Former ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy Has No Plans to Return

Former Dancing with the Stars pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy has no plans to return to the show after his nine-year absence.

“I think the boat has sailed,” the dance pro told Access Hollywood on Wednesday, Dec. 10. “I think my comeback is in the distant past.”

Chmerkovskiy joined the cast in season 2 and danced for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy for the last time in season 25. During his 17 seasons on the show, Chmerkovskiy appeared in the finale five times but only had one win — season 18 with his partner Meryl Davis, an Olympic ice dancer.

While on the show, Chmerkovskiy met Peta Murgatroyd, another DWTS pro whom he married in 2017. The two now have three sons together: Shai Aleksander, Rio John, and Milan. Chmerkovskiy says his and Murgatroyd’s children are part of the reason he is hesitant to return.

“With the kids, it’s so hard. It’s very tough,” he told Access Hollywood.

Chmerkovskiy also isn’t a fan of how much social media impacts each season’s winners. “I just don’t think there would be space for me, especially in the format that it is today. I can’t fathom doing so much social media, and without it, how do you win?” Chmerkovskiy explained.

This season, Robert Irwin, who has 9.9 million followers on TikTok, took home the trophy with his partner, and pro, Witney Carson. Other pros like Ezra Sosa and Rylee Arnold have also gained quite the following from their DWTS behind-the-scenes content.

While his kids and social media may deter him from stepping back into the ballroom, Chmerkovskiy says that his dance abilities and physical fitness aren’t factors in that decision.

“I’m looking forward to so much more dancing out of my body. I’m in maintenance every day for the last 25 years. I don’t see where that’s going to go, and I’m looking forward to creative processes,” he told the outlet.

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Despite Chmerkovskiy’s declaration, he’s still very much a fixture in the professional dance world. Since his departure, he’s appeared as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance and continues to post dancing content, much of which features his wife.

He’s also the brother of current DWTS pro Valentin Chmerkovskiy, who made it to the finale this past season with his partner Alix Earle.

And, while he may not be dancing on the show, he frequently comments on the show’s content. Just this past season, he called out new pro Jan Ravnik for having “zero foundation” or “technique.”

Maks later apologized to Ravnik and said he hopes they can one day “bury the hatchet.”

Dancing with the Stars season 35 is expected to air in the fall of 2026.