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What time is Dancing With the Stars on? The season 35 premiere begins at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Sept. 16, on ABC and Disney+. The ballroom competition is returning with a special two-night launch, live performances and an unusually high-stakes opening week.
The new season brings together a star-studded cast of celebrity contestants and professional dancers competing for the Mirrorball Trophy. Instead of appearing across both premiere episodes, each couple will perform on only one night, giving viewers two separate opportunities to see the new partnerships in action.
What Time Is Dancing With the Stars On for Season 35?
“Dancing With the Stars” season 35 airs live at 8 p.m. ET on both Tuesday and Wednesday. The program will be available on ABC and Disney+, while the next-day stream will be available on Hulu.
The two-night format divides the cast by gender. Male celebrity contestants will perform during the Tuesday premiere, while female celebrity contestants will make their debuts on Wednesday. Each couple will dance to a No. 1 song from the celebrity’s birth year, adding a personal twist to the opening performances.
Powerful First-Night Performances
Tuesday’s lineup includes Ezra French, a Paralympic gold medalist, who will perform a tango with Daniella Karagach. The pair will dance to Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone.” Jackson Olson, known for his work with the Savannah Bananas, will perform a cha-cha with Emma Slater to the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe.”
Wednesday’s performances include reality star Ciara Miller, who will dance a foxtrot with Brandon Armstrong to Whitney Houston’s “Exhale (Shoop Shoop).” Film and television star Julia Stiles will perform a quickstep with Ezra Sosa to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.”
Explosive Changes Coming to the Premiere
A Double Elimination Raises the Stakes
One of the biggest changes this season is a double elimination during premiere week. Following Tuesday’s performances, one male celebrity contestant will be eliminated. On Wednesday, one female celebrity contestant will also leave the competition.
The early exits mean contestants will have very little time to establish themselves with viewers and judges. Viewer votes will be combined with scores from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough to determine which couples continue into the following week.
Voting will open during each live episode and will apply only to that night’s performers. Fans in the United States, its territories and Canada will be able to vote online. Eligible U.S. wireless customers can also vote by text message, although text voting will not be available to fans in Canada.
Adele Zaikman Makes Her Professional Debut
The new professional dancer Adele Zaikman will compete for the first time in the main “Dancing With the Stars” competition. She will be paired with Connor Leavitt, the husband of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Whitney Leavitt.
Zaikman enters the season with significant momentum. She won the inaugural season of “Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro” in the finale on Aug. 31. During that competition, she partnered with season 29 celebrity runner-up Nev Schulman for the final performance.
Longtime professional Sharna Burgess is also returning after last competing during season 30 in 2021. Her return adds another familiar face to a season built around new pairings, returning talent and immediate pressure.
How to Watch and Vote for DWTS
- Premiere dates: Tuesday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Sept. 16
- Start time: 8 p.m. ET on both nights
- Live platforms: ABC and Disney+
- Next-day streaming: Hulu
- Hosts: Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough
- Judges: Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough
Fans should check their local listings because broadcast schedules can vary by time zone. The live voting window is especially important this week because contestants perform and face elimination on separate nights.
With a two-night premiere, a double elimination and a new professional dancer entering the ballroom, season 35 is delivering major changes from the opening number. Viewers tuning in at 8 p.m. ET will immediately see which couples can handle the pressure and which stars may struggle to find their rhythm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is Dancing With the Stars on?
“Dancing With the Stars” airs at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Sept. 16, during the season 35 premiere.
Where can viewers watch Dancing With the Stars?
The live premiere will air on ABC and stream on Disney+. The episodes will be available to stream on Hulu the following day.
Why is the premiere taking place over two nights?
The special premiere separates the celebrity contestants into two groups. Male celebrities perform Tuesday, while female celebrities perform Wednesday.
Will contestants be eliminated during premiere week?
Yes. One male celebrity contestant will be eliminated after Tuesday’s performances, and one female celebrity contestant will be eliminated after Wednesday’s episode.
Who are the hosts and judges this season?
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough return as co-hosts. Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough return to the judging panel.
