Dancing with the Stars returns for season 33 with NO cast changes!
Confirmed: the full hosting and judging team from the previous season will return for Dancing with the Stars season 33. Fans can expect the same familiar faces on the ballroom stage this fall as the show resumes its mix of celebrity competition and professional dance coaching.
Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro are back as co-hosts, according to reports from People magazine. The network has shared the first promotional footage for the new season, featuring Julianne and Alfonso sharing a playful twirl on the dance floor. Meanwhile, the judging panel will remain intact with Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough all returning to offer scores, critiques, and signature commentary.
Julianne Hough’s relationship with DWTS stretches back to her early days as a professional dancer on the series. She danced on the show from 2007 through 2009, later returning to serve as a judge for multiple seasons between 2014 and 2021. Most recently she stepped into a full-time hosting role after Tyra Banks departed the series, bringing both onstage energy and behind-the-scenes experience to the job.
Alfonso Ribeiro first joined the series as co-host in season 31 (2022), working alongside Tyra Banks during a season that marked a notable distribution change for the program: that year, Disney elected to stream Dancing with the Stars exclusively on Disney+ rather than air it on ABC. In the seasons that followed, the show resumed its broadcast presence on ABC while continuing to make episodes available on streaming platforms, reflecting the show’s multi-platform strategy.
Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli are long-standing fixtures on the Dancing with the Stars judging panel, both having served as judges since the show launched in 2005. Their perspectives and chemistry have become integral to the series’ identity. Derek Hough joined the judges’ table more recently in season 29, after an earlier career on the program as one of its most successful professional dancers. Derek performed as a pro from season 5 through season 11, returned for seasons 13 through 21, and appeared again in season 23 before transitioning into his role as a judge.
Keeping the full cast of hosts and judges intact gives season 33 continuity at a time when television audiences value both familiarity and fresh celebrity lineups. The returning team combines broadcast experience, choreography expertise, and judging credibility—elements producers rely on to balance entertainment with technical dance assessment. For viewers, that means consistent critique style, familiar banter, and the same standards of scoring that fans have come to expect.
Dancing with the Stars premieres on September 17
ABC will reveal the celebrity contestants and professional dance partners entering the ballroom at a later date. Season 33 is scheduled to premiere on Tuesday, September 17 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and on Disney+. Episodes will also be available to stream the following day on Hulu. This multi-platform release ensures viewers can watch live on broadcast television or stream on-demand through subscription services.
As the premiere approaches, expect the network to roll out additional promotional content, behind-the-scenes features, and announcements about each celebrity’s professional partner. With the judges and hosts confirmed, speculation will now turn to which personalities will compete, what musical and thematic elements producers will spotlight this season, and which routines will stand out during the early weeks of competition.
For longtime viewers and newcomers alike, season 33 promises the same blend of high-energy dance numbers, emotional storytelling, and competitive drama that has defined Dancing with the Stars for nearly two decades. Whether you follow for the choreography, the celebrity journeys, or the judges’ reactions, the returning cast provides a familiar foundation for new contestants to build memorable performances and for audiences to enjoy the season’s rhythm and spectacle.
Stay tuned for the official cast announcement and additional season previews as ABC and the show’s social channels release more details. With the hosts and judges confirmed, attention now shifts to the celebrity lineup and the first routines that will launch this new season of DWTS.