Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro

Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro is heading into production for ABC and Hulu, marking the franchise's first major expansion since 2005. The competition series will feature twelve up-and-coming dancers living and training together as they compete through a grueling audition process to land a spot on the flagship show's thirty-fifth season. Season 34 Mirrorball champion Robert Irwin hosts, with judges Mark Ballas—a three-time DWTS champion—and his mother Shirley Ballas, head judge of Strictly Come Dancing in the U.K. A rotating panel of past DWTS pros will serve as guest mentors and judges each week. BBC Studios produces, with Conrad Green as showrunner and executive producer. The series premieres July 13, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, with next-day streaming on Hulu, capitalizing on the main show's record-breaking Season 34 viewership.