Overview
- The series premiered on Monday, July 13, with judges testing jive and samba technique and eliminating the weakest pair in the first episode.
- Season 34 champion Robert Irwin hosts while Mark Ballas and Shirley Ballas serve as the main judges and rotating DWTS pros join as weekly mentors and guest judges, including Derek Hough for the premiere.
- Pro dancers live together in a shared house and face weekly challenges that measure choreography, partnership, teaching and performance skills required of a DWTS pro.
- The ultimate prize is a pro slot on Dancing With the Stars Season 35, which is scheduled for fall 2026, and new Next Pro episodes air Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT with next-day streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
- Filmed at the Queensland Ballet facility in Brisbane to accommodate Irwin and production needs, the show reflects ABC’s strategy to spotlight professional dancers and could raise the profile and career opportunities for contestants.