The Dancing With the Stars Season 35 finale has not been officially confirmed yet, but all signs point to Tuesday 24 November, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. The show launched with a two-night premiere on 15 and 16 September, and runs on Tuesday nights for the rest of its run, covering part of September, all of October, and all of November up to Thanksgiving week.
ABC has not announced the finale date, but last season offers a strong template. Season 34 premiered on Tuesday 16 September (just one day later in the calendar than this season) and its finale landed on 25 November, the final Tuesday in November and two days before Thanksgiving. Follow that same pattern and Season 35 wraps on 24 November.
When Is the Dancing With the Stars Finale Expected?
New episodes of Dancing With the Stars air at 8pm ET on ABC and Disney+, with each episode available to stream the following day on Hulu and Disney+. The season is a long one: nearly three full months of sequins, scores and eliminations before the glitterball trophy changes hands.
For viewers keeping tabs on the competition, the show runs right through to the week of Thanksgiving, making it one of the longer seasons on network television. Block out your Tuesday nights accordingly.
New Faces, Familiar Judges and a Fresh Pro on the Floor
Season 35 brings a notable addition to the pro lineup. According to ABC7 New York, Adele Zaikman will join as a professional dancer this season after winning the inaugural season of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro. She steps onto the main show floor having already proven herself in the competition format.
The judging panel remains one of television’s most recognisable. Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli have been on the panel since the show’s first season, while Derek Hough joined in season 29, having previously competed as a professional dancer on the programme.
Among the celebrity contestants this season is Ezra Frech, who according to ABC won gold medals in both the 100 metre and high jump at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, and placed fifth in the long jump. Frech brings a genuine athletic pedigree to the competition, of a different sort from the dancers he is now learning alongside.
There is also an interesting pairing on the celebrity side. Maura Higgins has been partnered with Mark Ballas, and the two share history beyond this show: according to The Big Lead, they were both cast members on Traitors USA. Whether that familiarity gives them an edge on the dance floor or simply makes for good television remains to be seen, though the show will provide plenty of opportunities to find out across the coming weeks.
The full Season 35 cast is working through the elimination rounds now, with the Dancing With the Stars Season 35 finale expected to arrive on 24 November, assuming the show follows the same Thanksgiving-week pattern it has established in recent seasons. Keep an eye on ABC for any official confirmation of that date as the season progresses.