Val Chmerkovskiy Bio, Age, Height, Wife Jenna Johnson, DWTS Suspension, Net Worth & 2026 Update

Val Chmerkovskiy is a Ukrainian-American ballroom dancer and choreographer best known as a longtime professional on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. He has won the Mirrorball Trophy three times and, in October 2026, became the first pro in the show’s history to be suspended — a one-week penalty after an Instagram post defending his wife, Jenna Johnson, in a judging dispute. This biography covers his early life, career, family and 2026 update.

Quick Facts

Related Names: Jenna Johnson, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Peta Murgatroyd, Carrie Ann Inaba, Jenna Dewan, Alan Bersten.

Early Life & Education

Valentin Aleksandrovich Chmerkovskiy was born on March 24, 1986, in Odesa, then part of the Ukrainian SSR. His father, Aleksandr “Sasha” Chmerkovskiy, was a Jewish marine merchant, and his mother, Larisa Chmerkovskaya, was a Christian engineer. His older brother, Maksim, became a professional dancer and later a Dancing with the Stars star in his own right.

Val started classical violin lessons at five and began dance training at seven. In 1994, when he was eight, the family immigrated to Brooklyn, New York, where dance became the center of his life. He trained at a youth-oriented studio in Bergen County, New Jersey, founded by his father and brother, and quickly showed the discipline that would make him a champion.

Career Journey

Dancesport Champion

Before television, Chmerkovskiy built one of the strongest competitive resumes in American Latin dance. He is a 14-time U.S. National Latin champion across junior, youth and adult amateur divisions, a Blackpool Open Under-21 winner, and an amateur Latin finalist at Blackpool, the UK Open and the International Championships. In 2001, he and partner Diana Olonetskaya became the first American team to win a world junior championship, and he remains the only American to win both the IDSF Junior and Youth World Championships.

Joining Dancing with the Stars

Chmerkovskiy first appeared on Dancing with the Stars in 2006 as one of his brother’s students, then returned as a guest dancer in later seasons. He was promoted to full-time pro in 2011 for season 13, partnering model Elisabetta Canalis. Over the next decade he became one of the show’s most recognizable faces, dancing with Sherri Shepherd, Kelly Monaco (third place), Zendaya (runner-up), Elizabeth Berkley, Janel Parrish, Ginger Zee and Normani, among others.

Three Mirrorball Trophies

His first win came in season 20 with actress Rumer Willis. He won again in season 23 with Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez, and a third time in season 32 with actress Xochitl Gomez. Along the way he earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for his choreography with his wife, fellow pro Jenna Johnson. Off screen, the brothers run the Dance With Me studio chain, which has locations in New York and New Jersey.

The October 2026 Suspension

The biggest controversy of his career began on the October 13, 2026, “Super Bowl Night” episode. His wife, Jenna Johnson, and her partner Harry Shum Jr. were criticized by judge Carrie Ann Inaba for including a lift in their samba. Johnson questioned the call, and Inaba read the rule aloud before giving the pair an 8.

The next day, Val posted on Instagram: “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night” — a reference to Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars slap. On October 17, producer BBC Studios suspended him for one week, calling the post “inappropriate” and saying the well-being of everyone on the show “is non-negotiable.” It was the first suspension of a pro in the show’s history. Alan Bersten replaced him as Jenna Dewan’s partner for the October 20 episode.

Chmerkovskiy apologized, writing that his instinct was to defend his wife but that he made “a poor decision to reference a meme” without thinking through what it implied. He added that Inaba “certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle” of his bad judgment. He is expected to return to the ballroom after the one-week penalty.

Career Stats

• Three Mirrorball Trophy wins: seasons 20, 23 and 32
• 14-time U.S. National Latin champion
• First American to win IDSF Junior and Youth World Championships
• Primetime Emmy nomination for choreography with Jenna Johnson
• DWTS pro since 2011; first pro ever suspended, October 2026

Personal Life

• Wife: Jenna Johnson, a fellow DWTS pro; they married on April 13, 2019.
• Son: Rome Valentin Chmerkovskiy, born in January 2023.
• Brother: Maksim Chmerkovskiy, also a DWTS pro, married to dancer Peta Murgatroyd.
• Business: Co-owner of the Dance With Me dance studio chain.
• Home: New Jersey.

Dating History and Affairs

Chmerkovskiy’s public love life centers on one person: Jenna Johnson. The two dancers knew each other for years on the DWTS circuit before they began dating, and they announced their engagement in 2018. They married in a star-studded ceremony in April 2019 and welcomed their son, Rome, in early 2023. There are no verified reports of affairs, and both have spoken about prioritizing their marriage and son over the show’s demanding schedule.

Controversies

Before 2026, Val’s controversies were minor: fiery comments about judging, sibling rivalry stories with Maksim, and the usual reality-TV gossip. The October 2026 suspension changed that. His Instagram post invoking Will Smith’s Oscars slap — made while defending his wife — was widely covered, and the one-week benching became the first of its kind in Dancing with the Stars history. He apologized within days and did not dispute the penalty.

Awards & Achievements

• Mirrorball Trophy: seasons 20, 23 and 32
• U.S. National Latin Championships: 14 titles
• World Junior Championship: 2001, first American winner
• Blackpool Open: Under-21 winner
• Primetime Emmy: nomination for choreography

Physical Statistics

• Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
• Weight: Approx. 175 lbs (79 kg)
• Hair: Dark brown
• Eyes: Brown
• Build: Athletic

Favorites

• Dance style: Latin ballroom
• City: New York City
• Music: Latin and hip-hop
• Way to unwind: Family time with Jenna and Rome
• Cause: Dance education and youth programs

Earnings

Val Chmerkovskiy’s net worth is estimated at around $8 million in 2026. His income comes from his Dancing with the Stars salary, which reportedly runs into the hundreds of thousands per season, plus the Dance With Me studios, live tour dates, brand deals and endorsements. Exact contract figures are not public.

Interesting Facts

• He played violin for years before focusing on dance.
• He and brother Maksim run a dance studio business together.
• He has won the Mirrorball with a Willis, an Olympian and a Marvel actress.
• His 2026 suspension was the first for a pro in DWTS history.
• He and Jenna Johnson are one of the few married pro couples on the show.

Did You Know Already?

• He was born in Odesa, Ukraine, and moved to Brooklyn at age eight.
• He joined DWTS as a pro in 2011.
• His son is named Rome Valentin.
• His wife, Jenna Johnson, is also a DWTS pro.

Social Media Links

Chmerkovskiy is active on Instagram at @valchmerkovskiy, where the October 2026 post that led to his suspension was published. He also appears regularly on the official Dancing with the Stars accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Val Chmerkovskiy spent two decades earning respect as one of ballroom’s most decorated competitors and one of Dancing with the Stars‘ most reliable performers. The October 2026 suspension added a complicated chapter, but it also showed where his loyalties lie. With three Mirrorballs, a growing family and a dance empire alongside his brother, he remains one of the show’s defining figures — even from the sidelines for a week.

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