LOS ANGELES, October 24, 2026 — Dancing with the Stars has revealed its complete Horror Night lineup for Tuesday, October 27, with all 10 remaining celebrity couples preparing for Halloween-inspired performances. The episode will also mark Val Chmerkovskiy’s return following his one-week suspension, while a reported double elimination threatens to end two couples’ Mirrorball Trophy hopes.
Season 35’s seventh week will feature routines inspired by films including Saw, Black Swan, Sinners, The Omen and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. With no contestants eliminated during last week’s Dedication Night, the competition remains crowded as the season approaches its next decisive stage.
DWTS Horror Night 2026: Full Songs and Dance Lineup
ABC announced the following performances for the October 27 episode:
- Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik: Paso Doble to “I Lied to You” by Miles Caton, inspired by Sinners.
- Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess: Viennese Waltz to “Love Song for a Vampire” by Annie Lennox, inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
- Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy: Argentine Tango to “Uninvited” by Damned Anthem and Kendra Dantes, inspired by zombie films.
- Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach: Jazz to “Madness” by Ruelle, inspired by The Invisible Man.
- Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov: Argentine Tango to “Perfection” by Clint Mansell, inspired by Black Swan.
- Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas: Contemporary to “Cry Little Sister” by Gerard McMann, inspired by The Lost Boys.
- Jackson Olson and Emma Slater: Contemporary to “That’s Life” by Frank Sinatra, inspired by Joker.
- Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson: Contemporary to “Toxic” by 2WEI, inspired by Saw.
- Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa: Argentine Tango to “The Dogs Attack” by Jerry Goldsmith, inspired by The Omen.
- Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold: Contemporary to “You Are My Sunshine” by Charles McDonald, inspired by Annabelle: Creation.
The selections were detailed in ABC’s official Horror Movie Night announcement.
Four couples will perform Contemporary routines, three will tackle Argentine Tango, and the remaining dances include Paso Doble, Jazz and Viennese Waltz. The different styles will test both technical execution and the contestants’ ability to interpret their movie themes.
Val Chmerkovskiy Returns After One-Week Suspension
Val Chmerkovskiy will reunite with Jenna Dewan after missing the October 20 episode following a controversial social media post involving judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
The deleted post appeared to reference the 2022 Oscars confrontation between Will Smith and Chris Rock. Chmerkovskiy subsequently apologized, saying he had not intended to encourage violence.
During his absence, Alan Bersten partnered with Dewan for Dedication Night. Their Viennese Waltz to “Unchained Melody,” dedicated to Dewan’s mother, earned 37 out of 40 points.
Chmerkovskiy’s return places the original partnership back together for a zombie-inspired Argentine Tango. Further background is available in the Val Chmerkovskiy suspension report.
Double Elimination Raises Stakes for Remaining Couples
Horror Night is expected to feature a double elimination after all 10 couples advanced from Dedication Night without anyone being sent home.
If two contestants leave Tuesday, the competition will shrink to eight couples. Judges’ scores and viewer votes will be central to determining the outcome, adding pressure to deliver strong performances.
Last week’s emotional routines included Julia Stiles’ tribute to her late 10 Things I Hate About You co-star Heath Ledger. The DWTS Dedication Night performances and tributes provide additional context for the competition heading into Halloween week.
Shirley Ballas Joins DWTS as Horror Night Guest Judge
Shirley Ballas will join regular judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli for the Halloween special.
Ballas, an experienced ballroom dance judge who previously appeared on Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, is also the mother of professional dancer Mark Ballas.
Mark will compete alongside Maura Higgins in a Contemporary routine inspired by The Lost Boys, adding a family connection to the guest judge’s appearance.
DWTS Horror Night 2026: Date, Time and How to Watch
The Halloween-themed episode airs Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, with broadcasts scheduled in local U.S. time zones.
The episode will be available the following day on Hulu. Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough return as co-hosts.
Viewer voting opens when the live performances begin and closes shortly after the final dance. Eligible fans should follow the official on-screen instructions for voting methods, limits and deadlines.
As of October 24, the performances and elimination results have not been announced. The October 27 broadcast will reveal how the remaining couples handle their horror-inspired routines and which partnerships advance.
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