Robert Irwin Dwts Spinoff Host Lands July 13 ABC Debut
Robert Irwin will step in as the robert irwin dwts spinoff host when Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro premieres on ABC on July 13, 2026. The new series expands the franchise with a search for the next pro dancer, putting a season 34 winner at the center of the launch.
July 13 on ABC
The premiere date gives ABC a clear summer entry for a new DWTS format, and the spinoff is designed to feed the parent show with fresh talent for season 35. That makes the show less of a side project than a pipeline: one series is now built to supply the other.
Robert Irwin said, “I am so excited to be back with my ballroom family to host this new era of DWTS,” after he and Witney Carson won season 34. His role shifts from champion to frontman, which is a cleaner franchise move than hiring an outside face who would need to be introduced from scratch.
Mark Ballas and Shirley Ballas
Mark Ballas and Shirley Ballas are set to judge the new spinoff, giving the series two familiar names from the ballroom side of the brand. The official promo also invited viewers to join host @robertirwinphotography for Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, a direct sign that the launch is being marketed around Irwin himself.
During the Dancing With the Stars live tour, Irwin and Carson made a detour to reveal the announcement. On Instagram, Irwin wrote, “It's a journey to the ballroom like never before. ?”
Season 35 Next
The spinoff’s job is narrower than the main series: find the show’s next pro dancer for season 35. Ezra Sosa, Jenna Johnson, and Britt Stewart all reacted positively in the comments, with Sosa writing “THIS IS MAJOR,” Johnson posting “Sooooo excited for this ???,” and Stewart adding “?? can’t wait for this!!”
For viewers, the practical takeaway is simple: ABC is not just extending the brand, it is turning the franchise into a development path, and Irwin is the person carrying that pitch into July 13.
