‘Dancing With the Stars’ Scores First Reality Competition Emmy Nomination in a Decade

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Dancing With the Stars has scored its first reality competition series Emmy nomination in a decade.

The veteran ABC series broke into the reality competition category this year, and is nominated alongside the likes of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Survivor, Top Chef and The Traitors. The nod arrived after Dancing With the Stars‘ fruitful 34th season, which earned the program its highest ratings (also) in a decade.

The reality show has earned a plethora of craft nods over the years, but it was last recognized in the reality competition program category in 2016.

Showrunner Conrad Green had shared his hopes for the Emmy nomination the show has now received in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter at an FYC event in late April. He stressed the show’s unique structure compared to its over nominees, highlighting that its a program that implements a weekly live format that runs for 11 weeks at a time.

“I think the Emmy voters understand and appreciate that there’s very little like this on television anymore apart from those big award shows,” Green said. “There’s very little production of this level on television, certainly not routinely, week after week. For comedy, you’ve got Saturday Night Live; for dancing and entertainment, you’ve got Dancing With the Stars. It’s a similar process: It’s a weekly turnaround where you have to hit that excellence every time.”

During a live panel moderated by Love Island USA host Ariana Madix, judge Derek Hough also vouched for the show to earn not just an Emmy nomination, but a full award: “There’s no reality show that’s as real as Dancing With the Stars. Let’s get that Emmy!”

Dancing With the Stars is now gearing up for the July release of its first spinoff The Next Pro, which will see dancers battle it out for the chance at becoming the show’s next professional dancer. Season 35 of the series will arrive later this fall, with Summer House star Ciara Miller, The Traitors runner-up Maura Higgins, Savannah Bananas star Jackson Olson and Jimmy Kimmel Live! mainstay Guillermo Rodriguez already announced as part of the cast.

See the full list of 2026 Emmy nominations here. The 78th Emmy Awards will be broadcast live Monday, Sept. 14 on NBC and stream live on Peacock, where Mariska Hargitay will serve as host.