Is Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas really joining Dancing with the Stars next season? A recent report suggested Ballas might join the stateside panel, but she’s actually in talks to appear on a spin-off show.
Is Shirley Ballas Joining Dancing with the Stars?
For those who may not know, Shirley Ballas has served as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing, the UK version of Dancing with the Stars, since 2017. She is the mother of Mark Ballas, an on-and-off professional dancer on DWTS.
Earlier this week, the X (formerly Twitter) account Super TV shared that Ballas would reportedly be a judge on the upcoming 35th season of DWTS. However, the account later clarified that Ballas is actually in talks to serve as a judge on a spin-off show — pointing to a misleading headline from The Sun.
Deadline reports that a DWTS spin-off is currently in the works which will focus on finding a new professional dancer for the series. Season 34 winner Robert Irwin is reportedly in talks to host the show, with Mark and Shirley Ballas potentially sitting on the judging panel.
The third judging slot is expected to be rotating, with a different person filling the seat each week. The new series is currently titled Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, and is expected to stream this summer on Hulu, with the winning pro joining Season 35 in the fall.
SEE ALSO: MARK BALLAS TOOK ‘DANCING WITH THE STARS’ JUDGING ‘VERY SERIOUSLY’
DWTS Just Announced an Upcoming Convention
The reported spin-off show isn’t the only exciting news about Dancing with the Stars to come out this week. It was also just announced that the show will be hosting a fan convention this summer in Palm Springs.
The three-day experience will take place from July 31 to August 2, 2026. In addition to two live shows, the event will also feature photo ops and behind-the-scenes displays, as well as panels with the people involved in the show.
Several DWTS pros will be in attendance, as well as judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli. Additionally, past celebrity contestants will also make appearances — including Season 34 stars Danielle Fishel, Elaine Hendrix, and Whitney Leavitt.
Check out the convention website for more information.
