Last week, Tyra Banks announced she is stepping away from hosting Dancing with the Stars after three seasons. In response, Disney has named Julianne Hough as the new co-host alongside Alfonso Ribeiro. This change comes after Alfonso previously joined Tyra last season to share hosting duties, and the new lineup adjusts the on-air responsibilities between the two familiar faces.
Updated: Reports confirm that Alfonso Ribeiro has been promoted to the primary emcee for Dancing with the Stars, while Julianne Hough will take over his former role conducting post-performance interviews from the Celebraquarium, often referred to as the Sky Box. This shift plays to each host’s strengths: Alfonso as the lead host guiding the live show, and Julianne reconnecting with the dancers and audience up close.
Julianne Hough brings deep Dancing with the Stars experience to her new role. A two-time DWTS champion, she won the Mirrorball Trophy with Olympian Apolo Anton Ohno and with race car driver Helio Castroneves. Hough originally joined the series as a professional dancer in 2007 and left the competitive dance roster in 2009 to pursue a career in music and acting. She returned to the franchise in a judging capacity in 2014, serving as a permanent judge for three seasons, and has also appeared as a judge on Season 14 of America’s Got Talent.
The judging panel for the upcoming season will include Julianne’s brother Derek Hough, another Dancing with the Stars alumnus, alongside veteran judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli. Longtime head judge Len Goodman retired at the end of last season, and Disney has opted to continue with a three-judge format rather than replacing him. This trio—Derek, Carrie Ann, and Bruno—will evaluate performances while Alfonso and Julianne handle the hosting and interview duties that shape the show’s pace and energy.
“The incredible team that brings the ballroom to life every night has been my family for the past 17 years”
Julianne released an exclusive statement expressing her enthusiasm for returning to the Dancing with the Stars family. She said it is an honor to rejoin the series as co-host and reflected on the many roles she has held across nearly two decades with the show. Julianne described the DWTS team as her family and praised the magnetic energy of the ballroom, noting she looks forward to reuniting with Alfonso, the judges, the professional dancers, and the celebrity cast—and to sharing that experience with the show’s loyal fans.
Tyra Banks, who replaced longtime hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews beginning with Season 29, confirmed she would leave DWTS to focus on business ventures and producing television behind the scenes. In an interview announcing her departure, Tyra explained that she plans to concentrate on entrepreneurship and projects that require her full attention off-camera. Her decision follows two seasons serving as the show’s main host, then sharing the booth with Alfonso in the most recent season.
With these hosting changes, Dancing with the Stars moves into its 32nd season this fall on Disney+. The new structure—Alfonso as emcee and Julianne conducting dancer interviews—aims to balance familiar faces with refreshed responsibilities. Fans can expect the show’s characteristic mix of high-stakes competition, emotional performances, and behind-the-scenes moments in the Celebraquarium that have become a staple of the series’ live presentation.
As the season approaches, attention will focus on how this hosting team and the three-judge panel interact each week, how Julianne’s on-camera presence in the Sky Box complements Alfonso’s emceeing, and how returning and new professional dancers bring fresh choreography to the ballroom. The series’ long history and the involvement of former champions and pro dancers ensure that the show continues to draw viewers who love dance, storytelling, and live competition.