Season 26 Overview and Cast
Dancing with the Stars 2018, officially titled Season 26, premiered on April 30, 2018, on ABC. The season featured a cast of celebrities and professional dancers competing in weekly ballroom and Latin-style routines. The lineup included athletes, actors, and public figures paired with pros from the show's rotating roster. Each week, couples performed themed dances and received scores from a panel of judges.
The professional dancers for Season 26 included veterans such as Witney Carson, Alan Bersten, and Sharna Burgess, alongside returning pros and new additions. Cast members were announced in early 2018, with the full lineup revealed before the premiere. The season followed the standard format of live performances, audience voting, and eliminations each week.
Scoring System and Weekly Results
Each performance was judged on a 30-point scale by a panel of three professional judges. Scores were combined with public votes to determine the bottom two couples each week. The show used a cumulative scoring system that ranked couples throughout the season, with the lowest combined score leading to elimination.
Throughout the season, the highest scores were often achieved in Latin and freestyle routines, while lower scores were common in quickstep and jive. Weekly results were influenced by both technical execution and audience engagement. The final weeks of the competition narrowed the field to the top four couples, who vied for the mirrorball trophy.
Winner and Final Results
The season finale aired on May 21, 2018, when the final standings were determined by a combination of judges' scores and viewer votes. The winning couple was crowned based on their highest cumulative performance across the season. The runner-up and third-place finishers were also announced during the live broadcast.
After the finale, the winning couple received the Dancing with the Stars mirrorball trophy and a title for the season. The results were reported by ABC and covered by entertainment news outlets, including detailed recaps and interviews with the finalists. The season concluded the 2018 cycle of the show, setting the stage for subsequent seasons.