Dancing with the Stars 21, Barbara D'Urso will be the fifth judge

Barbara D'Urso will be the fifth judge on Dancing with the Stars 21 , the season debuting on Rai 1 on Saturday, October 3, 2026, hosted by Milly Carlucci. Dagospia reports the deal with the company has been finalized after months of negotiations.

The host would take the spot vacated by Selvaggia Lucarelli and sit alongside Carolyn Smith , Guillermo Mariotto , Alberto Matano , and Ivan Zazzaroni . The official announcement is expected to come on Thursday , during the show's press conference.

The economic agreement and the timing of the announcement

According to Dagospia's reconstruction, the agreement with the company had been reached months ago , without vetoes and in agreement with Milly Carlucci: only the financial part was missing , now finalized. Hence the wait for the official announcement.

It's worth stating clearly: at this point, this remains a press leak , not a statement from RAI or the production team. In recent weeks, the same possibility had been dismissed, and the jury spot seemed destined elsewhere, as reported in our article on the Barbara D'Urso hypothesis . Confirmation will only come at the press conference.

What changes in the jury and in the treasure chest

With D'Urso's arrival, the jury returns to five judges , the same composition as in previous editions. Among the new features, as Milly Carlucci explained to TV Sorrisi e Canzoni, is Alberto Matano 's debut on the judging panel , moving from a pitchside commentator to a judge, with a touch of irony. Paolo Belli , however, will not appear on-camera, as explained in our in-depth analysis of why Paolo Belli is out of Ballando.

The prize money will be divided into three parts , each with a different weight. Simona Ventura will assign the "justice vote," designed to rebalance a judgment she feels is unbalanced. Francesca Fialdini will decide the "soul vote," dedicated to the contestant who speaks most generously. Rossella Erra will receive the "popular vote," the gut vote.

Ornella Muti and her casting choices

Regarding the contestants, Carlucci admitted that the hardest name to convince was Ornella Muti , described as an "international icon," saying he used "the entire encyclopedia of courtship" to bring her on the dance floor. The competition will begin with the first couples already announced, including Muti herself paired with Pasquale La Rocca.

Regarding rumors that Ballando doesn't draw from reality TV stars, the host responded that those programs "do a very honorable job," but that those who come from there have already revealed everything about themselves: the show's focus remains on new stories.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dancing with the Stars 21

When does the new edition debut?

Saturday 3 October 2026 on Rai 1 , in prime time, hosted by Milly Carlucci.

Who sits on the jury?

Carolyn Smith , Guillermo Mariotto , Alberto Matano , Ivan Zazzaroni and, according to Dagospia, Barbara D'Urso in place of Selvaggia Lucarelli.

When will Barbara D'Urso be officially announced?

According to Dagospia's reconstruction, the announcement is expected on Thursday , at the show's press conference. Until then, it remains a rumor.

Who assigns the shares of the treasure?

Simona Ventura the “vote for justice”, Francesca Fialdini the “vote of the soul”, Rossella Erra the “popular vote”.

Paolo Belli will be on video

No , he will not appear in front of the cameras in this edition.