Dancing with the Stars returned for its ninth series, starting on 4 January 2026 on RTÃÂ One.
On 25 September 2025, Head Judge, Loraine Barry announced her departure from the series after eight years on the panel.
On 1 October 2025, RTÃÂ confirmed that the show would return for its ninth series, with former Strictly Come Dancing professional, Oti Mabuse taking over the role as Head Judge. It was confirmed that Brian Redmond, Arthur Gourounlian and Karen Byrne would join Mabuse on the panel for their ninth, fifth and second seasons, respectively. Host Jennifer Zamparelli was also announced to return for her seventh season with RTÃÂ 2fm presenter and Season 7 runner-up, Laura Fox filling in for Doireann Garrihy while she is on maternity leave.
On 23 November the professional dancer line-up was confirmed with Robert Rowià Âski, Stephen Vincent, Laura Nolan, Ervinas Merfeldas, Alex Vladimirov, Daniela Roze, Maciej Zieba and Rebecca Scott all returning from the previous season. Denys Samson, Salome Chachua and Simone Arena announced that they would not return to the series. They would be replaced by Arianna Favaro, James Cutler and Leonardo Lini. Kylee Vincent would also return to the show having taken the previous season off to give birth.
On 20 February 2026, it was announced that former host Nicky Byrne would return to the show for the 100th Episode Special as a guest judge.
Katelyn Cummins and Leonardo Lini were announced as the winners after the final on 15 March 2026, while Eric Roberts and Arianna Favaro, Paudie Moloney and Laura Nolan, and Tolü Makay and Maciej Zieba were the runners up.
On 7 December 2025, singer and Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh was announced as the first contestant to take part.
This table only counts for dances scored on a traditional 40-points scale. It does not include the Marathon, Team Dance, or Guest Judge scores.
The highest and lowest performances in each dance according to the judges' scale are as follows.
Scores out of 50 were converted to the traditional 40-point scale.
Unless indicated otherwise, individual judges scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Brian Redmond, Karen Byrne, Oti Mabuse, Arthur Gourounlian.
Judges' votes to save
The couples first performed one unlearned dance, then all couples were separated into two teams to perform a team dance to earn higher individual scores. Judges' votes to save
Individual judges scores given in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Brian Redmond, Karen Byrne, Nicky Byrne, Oti Mabuse, Arthur Gourounlian.
Judges' votes to save
The couples first performed one unlearned dance, then all six couples participated in a dance marathon in a bid to increase their scores.
Judges' votes to save
The couples first performed one unlearned dance followed by a trio dance. For the trio dances each couple was joined by one eliminated pro dancer.
Judges' votes to save
Each couple performed twice- one dance chosen by the judges and their showdance routine.