The Season 34 premiere of Dancing With the Stars delivered a strong start, with just under 6 million viewers tuning in on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. According to Variety, the episode drew 5.5 million viewers and saw 21 million votes cast — a surge of 163% compared to the comparable metric from last season.
This premiere also delivered a ratings bump: the show earned a 1.1 rating in the adults 18‑49 demo, which marks a significant increase from Season 33’s premiere.
What Drove the Uptick?
- The cast for Season 34 is stacked with names likely to attract attention: among the competitors, Robert Irwin is back, along with Whitney Leavitt, and others who bring their own fanbases to the ballroom.
- Also new this season is the troupe lineup, offering fresh choreography and energetic backup performances.
- The return of co‑host Julianne Hough (alongside Alfonso Ribeiro) and judge panel consistency (with Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli back) contributed to a sense of familiarity even amid change.
What’s Different This Time
Not everything was business as usual. Carrie Ann Inaba, a judge since the show’s inception, was absent from the premiere due to illness. She posted via Instagram that she wasn’t feeling well and would rest, with hopes to return for future episodes. Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli judged without her, and no replacement was announced for the night.
Viewers React & What to Watch
The voting numbers especially stood out: 21 million votes cast for a premiere is a healthy sign of engagement. Critics and fans also noticed some contentious scoring, especially around Scott Hoying & Rylee Arnold’s tango to Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra”, which earned a 10/20 total when many felt the performance deserved more.
Why It Matters
This kind of premiere momentum is notable for a long‑running series like Dancing With the Stars. The ratings gains — in total viewers and in the key 18‑49 demo — suggest renewed interest as the show enters its 34th season. For advertisers and ABC/Disney+, it’s a promising indicator that the format still delivers. The viewer vote total also highlights how invested the audience remains.
Looking Ahead
Going forward, fans will want to keep an eye on whether the momentum holds through themed weeks, the return of Carrie Ann Inaba, and how the judges’ critiques evolve. Also of interest will be whether future voting numbers stay elevated, and how the contestants (new and returning) leverage this strong start.
In all, the Dancing With the Stars Season 34 premiere did more than just mark its return — it showed that after more than 30 seasons, the ballroom dance competition can still surprise audiences and pull in strong numbers.
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