If your TV schedule feels like it was choreographed by a squirrel on espresso, you’re not imagining things. This is one of those rare “DWTS is doing the cha-cha on the calendar” weekswhere you don’t just get one sparkling episode, you get two. Yes, two. Like a buffet where you went in for dessert and accidentally left with dessert and dessert.
The short version: “Dancing With the Stars” isn’t on its usual night because ABC’s schedule got bumped by a major live news event. The longer (and more fun) version: the show makes up for it with a back-to-back, two-night eventone episode on Monday and another on Tuesday, with scores and votes working a little differently than normal.
So… Is “DWTS” on tonight?
It depends on which “tonight” you meanbecause this week has multiple “tonights” (the best kind of math). Here’s the cheat sheet for the two-episode week tied to the schedule change:
- Tuesday, October 1, 2024: No new “DWTS” episode (preempted).
- Monday, October 7, 2024: Yesnew episode at 8 p.m. ET/PT (Episode 1 of the two-night event).
- Tuesday, October 8, 2024: Yesnew episode at 8 p.m. ET/PT (Episode 2 of the two-night event).
If you’re reading this during a different season/week, don’t panic“DWTS” typically keeps a consistent weekly slot during its season. But the moment a debate, a big national broadcast, or a special network event shows up, your favorite ballroom becomes a scheduling Tetris piece. Translation: always double-check your local listings or the ABC/Disney+ schedule if something feels “off.”
What time is that in normal human time zones?
ABC often lists the show as 8 p.m. ET/PT. As a quick reference:
- 8 p.m. ET = 7 p.m. CT = 6 p.m. MT = 5 p.m. PT
- Streaming availability and live simulcasts can vary by platform and regionso check the app you’re using.
Why does “DWTS” have 2 episodes airing this week?
Because television is a group project, and sometimes your dance show gets paired with “current events” as the kid who forgot to do their part. In this case, ABC’s original Tuesday episode was preempted due to the vice-presidential debate on October 1, 2024. Even though the debate was hosted by another network, it’s common for major networks to adjust programming around big national events.
Rather than cutting an episode (which would be like canceling the fun part of gym class), ABC chose a fan-friendlier solution: make it up with a two-night event the following week. That means you get a Monday episode and a Tuesday episodetwo full nights of sparkles, spray tans, and “I can’t believe he lifted her like that” group texts.
What replaced “DWTS” on the preempted night?
Instead of a new ballroom episode at 8 p.m. ET on October 1, 2024, the network’s schedule pivoted to debate-related coverage. If you tuned in expecting a tango and found a countdown special, you weren’t in the wrong timelinejust the wrong broadcast plan.
How the two-night “DWTS” event works (and why it’s a little different)
Two-night weeks can be confusing because they’re not always a simple “Episode A, then Episode B.” Sometimes the show uses a two-night setup to spread out themes, carry scores, or combine votes to keep things fairand dramatic.
For this specific two-episode week: Night 1 is pre-taped and Night 2 is live. That matters because voting and eliminations don’t always behave the same way when an episode isn’t airing live.
Episode 1: Monday (October 7) “Soul Train Night”
Monday kicks off the two-night event with “Soul Train Night”, a theme built around the iconic musical variety show era and dance-floor energy that basically demands you nod along even if you swear you’re “just watching for the choreography.”
- It’s pre-taped (recorded earlier).
- Expect a guest judge: Rosie Perez joins the panel for the theme night.
- No elimination typically happens on Night 1 for this setup, because the competition is structured to roll into Night 2.
- Voting may still be available, but the mechanics can feel different because the episode isn’t happening live.
Think of Monday as the appetizer: satisfying, full of flavor, and designed to make you say, “Okay, fine, I’ll stay up for the next one too.”
Episode 2: Tuesday (October 8) “Hair Metal Night”
Tuesday brings the live episode: “Hair Metal Night”. Translation: big guitars, bigger hair, and the kind of dramatic lighting that makes even a mild step-touch look like it’s headlining a stadium.
- This episode airs live.
- Guest judge: Gene Simmons appears on the judging panel for the rock-themed night.
- Elimination happens on Night 2, using a combination of judges’ scores and viewer votes.
- Votes and scores from both nights can be combined to determine who’s in danger and who’s safe.
In other words: Tuesday is where the scoreboard gets real. Monday sets the stage, Tuesday drops the confettior the sad goodbye music.
How to watch “DWTS” during a two-episode week
Your mission is simple: show up at the right time with the right platform, and don’t let your group chat spoil the elimination while you’re still looking for the remote.
Live viewing options
- ABC (live broadcast): The classic wayturn on your TV, pretend you aren’t emotionally invested, fail immediately.
- Disney+ (live simulcast during the season): Many recent seasons have offered a live-stream option alongside ABC.
Next-day streaming
If you can’t watch live (or if your dog scheduled a competing event like “needing to go out exactly at 7:58 p.m.”), episodes are commonly available to stream the next day on Hulu in recent seasonshelpful for catching up without dodging spoilers forever.
