how many couples are left on dancing with the stars

June 27, 2026

Dancing with the Stars 2026: Couples Still in the Game As of January 12, 2026, the Irish edition of Dancing with the Stars (RTÉ One) has seen its first elimination after just two weeks, leaving 8 couples remaining from the original lineup announced on December 17, 2025. The season kicked off on January 4 with 9 celebrity-pro dancer pairs, but comedian Michael Fry and pro Kylee Vincent were sent home on January 11 following Week 2 performances and public voting—the earliest exit ever on the show.

Remaining Couples

Here's the full list of surviving pairs, fresh off intense dances like salsas and sambas that had viewers glued to RTÉ Player:

Celebrity| Pro Dancer| Week 2 Highlights
---|---|---
Paudie Moloney (The Traitors Ireland)| Laura Nolan| Treacherous twists promised; strong judges' feedback. 1
Katelyn Cummins (Rose of Tralee)| Leonardo Lini| Jive skills from her crowning moment shining through. 1
Stephanie Kelly (Fair City)| Ervinas Merfeldas| Scored 19 points; public vote kept them safe. 3
Eric Roberts (TV host)| Arianna Favaro| Hit 22 points; chemistry with newbie pro sparks buzz. 3
Philip Doyle (Olympic rower)| Daniela Roze| Salsa to Pitbull's "We Are One" rowed them higher. 5
Tolü Makay| Maciej Zięba| Topped leaderboard with 32 for American Smooth. 3

Note: Three additional pairs rounded out the original 9, with details emerging from ongoing forum chatter on eliminations and fan predictions.

Elimination Buzz and What's Next

Michael Fry's manic samba became instant legend, but low combined judge-public scores sealed his fate—public votes swayed it despite solid leaderboard spots for others like Stephanie and Eric. Fans on Reddit and gossip sites are speculating wild: Will Olympic gold help Philip Doyle dominate, or will Paudie's "Daddy" charm steal the Glitterball? Week 3 airs soon, with judges Oti Mabuse, Brian Redmond, Arthur Gourounlian, and Karen Byrne ramping up critiques.

Trending talk highlights how maternity-returning Kylee Vincent's journey added heart, but competition's fierce—early exits mean tighter races ahead. Ireland's dance fever is peaking, blending Fair City drama with Olympic grit for must-watch TV.

TL;DR : 8 couples left post-Michael Fry's exit; Tolü Makay leads, eliminations intensify.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.