Honestly, it feels like the ballroom never actually closes. But if you’ve been scrolling through your feeds trying to figure out the exact dancing with the stars 2024 start date, you aren’t alone. There was a weird amount of chatter this year about whether the show was moving back to Mondays or staying put.
Basically, the 33rd season of the show officially kicked off on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.
It’s funny because for years, Dancing with the Stars was the Monday night king. Then the NFL and Monday Night Football happened, and suddenly we’re all adjusting our internal clocks to Tuesday nights. The premiere went live at 8 p.m. ET/PT, and for the second year in a row, ABC and Disney+ did the whole simultaneous broadcast thing. If you missed it live, you probably ended up catching it the next morning on Hulu, which has become the standard routine for most of us anyway.
Why the dancing with the stars 2024 start date felt different
Usually, the show feels like a predictable machine. Not this time.
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The build-up to the dancing with the stars 2024 start date was chaotic because of the cast rumors. Most of the time, we get the full list on Good Morning America and that’s that. But for Season 33, they did this slow-drip reveal that started with Olympic hero Stephen Nedoroscik—the pommel horse guy who won our hearts in Paris—being announced way before anyone else.
The actual full cast reveal didn't happen until September 4, 2024. That gave everyone just about two weeks to process the fact that we’d be watching an actual convicted con artist, Anna Delvey, dance in a bejeweled ankle monitor.
The cast that broke the internet
You really couldn't make this lineup up if you tried.
- Joey Graziadei: The Bachelor himself (who actually went on to win the whole thing with Jenna Johnson).
- Ilona Maher: The Olympic rugby powerhouse who basically owns TikTok now.
- Stephen Nedoroscik: The aforementioned "Pommel Horse King."
- Anna Delvey: The con artist who literally had "inventing" in her Netflix title.
- Dwight Howard: Former NBA center who looked like a literal giant next to the pros.
- Chandler Kinney: Who, quite frankly, was arguably the most technically gifted dancer in the bunch from day one.
It’s worth noting that the premiere wasn't just a "hello, we're here" episode. Because the season was slightly shorter due to election coverage later in the fall, they had to hit the ground running.
The schedule was a bit of a mess
If you were looking for the dancing with the stars 2024 start date because you wanted to plan your watch parties, you probably noticed the October schedule was a total headache.
Because of the Vice Presidential debate and other network obligations, the show had to skip a week and then do a "two-night special" on October 7 and 8. It was "Soul Train Night" followed immediately by "Hair Metal Night." That is a lot of sequins for 48 hours. Most people actually forgot that Soul Train Night was on a Monday, which felt like a weird glitch in the matrix after getting used to the Tuesday slot.
Key milestones of the 2024 season:
- September 17: The premiere. No one was eliminated, which gave the celebs a chance to actually breathe.
- September 24: Oscars Night. This was the first double elimination, and yeah, it was brutal. Anna Delvey and Tori Spelling were sent packing.
- October 22: Disney Night. It’s a staple. You can’t have DWTS without someone dressing up like a cartoon character.
- November 12: The 500th Episode. Think about that. 500 episodes of people doing the Cha-Cha-Cha in spray tans.
- November 26: The Finale.
Who actually won?
While the dancing with the stars 2024 start date got people in the door, it was the Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson journey that kept them there. They weren't just "good for a Bachelor." They were actually good.
In the finale, they were up against some heavy hitters. Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten had the entire internet voting for them. Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong were consistently topping the leaderboard with near-perfect scores. Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold had the "Rylee-vibe" and a massive fanbase.
But Joey took home the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. It was the first time a lead from The Bachelor actually won the show, which is sort of wild when you think about how many of them have tried.
Watching it now
If you're late to the party and just now searching for the dancing with the stars 2024 start date, you’ve missed the live voting, obviously. But the whole season is sitting there on Disney+ and Hulu.
The 2024 season proved that the show still has legs, mostly because it leans into the weirdness of its cast. Seeing a con artist, an NBA star, and a "nerdy" Olympic gymnast in the same room is the kind of fever dream only this show can provide.
If you're planning for the future, the show usually follows this same mid-September pattern. Expect the 2025 season to likely premiere on the Tuesday after Labor Day or shortly thereafter.
For those wanting to dive back into Season 33, start with the "Soul Train" night performances. The energy was unmatched, and honestly, Danny Amendola's "Dancing Machine" routine was way better than any retired football player has a right to be.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the official ABC site for any "behind the scenes" clips that didn't make the Disney+ cut.
- Follow the pros on social media (especially Jenna Johnson and Rylee Arnold) if you want to see the rehearsal footage that shows how much work actually goes into a 90-second routine.
- Clear your Tuesday nights for Fall 2025, because the Tuesday move seems to be permanent as long as football stays on Mondays.