"Dancing with the Stars" fans got the confirmation they had been speculating about for weeks: Sharna Burgess is officially returning to the ballroom for Season 35, marking her first competitive season on the show since Season 30 back in 2021. Burgess revealed the news on "Good Morning America" earlier this week, telling viewers "I'm back! Some of you guys guessed it," before adding that it "feels so good to be coming home" — a nod to the show that made her one of its most recognizable professional dancers over 14 previous seasons.

Her return ends a five-year hiatus from the competition series, during which Burgess made only a brief cameo appearance in 2024 for the show's 500th episode celebration but did not compete as part of the regular cast. Season 35 will now mark her return to full competitive duty, partnered with a celebrity contestant who has not yet been revealed.

A Veteran Presence Rejoins a Growing Pro Roster

Burgess is the second professional dancer confirmed for Season 35, following Witney Carson, who was the first pro announced ahead of this season's cast reveal. The two additions signal that "Dancing with the Stars" is leaning on established, fan-favorite talent as it builds out its roster for the new season, rather than relying solely on newer professionals to anchor the ballroom. According to reporting from Us Weekly and Just Jared, the full cast lineup — including which celebrities will be announced as this season's contestants — will be revealed on "Good Morning America" on September 2, 2026.

Burgess's history with the show runs deep. She first joined "Dancing with the Stars" more than a decade ago and has competed across 14 seasons, becoming one of the franchise's most enduring pros. Her personal life became entwined with the show's storylines as well: she was partnered with actor Brian Austin Green during her run, and the two later became a couple, a relationship arc that made her one of the more closely followed personalities in the franchise's history even outside the competition itself.

Why the Timing Matters

Burgess's announcement comes at a moment when "Dancing with the Stars" has been actively refreshing its pro lineup season over season, mixing longtime veterans with newer talent to keep the ballroom's chemistry fresh for audiences who have followed the franchise for more than a decade. Her five-year absence means an entirely new generation of viewers has come to the show without having seen her compete, making her return as much an introduction to newer fans as a homecoming for longtime ones.

The show's decision to confirm pros individually in the weeks leading up to the full cast reveal — rather than unveiling the entire roster at once — has also become part of the promotional rhythm for recent seasons, generating sustained media coverage and fan speculation in the run-up to the September 2 reveal. Burgess's confirmation, paired with Carson's, gives the show two proven, experienced dancers locked in before the celebrity cast and remaining pro-celebrity pairings are announced.

What's Next for Season 35

With the full cast reveal just days away, speculation is already building over which celebrity Burgess might be partnered with, and how the show will balance its now-confirmed veteran pros against whatever new talent or additional returning names get announced before September 2. For a franchise that has leaned heavily on nostalgia and long-tenured personalities to sustain viewer interest deep into its run, bringing back a pro as established as Burgess suggests producers are betting on familiar faces to anchor a season that will otherwise be defined by a fresh crop of celebrity contestants.

Season 35 premiere details, including the full pro and celebrity pairings, are expected to follow the September 2 cast reveal, giving fans a complete picture of what promises to be one of the more heavily anticipated seasons in the show's recent history.