Dancing with the Stars 2023 release date, cast, and everything we know

Updated: Sept. 21, 2023 – Dancing with the Stars season 32 is almost here! Fans of the celebrity dance competition have been anticipating the new season since Vanderpump Rules‘ Ariana Madix was announced on Good Morning America as the first contestant in the upcoming season.

The show has undergone more than a few changes this past year, from the departure of a host to a shift from ABC to streaming and back. So here’s what we know so far about the new season!

Will Dancing with the Stars be on Disney+?

Fans of the dance competition weren’t happy about Disney’s decision to move the series from ABC to Disney+ which required viewers to have a subscription to the streamer to watch the beloved program. While it streamed live and retained at home voting during season 31, the change wasn’t well received. As such the decision to move the show back to ABC will likely be favorable.

This, however, doesn’t mean Dancing with the Stars won’t stream on Disney+. Deadline reports that season 32 will simulcast on ABC and Disney+ while next day viewing will be available on Hulu.

Dancing with the Stars release date

Instead of airing on Mondays, as previously announced, ABC has shifted the series to Tuesdays. Season 32 premieres Sept. 26, 2023 at 8 p.m. ET. It’ll likely running from September to Thanksgiving.

Currently, ABC’s entire scripted line-up is in limbo due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike. The dance competition’s return to the network establishes that ABC has a proven hit on the schedule during this difficult time in the industry.

Will Dancing with the Stars be affected by the strikes?

Prior to the start of Dancing with the Stars season 32 promo rollout, it didn’t look like the series would be impacted by the strikes outside of what industries the celebrities selected to be in the cast work in. This is because game shows, reality series, and variety shows operate under the Network Code which is a different contract from the ones the WGA and SAG-AFTRA are negotiating with the AMPTP.

However, the show does employ one WGA writer has been in the news as of late because union members have been picketing rehearsals and calling for select cast members like Matt Walsh, Mira Sorvino, and Alyson Hannigan to pull out of the competition. The mounting pressure has ABC gearing up for the potential of delaying the season premiere if an agreement isn’t reached between the WGA and the AMPTP on Thursday, Sept. 21. We’ll keep you posted.

Who is Ariana Madix on Dancing with the Stars?

Ariana Madix is a Vanderpump Rules star who has been in the news due to a cheating scandal involving her long-time boyfriend, Tom Sandoval, who cheated on her with her Vanderpump co-star Raquel Leviss. The scandal (nicknamed “Scandoval” on social media) propelled Vanderpump to record high ratings and should lead to more attention for Madix on this show.

Born in Florida, Madix won two national dance championships which proves she has the goods for the show. An expert rider, she also earned two degrees from Flagler College, worked as a variety of princesses in Disney World, and was a bartender before joining Vanderpump Rules in 2013. Between her various endorsement deals and past entertainment experience, Madix should have the flair to pull this off.

Who is Rylee Arnold on Dancing with the Stars?

Arnold is the newest Pro partner. She’s the youngest sister of Pro partner and Mirrorball Champion Lindsay Arnold (who isn’t in season 32). The new cast member is 18 years old and does have Dancing with the Stars experience as she competed in the Junior version of the series back in 2018. Arnold was 13 at the time and was partnered with black-ish star Miles Brown. Her sister coached them during the competition. They were the runners-up.

Why did Tyra Banks leave Dancing with the Stars?

It was a bit controversial when supermodel Tyra Banks became the show’s new host in 2020. She was criticized as lacking the flair needed for the role, and ratings declined a bit. Banks announced she was leaving the show in May of 2023 .

She stated that she simply wanted to focus on her other businesses, from fashion to other TV hosting gigs. It appears her departure was a mutual decision by Banks and the producers and there’s a chance she might make a return but not in a full-time hosting gig.

Former DWTS pro dancer and judge Julianne Hough has been tapped as her replacement and will co-host with Alfonso Riberio.

Dancing with the Stars 2023 judges

It’s a sad time for Dancing with the Stars fans as veteran judge Len Goodman passed away from cancer in April. The rest of the panel, Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli, will return for the new season, but there’s been no word on who will be Goodman’s replacement.

Dancing with the Stars 2023 cast

As reported by TVLine:

• Tyson Beckford (52), supermodel | Partner: Jenna Johnson
• Xochitl Gomez (17), actress | Partner: Val Chmerkovskiy
• Alyson Hannigan (49), actress| Partner: Sasha Farber
• Harry Jowsey (26), reality TV personality (Too Hot to Handle season 1) | Partner: Rylee Arnold
• Charity Lawson (27), reality TV personality (The Bachelorette) | Partner: Artem Chigvintsev
• Ariana Madix (38), reality TV personality (Vanderpump Rules) | Partner: Pasha Pashkov
• Jason Mraz (46), singer-songwriter | Partner: Daniella Karagach
• Adrian Peterson (38), NFL player | Partner: Britt Stewart
• Lele Pons (27), YouTube personality and singer | Partner: Brandon Armstrong
• Mira Sorvino (55), actress | Partner: Gleb Savchenko
• Jamie Lynn Spears (32), actress | Partner: Alan Bersten
• Mauricio Umansky (53), real estate broker and reality TV personality (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills) | Partner: Emma Slater
• Matt Walsh (53), actor and comedian | Partner: Koko Iwasaki
• Barry Williams (68), actor | Partner: Peta Murgatroyd

Matt Walsh “pauses” his involvement with Dancing with the Stars 2023

Walsh, who is a member of SAG-AFTRA and the WGA, has chosen to “pause” his work on Dancing with the Stars amid pressure from fellow union members who are calling for the new season to be delayed. The show employs one WGA writer and is considered to be a struck production by the union. Read Walsh’s statement, per TVLine, below:

"I am taking a pause from Dancing with the Stars until an agreement is made with the WGA. I was excited to join the show and did so under the impression that it was not a WGA show and fell under a different agreement. This morning when I was informed by my union, the WGA, that it is considered struck work I walked out of my rehearsal. I have been and will always stand with my union members of the WGA, SAG and DGA. Beyond our union artists, I am sensitive to the many people impacted by the strike and I hope for a speedy and fair resolution, and to one day work again with all the wonderful people I met at DWTS who tolerated my dancing."

Dancing with the Stars 2023 trailer

Watch hosts Alfonso Riberio and Julianne Hough cut a rug in the trailer below:

Dancing with the Stars 2023 poster

Dancing with the Stars season 32 premieres Sept. 26 on ABC and Disney+. Next day streaming will be available on Hulu.