Full Breakdown
ABC Unveils Summer 2026 Unscripted Lineup and Specials
5/8/2026, 10:24:33 PM
Summer Schedule Overview
ABC announced a slate of unscripted series and live events for the 2026 summer season. The lineup begins with the three-hour primetime concert CMA Fest presented by SoFi on Thursday, June 25 (8 p.m.–11 p.m.). Thursday, July 9 features Celebrity Family Feud (Season 12, 8 p.m.–9 p.m.) hosted by Steve Harvey, followed by Press Your Luck (Season 7, 9 p.m.–10 p.m.) with Elizabeth Banks. Monday, July 13 marks the series premiere of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro (8 p.m.–9 p.m.), hosted by Robert Irwin. Wednesday, July 15 airs the live 2026 ESPYS Presented by Capital One (8 p.m.–11 p.m.) on ABC and streaming on ESPN+. The schedule closes with Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Season 5, 8 p.m.–9 p.m.) on Wednesday, July 22, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.
“Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro” – New Spinoff Details
The new spinoff pits 12 emerging dancers who live together and compete in a rigorous audition process for a coveted spot as a professional dancer on Season 35 of the flagship series. Robert Irwin, the Season 34 champion, serves as host, while former champions Mark Ballas and his mother Shirley Ballas act as judges. Guest mentors and rotating judges from the main series will also appear.
Returning Game Shows
- Celebrity Family Feud returns for its 12th season with Steve Harvey guiding celebrity families through survey-based questions.
- Press Your Luck resumes for Season 7 under Elizabeth Banks, featuring a “Salute to Service” episode that honors military personnel.
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire returns for Season 5 with Jimmy Kimmel, pairing celebrity contestants to compete for charitable prizes.
Special Events and Programming Highlights
CMA Fest showcases live performances from Nashville’s top country artists, while the ESPYS honors athletic achievements and supports the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Both events will be simulcast on Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, and ABC Video on Demand. ABC also continues its Sunday-night movie tradition, airing titles such as *The Sandlot*, *Sister Act*, *Independence Day*, and Disney classics like *Moana* and *Toy Story 4*.
Official Statements & Responses
ABC’s press release on May 8 confirmed the summer schedule, emphasizing the network’s commitment to “high-energy competition and live event programming that brings families together.” The announcement noted that additional premiere dates for *The Bachelor*, *Bachelor in Paradise*, and the main *Dancing with the Stars* series will be released later.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Minor discrepancies appear in reported runtimes: some outlets list Press Your Luck as 9:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m., while others cite 9:01 p.m.–10:02 p.m. Similarly, the ESPYS start time is consistently 8 p.m., but the host for the ceremony remains unannounced.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Celebrity Family Feud” hosted by Steve Harvey, “Press Your Luck” with Elizabeth Banks, and “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” hosted by Jimmy Kimmel will all be back this summer starting in July. — Variety
- “Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro features 12 exceptional up-and-coming dancers who move into one house and compete in a grueling audition process,” the official logline reads. — ABC press materials
- “[They are] all vying for a coveted spot as a pro dancer on season 35 of Dancing With the Stars.” — ABC logline
- “For the first time in Dancing With the Stars history, the greatest dancers will compete for a spot as the next pro,” Irwin said. — Robert Irwin, trailer
- “This summer, let the fiercest dance battle begin.” — Robert Irwin, trailer
What’s Next
ABC will later reveal premiere dates for *The Bachelor*, *Bachelor in Paradise*, and the main *Dancing with the Stars* season. A host for the 2026 ESPYS is also pending announcement, with streaming details confirmed across Disney’s platforms.
