Val Chmerkovskiy Returns for Dancing with the Stars
Professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy rejoins his partner Jenna Dewan for this week's Halloween-themed episode.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Dance
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Val Chmerkovskiy returns to the ballroom on October 27, 2026, after serving a one-week suspension from the competition. He will reunite with his partner Jenna Dewan to perform an Argentine tango to Uninvited.
Why it matters
The show must proceed with a double elimination during the upcoming Halloween special to offset the lack of eliminations during Dedication Night. This structure is essential to whittling down the field as the competition approaches its finale.
Val Chmerkovskiy, who is 40 years old, has secured 3 Mirrorball Trophies during his tenure on the program. His partner Jenna Dewan, 45, recently achieved her first score of 10 from judge Carrie Ann Inaba, who is 58.
The players
Val Chmerkovskiy
He is a professional dancer and three-time winner of the competition who recently served a one-week suspension.
Jenna Dewan
She is a professional dancer and actress currently competing as a contestant on the program.
Alan Bersten
He is a professional dancer who served as a substitute partner for Jenna Dewan during the October 20 episode.
Carrie Ann Inaba
She is a long-standing judge on the program responsible for evaluating contestant performances.
Maksim Chmerkovskiy
He is a veteran professional dancer who previously competed on the show for 17 seasons before retiring from the competition in 2017.
The details
Alan Bersten filled in as a substitute partner for Jenna Dewan during the October 20 episode while Chmerkovskiy was absent. The pair will rely on a combination of judge scores and viewer votes from previous weeks to stay in the running.
Timeline
Maksim Chmerkovskiy last competed on the show in 2017.
Carrie Ann Inaba criticized a lift during a samba on October 13, 2026.
Val Chmerkovskiy was absent from the episode on October 20, 2026.
Val Chmerkovskiy returns and two contestants are eliminated on October 27, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The show follows a rigid elimination schedule that mirrors historical competition standards to ensure a champion is crowned by the season finale. This double-elimination format marks a departure from the structure used during Dedication Night to keep the production on schedule.
Viewers can expect a high-stakes Halloween episode as the competition intensity increases with two couples set to be cut from the program. Fans should prepare for potential shifts in the leaderboard as judge scores from previous weeks remain a factor in the final tally.
The takeaway
The competition format relies on cumulative performance and public engagement to maintain stakes throughout the season. Viewers should note that gaps in the elimination schedule often lead to more volatile double-elimination rounds later in the competition.
Further reading
For more news on current performers and competition schedules, visit the Dance section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by USA Today.
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