Swiss athlete Joel Mattli impressed the jury and audience with a strong Jive in the first episode of the 19th season of “Let’s Dance”. He scored 22 points and secured the direct ticket through viewer votes, protecting him from elimination in the next round. Jury member Joachim Llambi praised the performance as the best dance in a get-to-know show.
In Cologne, the 19th season of the RTL dance show “Let’s Dance” began on Friday evening with a mix of celebrities from acting, sports, music, and social media. The 31-year-old Zurich native Joel Mattli, known from “Ninja Warrior Germany,” performed a demanding Jive and received 22 points from the jury. “He’ll get the direct ticket today,” predicted the critical juror Joachim Llambi after the performance. Indeed, Mattli won the direct ticket through viewer votes, ensuring his safe advancement to the next episode.
Llambi enthused: “That was the best dance I’ve ever seen in a get-to-know show.” The athlete performed with professional dancers, while singer Anna-Carina Woitschack took second place with 21 points. Llambi also launched an Instagram poll among his 125,000 followers on whether Mattli should dance his next Latin routine with or without a jacket—topless—the majority voted for without.
The season features stars such as actress Esther Schweins (55), singer Nadja Benaissa (43), presenter Sonya Kraus (52), content creator Betty Taube (31), singer Ross Antony (51), comedian Simon Gosejohann (50), influencer Willi Whey (31), and Tokio Hotel drummer Gustav Schäfer. Each pair has a professional coach, and the winners receive the disco ball trophy along with the title “Dancing Star 2026”.
