Dancing With the Stars Disney Night: Julia Stiles Eliminated in Week 8
DWTS Season 35 Disney Night on 2 November eliminated Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa, with Cynthia Erivo as guest judge and Stiles dancing through a rib injury.
Highlights
- DWTS Season 35 Week 8 Disney Night aired Monday 2 November 2026, moved from Tuesday ahead of the midterms.
- Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa were eliminated after finishing in the bottom two with Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas.
- Guest judge was Cynthia Erivo; Stiles had been dealing with a rib injury.
Dancing with the Stars Season 35 held its Week 8 Disney Night on Monday 2 November 2026 — moved from its usual Tuesday slot ahead of the midterm elections — and Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa were eliminated, according to USA Today’s 2 November 2026 live recap.
The bottom two were Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa, and Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas. Stiles and Sosa were sent home after receiving the lowest combined amount of judges’ scores and viewer votes, USA Today reported (USA Today, 2 Nov 2026).
A Disney Night with a Broadway twist
Week 8’s theme was Disney Night with a special Broadway twist, with routines inspired by Disney stories and their stage adaptations, and “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo served as guest judge, according to USA Today’s recap. The episode also included the first team dances of Season 35, with the eight remaining couples split into two groups.
Stiles and Sosa performed a paso doble to “Satisfied” from Hamilton. USA Today reported they scored 33/40, and that Stiles had reinjured her rib during rehearsals before soldiering on. Judge Bruno Tonioli praised the performance, saying: “That’s how you tell a story!” — a full quote carried in the recap.
After the elimination, Stiles said: “It’s been an incredible experience. I pulled things out of myself that I didn’t know were there,” according to USA Today, 2 Nov 2026. Sosa replied: “Just to see your growth in and outside the ballroom has been an honor, and I’m so lucky to share this experience with you.”
One pro missing from the opening number
Pro dancer Adele Zaikman missed the opening number due to illness. In the USA Today recap’s account of her Instagram Story, she wrote: “I’m sadly feeling unwell and won’t be performing in the opening number on Dancing with the Stars tomorrow” (USA Today, 2 Nov 2026). Zaikman had already been eliminated from the competition with her celebrity partner earlier in the season, but eliminated pros normally still appear in opening numbers and troupe performances.
Live entertainment results have driven the week’s TV coverage more broadly, from dance floors to awards stages — see the Daytime Emmy Awards 2026 winners list for the other big results round-up.
Public reaction
USA Today described Stiles as a fan favourite and noted fans would be disappointed, while also suggesting the exit may bring some relief given her rib injury, writing “Get well soon, Julia!” in its recap. That mix — admiration for dancing through injury, and acceptance that the scores and votes had put the couple last — captures the tone of the night: a strong performance that was not quite enough to survive.
For another live-event surprise that got fans talking this week, read our coverage of Harry Styles’ Harryween surprise. Disney Night, meanwhile, moves Season 35 on without one of its most recognisable names — and with the competition now a week closer to its finale.
