“Dancing With the Stars” Season 34 launched on Tuesday, September 16, with record-breaking fan engagement. Premiere-night voting totals doubled compared to last season, signaling a renewed wave of excitement for the ballroom competition.
Double Elimination Set for September 23
The premiere ended with a surprise twist. While no couple went home on opening night, producers revealed that the Sept. 23 episode will feature a double elimination.
Two couples will leave the ballroom, with viewer votes from both weeks combined with judges’ scores to determine the outcome.
Meet the Season 34 Cast
DisneyThe star-studded lineup includes Hilaria Baldwin, Danielle Fishel, Alix Earle, Andy Richter, Elaine Hendrix, Jordan Chiles, Baron Davis, Dylan Efron, Corey Feldman, Scott Hoying, Robert Irwin, Lauren Jauregui, Jen Affleck, and Whitney Leavitt.
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough returned as hosts, while Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli scored the dances. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba missed the premiere due to illness but assured fans she will return next week.
Leaderboard Highlights & What’s Next
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson topped the leaderboard with 15/20 for their energetic jive, tying with Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas, whose score was boosted by a judging error. At the bottom, Corey Feldman and Jenna Johnson, along with Andy Richter and Emma Slater, landed on 9/20.
Next week’s theme, “One Hit Wonders Night,” will showcase routines set to iconic singles, with the added pressure of a double elimination.
“Dancing With the Stars” airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming the following day on Hulu.
When Does Voting Open on DWTS?
Voting for “Dancing With the Stars” opens each Tuesday when the live broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Fans in the Eastern and Central time zones can vote during the show, while those on the West Coast, Puerto Rico, and Canada must cast their votes without seeing the live performances.
Online voting is open to viewers in the U.S., its territories, and Canada via dwtsvote.abc.com. Fans with a participating U.S. wireless carrier can also vote by SMS text.
Each week’s voting period will open when that week’s Dancing with the Stars episode begins broadcasting live at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Voting is only available during the live broadcast in the Eastern and Central time zones. During this time, online voting will be available to fans in any time zone in the U.S., its territories, and Canada via dwtsvote.abc.com, and fans with a participating U.S. wireless carrier can also vote via SMS/text.
Viewers on the West Coast, Canada, and Puerto Rico will have to vote without seeing the performance.
Live viewer votes will be combined with the judges’ scores each episode to determine which couples may be in jeopardy of elimination.
