Dancing With the Stars pro Val Chmerkovskiy has been hospitalized while travelling in Illinois as part of the reality dance competition’s 2026 live tour.
Sharing an Instagram video taken from his hospital bed on Sunday, March 1, Chmerkovskiy, 39, broke the news to fans.
“What’s up friends? My bad. I ended up out here in Peoria, [Illinois], but the doc was cool, shout out to Claire our [personal trainer] at our tour and everybody on tour for rallying. I’ve just been having vertigo for the past couple of days and I had it yesterday,” the professional dancer said.
Chmerkovskiy, dressed in a grey sweatshirt and blue beanie, appeared groggy in the video as his voice was raspy and his eyes watered. The video was shared two hours after he addressed DWTS’ Illinois fans via his Instagram Stories, apologizing for missing Sunday’s show at Peoria’s Prairie Home Alliance Theatre.
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His video also detailed how had been recently affected by vertigo, described by the Cleveland Clinic as a “sensation that the environment around you is spinning in circles” that is a “symptom of lots of health conditions rather than a disease itself.”
“We ran some tests and … we’re on the bus so I guess that kind of wants that little crystal in your equilibrium … I’m learning a lot. Once it goes out, it’s really hard to get it back in,” Chmerkovskiy explained. “I’m just spinning everywhere, so, on the bus, when it’s moving, you know, I woke up and I just couldn’t get myself together. Hopefully tomorrow’s a day off [and] I’ll be back on Tuesday. Love you, thank you.”
The video was followed by another short clip of the dancer lying in his hospital bed as a caption read, “Blood work done, vitals checked. See you soon.”
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Chmerkovskiy is one of many DWTS personalities participating in the 2026 tour following the show’s 34th season. Celebrities including Danielle Fishel, Andy Richter and Elaine Hendrix are currently serving as cohosts on the tour while fellow contestant Alix Earle, Dylan Efron, Jordan Chiles and Robert Irwin all hold roles within select cities.
Chmerkovskiy and his partner, Earle, 25, finished as runners-up during the last season of DWTS, missing out on the mirrorball trophy to Irwin, 22, and his dance partner, Witney Carson.
Thankfully for Chmerkovskiy, Monday, March 2, does indeed serve as a day off for the live tour’s cast and crew before they hit the road for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to perform at Miller High Life Theatre the following day. The tour is scheduled to wrap in Akron, Ohio, on Wednesday, May 13.
Chmerkovskiy’s video drew well-wishes from DWTS fans who hit the athlete’s comments section to express sympathy and further thoughts. “I live with vertigo and it’s terrible! What is the dr doing for you ? I would love to know. Feel better Val,” wrote one fan, while another wrote, “That is the hardest to deal with. Relax — get better soon!”
The official DWTS Live Instagram account also commented on the video. “We hope you feel better soon,” read the comment, followed by a heart hands emoji.
