As Dancing with the Stars prepares for its Season 35 premiere on ABC and Disney+ this September 15, 2026, the ballroom’s professional roster is undergoing a shake-up. Gleb Savchenko is notably absent from the celebrity-pairing lineup, joining other sidelined pros as executive producers Deena Katz, Conrad Green, and Rob Mills finalize the shifting cast.
The Bottom Line
- The Premiere Date: Season 35 officially debuts on September 15, 2026, across ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming on Hulu.
- Notable Absences: Pro Gleb Savchenko is sitting out celebrity pairings this season, while Sasha Farber and Lindsay Arnold remain off the roster.
- New Blood: Hailey Bills is promoted from the troupe to partner Sarah Jane Nader in the second all-female pairing in DWTS history, alongside fellow debutant Adele Zaikman.
Inside the Season 35 Pro Roster Shift
The machinery behind the dance competition is fluid. According to host Alfonso Ribeiro, professional dancers often learn their official status mere weeks before the celebrity cast hits the public stage on programs like Good Morning America. Speaking exclusively to Us Weekly in September 2025, Ribeiro explained that pairings continue to evolve right up until the final hours before the partners meet face-to-face.
While returning veterans such as reigning mirrorball champion Witney Carson, Val Chmerkovskiy, Rylee Arnold, Sharna Burgess, and Ezra Sosa are locked in to teach their celebrity partners how to cha-cha, the absence of several prominent choreographers has sparked chatter. Chief among them is Gleb Savchenko.
Gleb Savchenko Addresses His Ballroom Absence
Savchenko, who first joined the U.S. flagship series in Season 16 back in 2013 alongside Lisa Vanderpump and competed with Hilaria Baldwin in Season 34, will not be assigned a celebrity partner for Season 35. Following the official cast reveal, the 42-year-old dancer took to social media to reassure fans that he is doing well.
“Guys, you can stop telling me you’re sorry, I’m good,” Savchenko shared in an Instagram video recorded near a pool, adding in his caption, “Nothing but love and gratitude for all the years in that ballroom. Excited for this next chapter — and wishing everyone an amazing season.”
Beyond the ballroom, Savchenko has been exploring alternative performance avenues. The dancer has dipped his toes into acting, recently filming a vertical drama titled Swallow Me Like a Sin where he portrays a mafia king, signaling a pivot toward on-screen dramatic work.
The Bench and the New Generation: Who Else is Sitting Out
Savchenko is not the only familiar face missing from the dance floor this autumn. Sasha Farber, who has been absent from the pro lineup since Season 33 in 2024, remains off the roster. Addressing fans in a TikTok comment, Farber coyly hinted that the omission was “not [his] choice.”
Meanwhile, Lindsay Arnold continues her hiatus from the franchise to focus on her young family with husband Sam Cusick. Arnold, whose sister Rylee is paired with influencer Connor Wood for Season 35, noted that embracing her daughters’ school routines and caring for her infant son takes precedence.
As older vets step back, the franchise is injecting fresh talent into the mix. Hailey Bills has officially graduated from the troupe to partner Sarah Jane Nader, creating the second all-female pairing in the history of the show. Joining her is Adele Zaikman, who secured her professional slot by winning the inaugural season of the competition series Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro. Zaikman is set to partner with Conner Leavitt when the lights go up on September 15.
| Dancer Status | Key Names | Notes / Celebrity Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Returning Pros | Witney Carson, Val Chmerkovskiy, Rylee Arnold, Sharna Burgess, Ezra Sosa, Alan Bersten, Pasha Pashkov | Witney returns as reigning champion; Ezra is paired with Save the Last Dance actress Julia Stiles. |
| New Additions | Hailey Bills, Adele Zaikman | Bills promoted from troupe (partnering Sarah Jane Nader); Zaikman won The Next Pro (partnering Conner Leavitt). |
| Notable Absences | Gleb Savchenko, Sasha Farber, Lindsay Arnold | Savchenko pursuing acting ventures; Arnold focusing on family; Farber absent from the active roster. |
The Cultural Ripple Effect of Reality TV Re-Casting
As the countdown to the Season 35 premiere narrows down to days, the pressure shifts onto the new pairings to deliver the ratings magic that executive producers Katz, Green, and Mills have engineered. Whether the audience embraces the structural shake-up remains to be seen once the music finally starts.
What do you think of the new pro lineup for Season 35? Are you ready to see how the all-female pairings shake up the competition, or will you miss seeing Gleb Savchenko and Sasha Farber on the dance floor? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
