As the next cast of dancers vie for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, the 2026 Dancing with the Stars odds for season 35 are available. Who are the top contenders to steal the spotlight, and who is the best bet on the board?
In this betting preview, I explore the winner odds, analyze the top favorites, and share my Dancing with the Stars predictions.
Dancing with the Stars Odds for Season 35 (UPDATED WEEKLY)
| DANCER | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Ezra Frech | -140 |
| Maura Higgins | +500 |
| Amber Glenn | +550 |
| Harry Shum Jr. | +650 |
| Jenna Dewan | +1500 |
| Jackson Olson | +3000 |
| Connor Wood | +3000 |
| Guillermo Rodriguez | +4000 |
| Julia Stiles | +4500 |
| Tatyana Ali | +5500 |
| Tyler Cameron | +6000 |
According to top Dancing with the Stars betting sites, Ezra Frech (-140) remains the clear favorite to win Season 35. Frech has continued to separate himself from the field after making a major move up the betting board, with his latest price giving him an implied probability of 58.3%. He is now firmly established as the dancer to beat heading into the latest episode.
Maura Higgins (+500) and Amber Glenn (+550) are next in the market, followed by Harry Shum Jr. (+650). Shum Jr. has regressed from his previous position near the top of the board, making his current price particularly notable after entering the season as one of the leading contenders.
Jenna Dewan (+1500) has suffered one of the biggest market declines. After opening the season as the favorite, Dewan has now fallen all the way to +1500, giving her just a 6.3% implied probability of winning. The dramatic odds movement has taken her from the top of the market to well behind Frech and several other contenders.
Further down the board, Jackson Olson (+3000) and Connor Wood (+3000) each carry a 3.2% implied probability, while Guillermo Rodriguez (+4000) is at 2.4%. Julia Stiles (+4500) follows at 2.2%, with Tatyana Ali (+5500) and Tyler Cameron (+6000) rounding out the current field.
DISCLAIMER: The odds will be on and off again during the season, especially while the show is on air.
You can find the most up-to-date 2026 Dancing with the Stars odds at BetUS by navigating to Sportsbook > Entertainment > Television Futures > Dancing with the Stars.
Dancing with the Stars Season 35 Predictions and Betting Pick
Ezra Frech remains our best bet to win Dancing with the Stars Season 35 after another impressive performance on Mariah Carey Night. The Paralympic gold medalist continues to establish himself as one of the most consistent dancers in the competition, and his combination of strong scores and audience appeal makes him the contestant to beat.
Frech and Daniella Karagach earned 24/30 for their rumba to Mariah Carey’s “Anytime You Need a Friend.” It was Frech’s highest score of the season and his first time receiving three 8s from the judges. Bruno Tonioli praised Frech’s charisma and his frame, while the judges continued to recognize how much he has developed throughout the competition.
The 24 points put Frech right at the top of the Week 4 leaderboard, although Maura Higgins stole the show with the season’s first 25/30. Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Dewan also scored 24, while Amber Glenn finished with 23. Frech has now accumulated 86 points through four weeks, just one point behind Higgins and Shum Jr., who lead the season with 87.
Just as importantly, Frech continues to show why he could be particularly dangerous once audience voting becomes more important. His story, personality, and performances have created a genuine connection with viewers, and his popularity appears to be growing as the season progresses.
Frech has spoken about dancing for a bigger purpose and inspiring the disability community, while videos of viewers reacting emotionally to his performances have gone viral.
That audience support could ultimately separate Frech from the other technically strong contenders. Judges’ scores only tell part of the story, and Frech has the combination of competitive scores and a compelling personal story that can generate votes week after week.
The latest episode also provided another reminder that strong judges’ scores don’t guarantee safety. Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong were eliminated despite scoring 21/30, while Guillermo Rodriguez received the night’s lowest score at 13/30 and survived. That result further emphasizes the importance of viewer votes as the competition gets deeper. Despite the low scores, Rodriguez remains in the contest due to strong popularity with voters at home.
Frech’s latest 24/30 performance only strengthens his case. He has now posted three consecutive scores of at least 21 and has remained among the season’s top performers every week. With his technical improvement, consistency and, most importantly, ability to connect with the audience, I expect him to continue collecting plenty of votes as the field gets smaller.
The odds are now much shorter than when he was at +300, but Frech has done everything necessary to justify his position near the top of the market. If his audience support continues at the current level, he has the best path to the Mirrorball Trophy.
Dancing with the Stars 2026 Favorites Based on the Opening Odds
Here’s an overview of the Dancing with the Stars Season 35 favorites, based on the expectations and opening odds before the show started.