Pro tip: Watch order matters this week
Since Night 1 sets up Night 2 (and voting/scores can carry over), you’ll get the best experience by watching Monday’s episode before Tuesday’s. Otherwise, Tuesday may feel like you walked into the movie during the final fight sceneexciting, but slightly confusing.
Why “DWTS” schedule changes happen (and what to expect next)
If you’re wondering, “Why does this always happen to my shows?”welcome to network TV, where schedules are held together with optimism and commercial breaks.
Common reasons “DWTS” gets moved or doubled up
- Major national broadcasts: Debates, State of the Union-style events, breaking news coverage.
- Special network programming: Award shows, sports scheduling shifts, or one-time specials.
- Season formatting choices: Some seasons do extended premieres or theme-heavy nights that reshape the weekly rhythm.
The good news: a schedule change usually doesn’t mean fewer episodes overall. It just means your usual Tuesday night routine is briefly replaced by a two-night “treat yourself” situationplus a little extra confusion.
FAQ: Fast answers for busy people (and people pretending they’re busy)
Is “DWTS” usually on Mondays?
In recent seasons, noit typically airs weekly on Tuesdays during the season. Monday episodes usually happen when ABC is making up for a preemption or doing a special two-night event.
Is Monday’s episode live?
Not always. In this two-episode week, the Monday episode is pre-taped, while Tuesday’s episode is live.
Will someone go home on both nights?
Usually, the structure is designed so that Night 1 builds into Night 2. For this week, Monday is commonly treated as a setup night (often with no elimination), and Tuesday is where the elimination happens based on combined performance and voting factors.
How do I avoid spoilers?
Two options: watch live, or temporarily mute the friend who types “NOOOOOOO” in all caps before you’ve even opened the app. No judgmentthis is self-care.
Extra: 500+ words of “DWTS two-episode week” experiences (the emotional cardio you didn’t ask for)
A two-episode “DWTS” week hits different. Not because the dances suddenly become twice as difficult (although the pros might argue that), but because the viewing experience turns into a mini-eventlike a holiday you didn’t plan for but now must commit to emotionally. It starts with the first sign of chaos: you check your guide, see nothing on the usual night, and immediately assume something is wrong with your TV, your app, or your entire understanding of time. Five minutes later, you’re deep in a search spiral asking, “Is DWTS on tonight?” as if the internet is going to personally tuck you in and say, “Yes, sweetie, the paso doble is safe.”
Then comes the upgrade: the show isn’t goneit’s doubled. Suddenly, you’re staring at two nights on the calendar like it’s a workout plan you didn’t agree to. Monday arrives, and you tell yourself you’ll “just watch a little,” which is adorable because “DWTS” doesn’t do “a little.” You watch one routine, then another, then you’re emotionally rating choreography like you’re holding a clipboard and a strict standard. (It’s the confidence for me.)
The pre-taped aspect on Night 1 adds its own weird flavor. It’s like being at a party where everyone’s having fun… but the clock is slightly off. You still get the costumes, the theme-night energy, the judging reactionsbut you also get that tiny voice in your head going, “Wait, was this filmed last week? Is this dance from the past? Are we time traveling in sequins?” Even voting can feel different when a night isn’t live, so viewers tend to become detectives: refreshing, reading fine print, and texting friends, “Can you vote right now or is it just me?”
And then Tuesday comesthe live nightwhen everything feels sharp, immediate, and slightly more intense. Live shows create a special kind of adrenaline: the audience is loud, reactions are instant, and you can feel the pressure in every lift and turn. It’s also the night where people become strategic. Group chats start doing math. Someone says, “If scores and votes combine, then Monday mattered more than we thought,” and suddenly you’re doing statistical analysis like you’re on a reality TV research panel.
Two-episode weeks also turn casual watchers into watch-party planners. People make snacks. Someone inevitably says, “We should do theme food,” and now you’re eating chips on “Hair Metal Night” like they’re part of the choreography. The best part, though, is the shared feeling that this week is special. Even if the reason is a scheduling bump, fans get a mini-festival of ballroom dramaand it’s kind of perfect. Because at the end of the day, “DWTS” isn’t just a show you watch. It’s a show you experiencewith your friends, your family, your timeline, and your increasingly serious opinions about whether a dance deserved an 8. (It did. You know it did.)
Conclusion
If you’re asking, “Is ‘Dancing With the Stars’ on tonight?” during a two-episode week, you’re not aloneand you’re not losing it. The show’s schedule changed because a major national broadcast bumped the usual night, and ABC made up for it with a two-night event: one episode on Monday and one on Tuesday. Watch in order, expect Night 1 to set the stage, and get ready for Night 2 to deliver the live-energy payoff (and the elimination you’ll insist you’re “fine” about).
Now go forth: set reminders, silence spoilers, and rememberif you accidentally plan something on both nights, that’s okay. You can always reschedule your plans. “DWTS” has clearly demonstrated it’s comfortable doing the same.
