‘Dancing with the Stars’ was nominated in five categories, including Outstanding Reality Competition Program
NEED TO KNOW
- Alfonso Ribeiro is celebrating Dancing with the Stars’ latest milestone
- Ahead of its 35th season premiere, Ribeiro spoke with PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly at the Emmy Awards red carpet
- “We’re very excited,” he says of the show’s five nominations
Alfonso Ribeiro is a proud host.
The Dancing with the Stars host, 54, spoke with PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly on the Emmys red carpet on Monday, Sept. 14, as he reflected on the magnitude of DWTS being nominated for Outstanding Reality Competition Program.
The recognition marks the first time the ABC series has been nominated in the category since 2016.
“We’re very excited,” he says. “First time in 10 years to be nominated again as a show and so it’s a great time. My first time being part of the show [during the recognition] obviously, I wasn’t around 10 years ago.”
Ribeiro adds, “But it’s really wonderful for the Academy here to acknowledge what we’ve been doing. I think we’ve been doing an incredible job. We’re one of the few truly live shows to be able to be nominated. I always like to say, ‘You can build a great performance in the editing room. But you can’t do it when you’re live on air.’ So it’s been really cool and really fun to see the new energy that Dancing with the Stars has created.”
Credit: Todd Williamson/NBC via Getty
Ribeiro, who began his run as DWTS co-host in July 2022 for the show’s 31st season, is now approaching season 35 with Julianne Hough by his side. As for what he can tease about the new season, which kicks off its two-day premiere on Tuesday, Sept. 15, Ribeiro doesn’t want to “give away too much.”
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“I think the frontrunners are always going to be the frontrunners, you know, from their regular career. The Jenna Dewan’s, the Julia Stiles’, the Harry Shum Jr.’s. You know what they’re gonna be,” he teases. “But there are a few there, also, on top of them who are absolutely incredible.”
After mentioning new pros joining the crew, Ribeiro promised “really wonderful routines” to kick off the season.
In total, DWTS has been nominated for 132 Emmy Awards since 2006, winning 21 of them. In 2026, it was nominated in the following categories: Outstanding Hairstyling for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program, Outstanding Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program, Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork for a Series, Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Series and, of course, Outstanding Reality Competition Program.
Other nominees in the category include RuPaul’s Drag Race, Survivor, Top Chef and The Traitors.
Dancing with the Stars returns for season 35 with a two-night premiere Tuesday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.
Mariska Hargitay is hosting the 78th Emmy Awards on Monday, Sept. 14, from 8 to 11 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
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