Maksim Chmerkovskiy Teases a DWTS Comeback: Will He Return to the Ballroom?
Is Maksim Chmerkovskiy headed back to the DWTS ballroom? The fan-favorite pro lays out his plans—why he left, what drew him back before, and whether his retirement is for keeps.
If you were hoping for Maks to waltz back into the 'Dancing with the Stars' ballroom, go ahead and set those expectations down gently. He says that chapter is done.
So, is he coming back?
'I think the boat has sailed. I think my comeback is in the distant past.'
That was Maksim Chmerkovskiy to Access Hollywood, and he is not being coy. He still wants to dance and says he is basically in body maintenance mode every day and has been for about 25 years, but whatever comes next for him creatively is not a return to DWTS.
Why he stepped away
Maks took breaks from the show over the years for pretty normal life and career reasons: chasing new opportunities and getting ready for his first child. He did come back multiple times, but after Season 25 he closed the door for good. Back in 2018, he told MassLive he could not keep doing the show as a pro at 100% anymore and was simply at a different stage of life.
DWTS has changed, and he is not into the new grind
He was pretty frank about the show evolving without him. He described DWTS as a living thing that keeps moving, and said everyone involved has gone in different directions — him included. On top of that, he does not think there is a spot for him in the current version of the show. The big sticking point: the social media push. In his view, the way the competition works now heavily favors the online hustle, and he does not see himself doing that — which, in his words, makes winning tough.
The short version
- Maks officially retired from DWTS after Season 25, following multiple prior returns.
- Earlier breaks were for new gigs and to be there for his first child.
- He says he is still training daily and wants to keep dancing, but in more creative lanes that are not DWTS.
- He feels the show has evolved away from where he fits, especially with the heavy social media component.
- As he said in 2018, he could not give the show 100% as a pro anymore and was at a different point in life — and that has not changed.
Bottom line: do not expect a surprise cha-cha comeback. Maks has moved on, and he is fine with that.