What Is the ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Theme This Week?

“Dancing with the Stars” is celebrating a major milestone this week. The theme for the upcoming Tuesday, November 11, 2025 episode is the show’s “20th Birthday Party Night.” The episode honors two decades of dazzling dance moments since the competition first aired in 2005.

Seven celebrity contestants remain as the competition enters its ninth week of season 34. With the semifinals scheduled for November 18 and the grand finale on November 25, the stakes are rising — and so are fan expectations for this celebratory week.

‘Dancing with the Stars’ 20th Birthday Celebration and Guest Judge

This week’s “DWTS” theme, 20th Birthday Party Night, will bring nostalgia and sparkle to the ballroom. To make the night even more special, longtime fans will see a familiar face at the judges’ table — former host Tom Bergeron will return as a guest judge. Bergeron, who hosted the show from 2005 through 2019, will join regular judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli for this anniversary special.

The episode follows last week’s “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night,” which featured high-energy routines to classic hits and guest judge Flavor Flav. This week, contestants will perform routines inspired by classic songs and memorable moments that pay tribute to the show’s history.

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How to Watch ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Without YouTube TV

Due to an ongoing contract dispute between YouTube TV and Disney, subscribers to the live TV platform will not be able to watch ABC programming — including “Dancing with the Stars” — live for the second consecutive week. The disagreement has temporarily removed several Disney-owned channels from YouTube TV’s lineup, including ABC, ESPN, and Freeform.

However, fans have other options to catch the show. “Dancing with the Stars” airs live every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on both ABC and Disney+. Episodes are also available to stream the following day on Hulu. Those with Disney+ can tune in live even without cable or YouTube TV access.

Remaining Contestants and Weekly Themes

Seven celebrity dancers remain in the competition, including Alix Earle, Robert Irwin, Whitney Leavitt, Dylan Efron, Andy Richter, Elaine Hendrix, and Jordan Chiles. Each will perform to songs chosen to reflect the show’s evolution and spirit of celebration.

The remaining schedule for “Dancing with the Stars” season 34 includes:

• Week 9 (Nov. 11) – “20th Birthday Party Night”
• Week 10 (Nov. 18) – “Prince Night” (Semifinals)
• Week 11 (Nov. 25) – Three-hour Finale

Last week, “Boy Meets World” star Danielle Fishel and partner Pasha Pashkov were eliminated. As of this week, seven stars have been sent home this season.

How to Vote During ‘Dancing with the Stars’

Viewers can vote for their favorite couples during the live simulcast in the ET/CT time zones. Voting is open online at dwtsvote.abc.com or via text for eligible U.S. wireless carriers. Canadian viewers can participate in online voting only.

The show’s 20th Birthday Party Night is expected to be one of the most emotional and entertaining episodes of the season, bringing together nostalgia, new performances, and the return of a fan-favorite host.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What is the ‘Dancing with the Stars’ theme this week?

This week’s theme is “20th Birthday Party Night,” celebrating the show’s 20 years on air.

Q2: Who is guest judging on ‘DWTS’ this week?

Former host Tom Bergeron returns as the guest judge for the 20th anniversary celebration.

Q3: How can I watch ‘Dancing with the Stars’ without YouTube TV?

You can stream it live on Disney+ or watch it the next day on Hulu.

Q4: When is the ‘Dancing with the Stars’ 2025 finale?

The season 34 finale airs on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, in a special three-hour event.

Q5: How many contestants are left on ‘DWTS’?

There are seven celebrity contestants remaining as of week 9.