LEGENDS UNITED: One Last Ride 2026 – The Final Bow of Six Dancing with the Stars Icons

When the 47-second video dropped on November 23, 2025, the dance world collectively held its breath. Six figures stood in a dim circle under a single spotlight. One by one, they spoke:

Maksim Chmerkovskiy: “This is it.”
Derek Hough: “Our final season together.”
Julianne Hough: “On our terms.”
Cheryl Burke: “One last time.”
Valentin Chmerkovskiy: “For you.”
Witney Carson: “For us.”

Then the screen went black and five words appeared in white:
ONE LAST RIDE 2026 – THE FINAL TOUR.

It wasn’t just an announcement. It was the end of an era.

For more than twenty years, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Derek Hough, Julianne Hough, Cheryl Burke, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, and Witney Carson have been the heartbeat of Dancing with the Stars. Between them: 14 Mirrorball trophies, 120 combined seasons, countless viral moments, and an immeasurable influence on how America understands ballroom dance. They didn’t just compete on the show; they built it, shaped it, and, in many ways, outgrew it.

Derek Hough, the winningest pro in DWTS history with six trophies, turned every routine into theater. Julianne Hough went from two-time champion to Emmy-winning choreographer to judge to pop-culture force. Maksim, the original “bad boy of ballroom,” brought fire, honesty, and unfiltered emotion that made viewers fall in love (and occasionally argue) with him for 17 seasons. His younger brother Val, the poet of the group, delivered some of the most soul-shattering performances in the show’s history (his Season 31 freestyle tribute to his mother remains the highest-scoring routine ever). Cheryl Burke, the longest-serving female pro with 26 seasons, retired from the ballroom in 2022, saying she was ready for the next chapter. And Witney Carson, the baby of this legendary crew, quietly became a two-time champion and a mother of two while never losing her radiant joy on the floor.

Each of them had already said goodbye to Dancing with the Stars in their own way over the past five years. Derek and Julianne became full-time judges and creative directors. Maks walked away in 2017, returned briefly, then left for good. Val scaled back after becoming a father. Cheryl closed her pro chapter with tears in 2022. Witney took maternity leave and kept fans guessing about her future.

But something was missing: they never got to say goodbye together.

“One Last Ride 2026” is their answer.

This is not a nostalgia cash-grab or a reunion for the sake of it. According to sources close to the production, the six legends have been secretly meeting for over a year to create something never seen before: a two-hour theatrical dance spectacle that will tour arenas across North America from May through August 2026. No celebrities, no paddles, no judges’ desk; just them, their choreography, their music, and their stories.

Expect new works created specifically for this tour: a fierce Maks-and-Val paso doble that fans have begged for since 2009, a Derek–Julianne contemporary piece about growing up in the spotlight, a Cheryl solo that confronts retirement and rebirth, a Witney contemporary ballroom tribute to motherhood, and a group number that sources describe as “the most emotional eight minutes you’ll ever witness in a dance show.”

There will be live vocals (Julianne has already recorded new music), aerial work, video montages spanning two decades, and at least one surprise guest appearance every night from the extended DWTS family.

Most importantly, every performer has promised this is truly the final time they will dance full-out as professional ballroom/latin/contemporary artists. After August 2026, the competition shoes come off for good.

Tickets go on sale December 12, 2025. Presale for DWTS fans starts December 9. Cities and exact dates will be announced next week, but the tour is expected to hit at least 40 markets, including multiple nights in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Las Vegas.

For millions of fans, this isn’t just a tour. It’s closure. It’s gratitude. It’s the chance to stand up one last time when the mirrorball drops and scream “10!” for the people who made Monday nights magical for two decades.

As Val said in the closing seconds of the announcement video, his voice cracking:
“Thank you for letting us into your living rooms. Now let us invite you into ours; one last ride.”

The dance floor will never feel the same again.