Updated: November 3, 2026
Why Is DWTS on Monday? If you opened your TV guide this week and did a double-take at Dancing with the Stars, you are not alone. The long-running ABC dance competition usually owns Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. ET. For one week only, it moved to Monday. Here is exactly why, what happened, and when the show returns to normal.
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The Real Reason DWTS Aired on Monday
ABC needed the Tuesday slot for live midterm election coverage. On November 3, 2026, the network ran “ABC News Election Night: Vote 2026,” a multi-hour special anchored by David Muir. Moving Dancing with the Stars one night earlier was the cleanest solution so fans still got their episode without overlapping major news programming.
This kind of one-off change is common during big national events. The network protects both its news responsibility and its entertainment franchise. Disney Night still happened — just 24 hours early.
What Monday’s Disney Night Delivered
The November 2 episode was Week 8 of Season 35. Eight couples remained after the previous week’s double elimination. They performed Disney-inspired routines with a Broadway twist, plus the season’s first team dance challenge. Cynthia Erivo joined the judging panel alongside Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli. Hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough kept the energy high.
Key details at a glance:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Episode Theme | Disney Night |
| Air Date | Monday, November 2, 2026 |
| Usual Time | 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT |
| Network & Streaming | ABC + Disney+ (live), Hulu next day |
| Guest Judge | Cynthia Erivo |
| Next Regular Episode | Tuesday, November 10 (Grammy Night) |
| Season Finale | Tuesday, November 24, 2026 |
Why Networks Make These Temporary Moves
Television schedules are carefully balanced. Live election coverage draws huge audiences and carries public-interest weight. Reality competitions like DWTS rely on live voting windows, so shifting the entire episode forward keeps the format intact. Fans still vote in real time, results stay current, and the show avoids being preempted mid-season.
This is not a permanent change. Dancing with the Stars returns to its regular Tuesday slot starting November 10 with Grammy Night, followed by the semi-finals on November 17 and the finale on November 24.
How to Stay on Top of Future Schedule Changes
- Check the official ABC app or Disney+ notifications the day before any potential conflict week.
- Follow the show’s verified social accounts for last-minute confirmations.
- Remember that midterms, presidential debates, major sports championships, or breaking news can occasionally push primetime entertainment.
- Set a calendar reminder for the remaining Season 35 dates so you never miss a live vote window.
The Monday shift was a practical decision that let both election coverage and Disney Night succeed. Now that the one-week exception is over, the ballroom is back on its usual night. Grab your remote, prepare your votes, and enjoy the rest of the season.
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