Dancing with the Stars Season 35 Announces First Cast Members: Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller

Dancing with the Stars is set to return for its 35th season this fall, and the first two celebrity contestants have been officially revealed. On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, during Hulu’s Get Real House event in Los Angeles, the demonstrate announced that Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller will compete in the upcoming season.

Both women are well-known figures from reality television, with backgrounds that include high-profile appearances on competitive dating and social experiment series.

Who Are the Latest Dancing with the Stars Contestants?

Maura Higgins: Love Island Alum and Traitors Finalist

Maura Higgins, a 35-year-old reality star from Ballymahon, Ireland, first gained prominence as a contestant on Love Island UK. She later appeared on Love Island USA: Aftersun and Love Island Games: Aftersun as a host. Most recently, Higgins was a finalist on The Traitors Season 4, where she was famously betrayed by her close friend and fellow player Rob Rausch, who was revealed to be a Traitor.

Higgins has expressed enthusiasm about joining Dancing with the Stars, calling it a long-held goal. She told USA TODAY that she manifested the opportunity, placing it on her vision board and turning down offers from other dance competitions—including the Irish and UK versions of the show—to focus on landing a spot on the American version.

Regarding her readiness, Higgins joked that she has “two left feet” and plans to rest until rehearsals begin in August, saying she doesn’t want to overexert herself before training starts. She also mentioned hoping to be paired with longtime pro dancer Mark Ballas, who competed against her on The Traitors.

Ciara Miller: Summer House Star and Former ICU Nurse

Ciara Miller is best known as a cast member on Bravo’s Summer House. Before her reality TV career, she worked as an ICU nurse. Miller also appeared on The Traitors, competing one season before Higgins.

She shared her excitement about joining the show in a video message, saying she felt it was the perfect moment to start a new chapter. Miller expressed eagerness to share the dance floor with Higgins, referring to her as a “fellow Faithful” from their time on The Traitors.

What to Expect from Dancing with the Stars Season 35

The full cast and professional dancer pairings for Season 35 will be announced at a later date. The season is scheduled to premiere this fall on ABC and Disney+, with new episodes streaming the following day on Hulu.

Last season, Season 34, concluded with a record-breaking 72 million votes cast during the finale. Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin and his partner Witney Carson won the mirrorball trophy, defeating finalists Alix Earle, Jordan Chiles, Dylan Efron, and Elaine Hendrix.

Season 35 continues the show’s trend of casting recognizable personalities from recent reality hits, particularly those with ties to The Traitors and Love Island franchises.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Dancing with the Stars Season 35 premiere?

Dancing with the Stars Season 35 is set to premiere this fall on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available to stream on Hulu the day after broadcast. An exact premiere date has not yet been announced.

Who are the professional dancers for Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller?

As of the initial announcement on April 22, 2026, the professional dance partners for Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller have not been revealed. The full list of celebrity-pro pairings will be shared closer to the season’s premiere.

Where was the cast announcement made?

The first two contestants for Dancing with the Stars Season 35 were announced during Hulu’s Get Real House Live event in Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

Key Takeaways

• Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller are the first official cast members announced for Dancing with the Stars Season 35.
• Both women appeared on The Traitors—Higgins as a Season 4 finalist and Miller as a Season 3 competitor.
• The season will air this fall on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming on Hulu.
• Rehearsals are expected to begin in August, ahead of the fall premiere.
• The professional dancer pairings and full cast will be announced at a later date.