The reigning champion will serve as host of spinoff “The Next Pro.”

Dancing With the Stars winner Robert Irwin is returning — in a new role

The reigning champion will serve as host of spinoff "The Next Pro."

By Derek Lawrence

Derek Lawrence

Derek Lawrence is a former associate editor at **. He left EW in 2022.

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April 23, 2026 1:59 p.m. ET

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Witney Carson and Robert Irwin on 'Dancing with the Stars'. Credit:

Disney/Eric McCandless

- Dancers will compete for a spot on *Dancing With the Stars* in the new spinoff *The Next Pro*.

- Former winner Robert Irwin will host the series.

- *DWTS* pro Mark Ballas and his mother Shirley are confirmed as judges.

The reigning champion of *Dancing With the Stars* is ready to help find the next pro.

Robert Irwin, who won the most recent season, will serve as the host of the spinoff competition series *Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro*.

Premiering July 13 on ABC, *The Next Pro *will follow 12 up-and-coming dancers as they move into the same house and participate in a grueling audition process in hopes of being selected as one of the dancers on season 35 of *DWTS,* which is set to air this fall.

Longtime *DWTS* dancer and three-time winner Mark Ballas will serve as a judge alongside his mom, Shirley Ballas, a.k.a. "the Queen of Latin."

Robert Irwin shares how 'DWTS' brought him closer to late dad Steve Irwin

Russell Crowe says late pal Steve Irwin would be 'in awe of his son' Robert Irwin on 'DWTS'

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In November, Irwin and partner Witney Carson were crowned the champions of season 34, the second victory for the Irwin family after his older sister Bindi took home the trophy in season 21. The 22-year-old conservationist previously spoke about honoring his late father, *Crocodile Hunter* host Steve Irwin.

"Continuing his legacy has now meant we're able to write our own story, and I'm able to create my own legacy," he said. "I hope in everything I do to make him proud, and I'm just so grateful that I got to live out this dream."

*Summer House*'s Ciara Miller and *Love Island*'s Maura Higgins were recently announced as the first two contestants on* DWTS* season 35.

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW TV”