Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro

Last updated

Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro
Genre Reality competition
Based on Dancing with the Stars
Presented by Robert Irwin
Judges
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
  • Conrad Green
  • Ryan O'Dowd
  • Krystal Whitney
  • Alex Cross
  • Jenny Groom
Production locations Queensland, Australia
Production company BBC Studios
Original release
Network ABC

Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro (commonly referred to as The Next Pro) is an upcoming American reality competition television series scheduled to premiere on July 13, 2026, on ABC. [1] [2] It is a spin-off of the competition series Dancing with the Stars , which is based on the British contest show Strictly Come Dancing . [1]

Contents

The series will feature twelve up-and-coming professional dancers living and training together who will compete in an audition process to determine who will join the flagship series as a pro. [3]

Cast

Host and judges

Robert Irwin, who won the thirty-fourth season of Dancing with the Stars , will host the series. [4] Mark Ballas, three-time mirrorball champion, and his mother Shirley Ballas, head judge of Strictly Come Dancing , will appear as judges. [5] A third judges slot is expected to be filled with a rotating judge each week. [6]

Contestants

A casting call for BBC Studios, who were searching for "standout dancers with world-class technique, star quality, and the ability to light up a stage," was published on social media by The Voice 's casting manager Lissette Pinon in October 2025. [7] Fan speculation emerged when current and former Dancing with the Stars pros began teasing their involvement in an undisclosed project; which was later revealed to be a fan convention for the main series. [7] [8]

Television advertisements featuring the twelve contestants were released on April 22, 2026. [9]

Cast of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro
Dancer [9] AgeHometownDance style(s)StatusRef.
Jake Monreal22 Miami, Florida Ballroom Participating
Briar Nolet 27 Oakville, Ontario, Canada Contemporary Participating
AJ Pritchard 31 Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England Latin Participating
Stephani Sosa26 Provo, Utah Ballroom Participating

Filming

Filming commenced in Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, Australia, in late February 2026, [7] [10] which allowed Irwin to maintain his commitments to Australia Zoo. [11] Brandon Armstrong, Jenna Johnson, Daniella Karagach and Britt Stewart—all of whom were performing on the Dancing with the Stars Live! tour—missed select performances on rotating schedules throughout March to participate in an undisclosed project. [12] Rylee Arnold, who stepped away as a full-time tour member for health purposes, filled in for the pros before she flew to Brisbane for the project. [13]

Production reportedly wrapped in April 2026. [14]

Reception

Josef Adalian of Vulture described Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro as a "win-win-win situation for Disney. Not only does ABC get new programming for its reality-centric summer schedule, but the spinoff itself will serve as months-long promo for the fall season of Dancing with the Stars while also extending the footprint of one of the network’s most popular programs beyond the fall." [5]

References

  1. 1 2 "Dancing with the Stars Expands Hit Franchise with a New Competition Series, Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, Coming to ABC and Hulu" (Press release). ABC. April 22, 2026. Archived from the original on April 23, 2026. Retrieved April 23, 2026– via Disney General Entertainment Content Press.
  2. ↑ Campione, Katie (April 22, 2026). "Dancing With The Stars: The Next Pro Spinoff Premiere Confirmed: Watch Trailer". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on April 22, 2026. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  3. ↑ Longeretta, Emily (February 12, 2026). "Dancing With the Stars Sets Spinoff Series to Find Next Pro, Robert Irwin Eyed to Host". Variety . Archived from the original on February 14, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  4. ↑ Patton, Tess (February 12, 2026). "Dancing With the Stars Spinoff to Find the Next Pro Set at ABC for Summer Launch" . TheWrap . Archived from the original on February 12, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Adalian, Josef (February 12, 2026). "Dancing With the Stars Is Getting a New Spinoff" . Vulture . Archived from the original on February 14, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  6. ↑ Campione, Katie (February 12, 2026). "Dancing With The Stars Spinoff Series To Find New Ballroom Pro In The Works At Hulu; Robert Irwin In Talks To Host". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on February 12, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 Galante, Grace (February 10, 2026). "DWTS Reportedly Planning Spin-Off Series to Find Next Pro Dancer". Parade . Archived from the original on February 7, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  8. ↑ Longeretta, Emily (February 10, 2026). "Dancing With the Stars Announces First-Ever Fan Convention With 17 Pros and 14 Former Celeb Contestants". Variety . Archived from the original on February 10, 2026. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  9. 1 2 Elpers, Shelby (April 23, 2026). "Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro Is an Intriguing Answer to the Renewed Popularity of Dancing with the Stars". Fangirlish. Archived from the original on April 23, 2026. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  10. ↑ Billen, Andrew (April 10, 2026). "Shirley Ballas: 'I don't want a boyfriend — I'm better on my own'". The Times . Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  11. ↑ Knox, David (March 11, 2026). "Rumour: Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro for Queensland?". TV Tonight . Archived from the original on March 11, 2026. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  12. ↑ Galante, Grace (March 1, 2026). "DWTS Live Tour Announces Major Cast Shakeup". Parade . Archived from the original on March 1, 2026. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  13. ↑ Galante, Grace (March 1, 2026). "Fan-Favorite Pro to Join DWTS Live Tour". Parade . Archived from the original on March 4, 2026. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  14. ↑ O'Rouke, Jill (April 12, 2026). "DWTS Insider Talks Spin-Off Show The Next Pro". Talent Recap. Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
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