Season thirty-four of Dancing with the Stars premiered on ABC and Disney+ on September 16, 2025.[1] This season, marking the twentieth anniversary of the series, is the third to air live on both networks simultaneously, and was the first of ABC's unscripted programs to earn an official renewal for their 2025–26 schedule.[2]Alfonso Ribeiro returned to host the season, while former professional dancer and judge Julianne Hough returned as co-host.[3]
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough returned as hosts for the season.[28]Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli returned as judges.[29] Inaba missed the season premiere due to an undisclosed illness; there was no replacement judge set in her place.[30] An official Dancing with the Starspodcast, hosted by season thirty-three winner Joey Graziadei, was launched on September 18, 2025.[31] He exclusively revealed all of the season's themes during the inaugural episode.[32][33]Kym Johnson served as the guest judge for Dedication Night.[34]Jon M. Chu served as the guest judge for Wicked Night.[35]Cheryl Burke served as the guest judge for Halloween Night.[36]Flavor Flav served as a guest judge for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night.[37]Tom Bergeron will serve as the guest judge for the 20th Birthday Party.[38]
The highest score each week is indicated in bold green with a dagger (†), while the lowest score each week is indicated in italicized red with a double-dagger (‡).
Color key:
Eliminated
Dancing with the Stars (season 34) - Weekly scores
Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli.
Each couple performed one unlearned dance to a "personal anthem" of the celebrity.[40] There was no elimination this week; all scores were carried over to the following week.[41]Carrie Ann Inaba missed this episode due to an undisclosed illness, so the couples were judged on a 20-point scale instead of the usual 30-point scale.[30] The opening number, choreographed by Ray Leeper, was set to "Kill the Lights" by Whitney Myer.[41] The troupe also performed a number to "Just Keep Watching" by Tate McRae.[41]
Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Kym Johnson, Bruno Tonioli.
Each couple performed one unlearned dance to honor the most influential figures and institutions in the celebrities' lives.[50] No eliminations took place this week; all scores were carried over to the following week. For the first time on the series, the friends and family members selected by each celebrity contestant joined them on the ballroom floor for their routines.[50] Two-time mirrorball champion Kym Johnson returned as a guest judge.[34] The troupe performed numbers to "Mystical Magical" by Benson Boone and "Man I Need" by Olivia Dean.[50] Additional pro performances were set to "Green Light" by Lorde, choreographed by Jenna Johnson and Britt Stewart featuring a guest appearance from Julianne Hough, and "Back on 74" by Jungle, choreographed by Brandon Armstrong.[50]
Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Jon M. Chu, Bruno Tonioli.
Each couple performed one unlearned dance to a song from either the musicalfantasy filmWicked (2024) or its upcoming sequel, Wicked: For Good (2025).[52]Jon M. Chu, who directed both films, appeared as a guest judge.[35] The episode featured a never-before-seen clip from Wicked: For Good as well as video messages from its cast, including Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey and Michelle Yeoh.[52] The opening number, choreographed by Christopher Scott, was set to a medley of songs from both films: "No One Mourns the Wicked", "Defying Gravity", "For Good", "Thank Goodness", "Dancing Through Life", and "What Is This Feeling?". The troupe also performed a number to "Wonderful" from Wicked: For Good.[52]
Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Cheryl Burke, Bruno Tonioli.
During dress rehearsals, Elaine Hendrix was injured and was taken to the emergency room. As she was unable to return for her Argentine tango, the judges' scores were based on dress rehearsal footage. She also was excluded from earning bonus points in the dance marathon.[55]
Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Flavor Flav, Bruno Tonioli.
Each couple performed one unlearned dance to a song by an artist or group who was either inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF) or are slated to be.[37] They also participated in a team dance, which featured live performances from RRHOF inductees Kool & the Gang and Chicago.[57] Rapper and television personality Flavor Flav, who is also a RRHOF inductee, appeared as a guest judge.[37]
↑ Flavor Flav officially submitted a score of 9 for Alix & Val, but he wanted to give them a 10. He said his original score was an accident.[61]
Week 9: 20th Birthday Party
Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Tom Bergeron, Bruno Tonioli.
In celebration of the twentieth anniversary of Dancing with the Stars,[62] each couple will reinterpret a memorable freestyle performance by showcasing an unlearned dance style.[63] Six couples will also participate in a dance relay, featuring the quickstep, Viennese waltz and jive, for two bonus points.[62] The dance relays feature a special twist to commemorate the milestone; for the first time ever, celebrities will dance without their professional partners, instead joining forces with a returning mirrorball champion.[64] For receiving the highest cumulative points in the season so far, Whitney & Mark earned immunity from the dance relays and automatically received two bonus points.[65]
Season thirty-four became the program's most-watched in several years.[67] "TikTok Night" marked the first time in twenty years that Dancing with the Stars saw an increase in viewership for two consecutive weeks since its premiere episode.[68] With "Wicked Night", the series became the first American fall television program in at least 34 years to increase in viewers for five weeks after its premiere episode.[67] That episode also had more viewers than the season premiere of NBA on NBC.[67]
Viewership and ratings per episode of Dancing with the Stars (American TV series) season 34
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