Adele Zaikman Wins Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro

Adele Zaikman has been crowned the winner of "Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro," securing a coveted spot as a professional dancer on the upcoming 35th season of the flagship competition series. The finale, which aired on August 31, 2026, saw the judges declare Zaikman the champion after a night of intense performances. The debut season of the spinoff competition concluded with a live finale featuring finalists Selena Hamilton, AJ Pritchard, and Adele Zaikman. Each contestant was paired with a former "Dancing With the Stars" celebrity for their final routines. Hamilton performed a jive with Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon, Pritchard danced a Viennese waltz with social media star Charli D'Amelio, and Zaikman took on the challenge of a samba with "Catfish" host Nev Schulman. The performances were judged by Mark Ballas, Shirley Ballas, and guest judge Derek Hough. Following the individual dances, the finalists competed in a freestyle round. Hamilton and Rippon performed a contemporary fusion piece, Pritchard and D'Amelio delivered a theatrical Broadway-style number, and Zaikman and Schulman closed the show with a paso doble.