Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars put ABC’s ballroom dancing show back in the running for an Emmy.
For the first time in ten years, DWTS was nominated for Outstanding Reality Competition Program at the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards. It scored four other nominations in technical categories.
DWTS’s competition is RuPaul’s Drag Race, Survivor, Top Chef, and The Traitors US.
Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars delivered the show’s highest ratings in 10 years. Fans reportedly cast 72 million votes during the live finale alone, with nearly half a billion votes submitted throughout the season, according to PEOPLE.
Hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, season 34 featured judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli. The cast included Jen Affleck, Hilaria Baldwin, Jordan Chiles, Alix Earle, Dylan Efron, Corey Feldman, Danielle Fishel, Robert Irwin, Whitney Leavitt, and Andy Richter.
The Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy was awarded to wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin and DWTS pro Witney Carson.
Across the show’s 34 seasons, Dancing with the Stars has earned more than 132 Emmy nominations and 21 wins. In recent years, much of that recognition has come in technical and creative categories. Thanks to a remarkable season, DWTS is back in the running for the marquee Outstanding Reality Competition Program title.
