Full lineup for new series of Dancing with the Stars revealed

Paudie Moloney, Niamh Kavanagh and Brian Kennedy are among the stars taking to the dancefloor in January.

The full lineup for the next season of Dancing with the Stars Ireland has been revealed.

Singer-songwriter Brian Kennedy was announced this morning as the final celebrity dancer to take to the dancefloor for the ninth series of the popular show.

The Traitors Ireland star Paudie Moloney and Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh were revealed last week as the first two contestants taking part in the dancing show, which airs on Sunday, 4 January.

Speaking about joining Dancing with the Stars, Kennedy, who is preparing to release his nineteenth album next year, said: "I'm so excited to join the cast of Dancing with the Stars. I'm really looking forward to getting fit and to learn how to dance properly and the challenge of that. What a way to start what will be my 60th year on the planet.” 

Paudie Moloney in rehearsals for Dancing With The Stars. Picture: Moya Nolan.

The full lineup for the Dancing with the Stars class of 2026 includes Eurovision winner and singer Niamh Kavanagh; Paudie Moloney from The Traitors Ireland; reigning Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins; comedian and actor Michael Fry; Fair City actress Stephanie Kelly; television presenter Eric Roberts; Olympic medal winning rower and doctor Philip Doyle; musician Tolü Makay; podcaster Amber Wilson; Nationwide presenter Anne Cassin; Apprentice UK finalist Jordan Dargan and singer-songwriter Brian Kennedy.

Following the news earlier this year that Loraine Barry will not return to our screens as a judge on Dancing with the Stars, it was announced that South African dancer and talent show judge Oti Mabuse will be the new head judge, joining Brian Redmond, Arthur Gourounlian and Karen Byrne on the judging panel.

Brian Redmond, Karen Byrne, Oti Mabuse, and Arthur Gourounlian

The four-time world dance champion, who has been with the show for eight seasons, said in a statement that it was "the right time" for her to stand down as head judge.

Taking Barry’s place as head judge, Mabuse is well-known for being a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing in the UK, which she won in 2019 and 2020, and its German equivalent, Let’s Dance.

Dancing with the Stars will be hosted by Jennifer Zamparelli and Laura Fox, who is standing in for Doireann Garrihy this season while she is on leave.  The RTÉ series will see the 12 well-known figures team up with a professional dancer to perform a live routine every week.

Each pairing will have a different dancing genre to master every week, from the Charleston to Salsa, and they’ll have just seven days to perfect their routine before performing live to the nation.    Each celebrity couple will be scored by the expert panel of judges, as well as by the viewing public, with the winning couple claiming the much-coveted glitterball trophy at the end of the series.

  Dancing with the Stars will air on Sunday, 4 January on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.