tatyana Ali. Each woman will perform with a pro and face the same high-stakes elimination at the week’s end.

For viewers, that means two distinct episodes and two separate casts competing — and two celebrities gone by the time the next episode airs.

Reaction and the ‘Experienced Dancer’ Debate

Since the cast reveal, fans have been vocal about the season’s dance experience mix. Several competitors have clear dance backgrounds — like Jenna Dewan and Harry Shum Jr. — and that’s drawn criticism from viewers who worry the playing field isn’t level.

Jenna Dewan pushes back on assumptions

Critics pointed to Dewan’s past as a breakout Step Up star and a former backup dancer for Janet Jackson. She’s been upfront about that history, but also quick to clarify the difference between her past work and ballroom technique.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Dewan explained that ballroom is a whole new language and that she’s had to unlearn some habits from other dance styles to adapt. She’s partnered with Val Chmerkovskiy this season and will perform her first dance on Wednesday, September 16.

Are you planning to tune in to Dancing With the Stars this season? Drop your thoughts on X and see how other fans feel about the early exits, the gender-split premiere, and the cast’s mix of pros and entertainers.