Dancing With The Stars : The Next Pro Trailer

Disney dropped a trailer on May 27, 2026, for a brand-new competition spin-off that has fans of the dance franchise buzzing. Dancing with the Stars : The Next Pro is on its way, and the preview makes one thing clear : this isn't your typical reality TV setup.

A spin-off that ups the ante for aspiring dancers

Twelve up-and-coming dancers move into a single house together — and the competition begins immediately. The premise is simple but intense : every contestant fights for one of the coveted spots as a pro dancer on Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars. No celebrity partners, no safety net. Just raw talent going head-to-head through a grueling audition process that will separate serious contenders from hopefuls.

The show brings in Robert Irwin as host — yes, the wildlife conservationist and son of the legendary Steve Irwin. Irwin isn't just a famous face here : he's the Season 34 Len Goodman Mirrorball Champion, which gives him genuine credibility on the dance floor. It's a smart casting choice that connects the spin-off directly to its parent show.

On the judges' side, Mark Ballas steps in as a key figure. A three-time Mirrorball champion himself, Ballas knows better than anyone what it takes to perform at the highest level. He'll be joined by his mother, Shirley Ballas — widely known as "The Queen of Latin" — bringing decades of competitive dance expertise to the panel. That mother-son dynamic alone adds an interesting layer to the judging table.

Beyond the permanent judges, a rotating lineup of returning pros will serve as both mentors and guest judges throughout the season. This format keeps things fresh week to week and gives the twelve contestants access to a wide range of coaching styles and competitive experience — exactly the kind of exposure you'd want if you're trying to land a spot on a major network show.

Dates, platforms and production details

July 13, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET/PT — mark that date. That's when Dancing with the Stars : The Next Pro officially premieres on ABC. Episodes drop on Hulu and Hulu On Disney+ the following day, which means you won't need to catch it live to stay in the loop. For anyone tracking where to stream the show, it'll be available across both Hulu's standalone platform and its Disney+ integration.

Here's a quick overview of the key broadcast details :

BBC Studios handles production, with Conrad Green as showrunner and executive producer. The full production team includes Ryan O'Dowd, Krystal Whitney, Alex Cross, and Jenny Groom as executive producers, alongside Deena Katz and Quinn Lipton as co-executive producers. That's a substantial team behind a spin-off, which signals that Disney and ABC aren't treating this as a minor experiment — they're investing seriously in the format.

Here's the official trailer, released by Disney :

[YouTube trailer embed — Dancing with the Stars : The Next Pro official trailer]

What this means for the DWTS franchise and Season 35

This spin-off isn't just a standalone show — it feeds directly into the main series. The winner earns a pro slot on Season 35, which creates genuine stakes. Fans who want to follow the full arc from competition to main cast should keep a close eye on how this plays out. If you're curious about who else will appear in the upcoming season, the Dancing with the Stars Season 35 contestants have already been revealed.

The concept borrows from a well-established reality TV playbook — think talent competition meets elimination house format — but the dance-specific angle makes it stand out. Most dance competitions focus on celebrity participants; this one flips the script entirely by spotlighting the professionals themselves.

• 12 dancers competing for a single pro spot
• Shared living arrangement adding social dynamics to the mix
• Rotating mentor-judges drawn from established DWTS pros
• Direct pipeline to Season 35 of the main show
• Simulcast strategy across ABC, Hulu, and Disney+

From a streaming standpoint, the next-day availability on Hulu is a practical win for viewers who don't watch live broadcast TV. The Hulu On Disney+ integration also means subscribers to the Disney bundle won't need an extra subscription to watch — that's worth knowing if you're already tracking your platform costs.

One angle worth watching : how the rotating mentor system actually works on screen. Guest judges who also function as coaches create an unusual power dynamic — the very people evaluating contestants may have trained them weeks earlier. That tension could make for compelling television, or it could blur the lines of fairness. Either way, it gives the format a distinctive edge that standard elimination shows rarely attempt.