Jenna Dewan
Jenna Dewan entered Season 35 as one of the clear betting favorites at +300, and it is easy to understand why. She is far from a beginner when it comes to performing on the dance floor.
Before becoming a familiar face on television, Dewan built her career as a professional dancer, performing alongside some of the biggest names in pop music before landing her breakout role in Step Up. She has also remained closely connected to the dance world by hosting NBC’s World of Dance and serving as a judge on CBS’s Come Dance with Me.
Her television career could also give her an important advantage with voters. Dewan has spent years in front of mainstream audiences, including her role as Bailey Nune on ABC’s The Rookie. That exposure gives her strong name recognition and could help her attract support from viewers who may not already be invested in the competition.
The biggest question, however, is whether her experience will work against her. Dancing with the Stars viewers have historically been drawn to contestants who show noticeable improvement throughout the season, and celebrities with extensive dance backgrounds can sometimes be labeled as “ringers.”
Dewan has acknowledged that ballroom dancing presents a different challenge than the commercial and hip-hop styles she has performed throughout her career, but she will still need to overcome the perception that she has an unfair advantage.
Jenna Dewan and her #DWTS partner Val Chmerkovskiy address her dance experience as the "elephant in the room"@officialdwts pic.twitter.com/j8gkLIfc6G
— ExtraTV (@extratv) September 7, 2026
With fan-favorite pro Val Chmerkovskiy as her partner, Dewan should have little trouble putting up strong scores from the judges. Winning the season, though, may come down to whether viewers embrace her polished performances or decide to support a contestant with a more traditional underdog story.
Dewan is a legitimate contender to win Season 35, but she is a celebrity who could face a meaningful backlash from voters because of her extensive dance background. Her floor is arguably higher than anyone else in the field, and a deep run should be expected.
Amber Glenn
Heading into Episode 1, Amber Glenn was in a deadlock with Dewan for one of the biggest favorites on Season 35 at +300. Her athletic background, performance ability and Olympic profile make her a natural fit for the competition. Glenn is a three-time U.S. champion and helped Team USA win gold in the figure skating team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics. She’ll be paired with Pasha Pashkov.
What makes Glenn particularly interesting from a betting perspective is the track record of figure skaters on Dancing with the Stars. Kristi Yamaguchi won Season 6 with Mark Ballas, while Meryl Davis captured Season 18 alongside Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Those two victories show that the transition from figure skating to ballroom can be extremely successful.
Amber Glenn is skating right into the ballroom ⛸️➡️🪩 #dwts pic.twitter.com/equ7zcr60n
— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 2, 2026
That experience should give Glenn a significant advantage. Figure skating already requires musicality, choreography, body control, athleticism and the ability to perform under pressure.
She won’t have to learn how to perform for an audience from scratch, and her skating background should allow her to pick up choreography faster than many of the cast’s less experienced contestants. Glenn has also said that Davis’ appearance on the show helped inspire her to compete this season.
The biggest question is whether Glenn can turn those skills into enough viewer support. She has the athletic and performance credentials to score well with the judges, but DWTS is ultimately decided by a combination of judges’ scores and the audience vote. The good news is that Glenn enters with a compelling Olympic story and a chance to show viewers a completely different side of herself.
Harry Shum Jr.
Harry Shum Jr. is arguably the only contestant in Season 35 who can genuinely match Jenna Dewan’s dance resume, which makes him an interesting choice.
Long before becoming known for Glee and Grey’s Anatomy, Shum established himself as a professional dancer and performer, working with major artists and appearing in dance-focused projects including Step Up 2: The Streets, Step Up 3D and The LXD.
Like Dewan, Shum enters the competition with years of experience that should give him a significant advantage in musicality, choreography and performance. His role as Mike Chang on Glee put his dancing ability on display for millions of viewers, while his Step Up background further established him as one of the more accomplished performers in the cast.
#GreysAnatomy star Harry Shum Jr. shares how his dance skills are translating to #DWTS and says bring on all the critiques! 😎@officialdwts pic.twitter.com/pmOZWbBwZE
— ExtraTV (@extratv) September 7, 2026
That makes the “ringer” conversation impossible to ignore. Shum has already pushed back on the idea that his experience automatically translates to ballroom, pointing out that there are hundreds of different dance styles and that ballroom and Latin represent a completely different vocabulary.
Still, having to learn a new discipline doesn’t erase the enormous advantage of already knowing how to learn choreography, hit musical cues, and perform under pressure.
His partnership with Jenna Johnson is another major positive. Johnson is a two-time DWTS champion, giving Shum one of the show’s most accomplished teachers as he makes the transition into ballroom.
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