Dancing With the Stars Airs Dedication Night
Val Chmerkovskiy sits out the latest episode following a social media post deemed inappropriate by producers.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Dance
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Dancing with the Stars season 35 continues its run with a Dedication Night episode, where the 10 remaining celebrity contestants perform routines honoring influential figures in their lives. Pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy will not participate in the performance, with Alan Bersten stepping in to partner with Jenna Dewan.
Why it matters
Producers removed Val Chmerkovskiy from this week's broadcast after concluding that a social media post he shared was inappropriate. The change forces a last-minute adjustment to the show's choreography lineup as the competition heads toward its conclusion.
There are 10 celebrities remaining in season 35, with fans allowed a maximum of 20 votes per couple split between online and SMS platforms.
The players
Val Chmerkovskiy
He is a long-standing professional dancer and choreographer on the series who was removed from the current episode.
Jenna Dewan
She is a celebrity contestant currently competing in season 35 of the series.
Alan Bersten
He is a professional dancer on the show who will serve as a replacement partner for this episode.
The details
During Dedication Night, contestants perform routines dedicated to people or places that have significantly shaped their personal journeys. Viewers can influence the outcome by casting up to 10 votes online and 10 via text for each couple during the live simulcast.
Timeline
September 15, 2026: Season 35 premiered.
October 20, 2026: Dedication Night episode airs.
November 24, 2026: The season 35 finale is scheduled to air.
Industry Dynamics
This production shift reflects the rigid professional standards enforced by long-running reality competition formats to maintain brand image. The incident highlights how networks now quickly mitigate potential controversies to protect the stability of their primetime franchises.
Viewers can participate in the competition by casting votes during the live broadcast via the official website or SMS. Fans should be aware that the professional lineup has changed for this episode, potentially affecting the chemistry of the remaining performances.
The takeaway
Reality competition shows rely heavily on the stability of their professional cast to maintain the season's momentum. Viewers can continue to shape the competition results by utilizing the designated voting windows provided during the live broadcast.
What happens next
The season 35 finale is scheduled to take place on November 24, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest news in the Dance section.
More information
To cast your votes for the remaining couples, visit the online voting portal.
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