Dancing with the Stars 32 presents “A Celebration of Taylor Swift” on November 21
What was long rumored is now official: Dancing with the Stars will dedicate an entire episode to the music of Taylor Swift. Disney and ABC confirmed that the six remaining couples will perform routines set to songs from the multi-GRAMMY® Award-winning artist’s catalog for a special event titled “A Celebration of Taylor Swift.” The episode is scheduled to air Tuesday, Nov. 21 (8:00–10:01 p.m. EST/PST, 7:00–9:01 p.m. CST), will simulcast live across ABC and Disney+ in local time zones, and will be available the following day on Hulu.
Dancing with the Stars has become known for themed nights that spotlight influential musicians and pop culture moments, and the Taylor Swift tribute promises to be one of the most anticipated shows of this season. Producers say couples, individual dance styles and song selections will be announced at a later date, giving fans time to speculate which of Swift’s hits will inspire ballroom reinterpretations.
Joining the show as a special guest judge is longtime Dancing with the Stars choreographer Mandy Moore, who also served as lead choreographer for Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. Moore’s involvement bridges Swift’s touring choreography and the ballroom stage, bringing a unique perspective to the competition when couples interpret Swift’s music through dance.
Taylor Swift herself has history with Dancing with the Stars. In 2010, she performed on the series to promote her album Speak Now, delivering live renditions of the single “Mine” and the Fearless-era favorite “White Horse.” That earlier appearance set a precedent for crossovers between Swift’s pop performances and the show’s choreography-driven format.
Coming up on Dancing with the Stars: Music Video Night and a celebration of Whitney Houston
Before the Taylor Swift-themed episode, Dancing with the Stars will stage two other music-focused nights that continue the season’s momentum. On Tuesday, Nov. 7, the eight remaining couples will compete for Music Video Night, performing routines inspired by some of the most iconic music videos in pop culture. Former American Idol judge Paula Abdul will join the panel as a guest judge for that episode, lending her choreography and performance expertise to the scoring.
The following week, on Tuesday, Nov. 14, the competition will honor another legendary vocalist with Whitney Houston Night. Seven couples will take the dance floor to celebrate Houston’s catalog, and Broadway star Billy Porter will appear as a guest judge. That episode will spotlight Houston’s powerful anthems and ballads, interpreted through diverse ballroom and contemporary styles.
These themed evenings not only give the celebrity contestants a chance to showcase their versatility across genres and eras, but also allow choreographers to craft inventive, narrative-driven routines that reflect each artist’s impact on music and culture. Viewers can expect dramatic staging, costume transformations and emotional storytelling, all hallmarks of the show’s special-tribute episodes.
Dancing with the Stars is co-hosted this season by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough. The panel of regular judges includes ballroom authorities Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough, whose scores and critiques remain central to how the competition unfolds each week. Guest judges such as Mandy Moore, Paula Abdul and Billy Porter add fresh viewpoints and industry experience to the evaluations.
As the season progresses through Music Video Night, Whitney Houston Night and the Taylor Swift celebration, fans will be watching not just for the competition but for the creative ways the show reimagines familiar songs. With high-profile guest judges and a simulcast on ABC and Disney+, the upcoming episodes are positioned to be standout television events this November.