The clock strikes 8 p.m., and suddenly the living room transforms into a stage of its own. You sink into the couch, pint of ice cream in hand, and remote in the other, waiting for those first familiar notes to play. There’s a buzz of anticipation, as millions of fans lean in, ready to watch the high-stakes of Dancing with the Stars’ newest season.
The premiere kicked off on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, airing on ABC News and Disney+ at 8 p.m. ET and PT. From dazzling debuts to shocking eliminations, the season promises twists, turns, and plenty of glitter. This year’s pairs, who were carefully selected for their unique chemistry and talents, are already captivating viewers. Standout performances came from influencer Alix Earle with pro dancer Val Chmerkoviskiy and content creator Whitney Leavitt with partner Mark Ballas. Both impressed audiences and hinted at a season full of excitement.
This season’s lineup brings together a wide range of talent, from athletes and actors to viral creators. The pairings, meticulously crafted for both chemistry and contrast, include entrepreneur Hilaria Baldwin with pro partner Gleb Savchenko, actor Danielle Fishel with Pasha Pashkov, and actor-comedian Andy Richter teamed up with Emma Slater. Their first and second dances set the stage, giving fans plenty to cheer about and plenty to debate when it comes to who will take home the mirrorball trophy.
Season 34 opened with a pro number to “Kill the Lights,” while judge Carrie Ann Inaba sat out due to illness. Robert Irwin and Witney Carson made their way to the top with a jive Derek Hough called “probably the best first dance he’s ever seen.” Leavitt and Ballas matched the high with a sharp tango. Baldwin and Savchenko impressed the judges with precision. Solid debuts from Earle and Chmerkovskiy and Lauren Jauregui and Brandon Armstrong hinted at upside. At the bottom, Richter and Slater and Corey Feldman and Jenna Johnson struggled with timing and technique. No eliminations took place in the premiere; scores rolled over to Week 2, doubling the stakes.
The ballroom went nostalgic with “One-Hit Wonders” Night, and Inaba returned to the judging panel. Standouts included numbers from Leavitt and Ballas, Irwin and Carson, Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, Jen Affleck and Jan Ravnik, and Baldwin and Savchenko. Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach’s samba brought playful swagger, while Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold showed determination and marked improvement. This night included the first double elimination of the season sending Feldman and Johnson plus Baron Davis and Britt Stewart home.
Themed around one of social media’s biggest platforms, TikTok Night delivered viral energy and some separation on the leaderboard. Chiles and Sosa and Leavitt and Ballas wowed with scores of 24/30, while Earle and Chmerkovskiy and Efron and Karagach earned 23/30. Hoying and Arnold and Baldwin and Savchenko followed with 22/30, joined by Irwin and Carson, whose salsa impressed the judges, but noted that they need to work on their fluidity. Fishel and Pashkov and Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten remained steady at 21/30, while Affleck and Ravnik scored 19/30. The night closed off with a shocking elimination, as Fifth Harmony alum Jauregui and her partner, Armstrong, were sent home.
The season now heads into some of its most anticipated theme nights: Disney night (Oct 7), Dedication Night (Oct 14), Wicked Night (Oct 21), and Halloween night (Oct 28). November promises spectacle themes with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night (Nov 4), a celebratory 20th Birthday Party (Nov 11), and the high-stakes Prince Night Semi-Finals (Nov 18). It all comes down to a three-hour finale on Nov 25, where the Mirrorball Trophy will finally be claimed
