Why ‘Dancing With the Stars’ is not airing tonight — and when it will return

This Tuesday, Dancing With the Stars wants you to vote — just not for their contestants.

The ballroom is dark on Nov. 5 as the ABC dance competition takes the night off to give precedence to Election Day and coverage of the 2024 presidential election. Hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro announced the show’s planned pause on last week’s Halloween Nightmares episode.

The election has now disrupted two episodes of season 33. Back in October, the show skipped a week as they were pre-empted by the Vice Presidential debate. They instead aired two episodes the following week — Soul Train night and Hair Metal night.

There won’t be a double dose of dancing this go-round, however. The disco ball will be spinning in the ballroom once again on Tuesday, Nov. 12, but there will only be one episode for the week. In fact, only three episodes remain before the season 33 Len Goodman Mirrorball champion is crowned, with the finale airing on Nov. 26.

The Nov. 12 episode will mark a major milestone for DWTS. It’s the 500th episode, celebrating nearly two decades on the air. In addition to appearances by past pros and what they’re teasing as their “most difficult challenge” in the history of the show, the couples will have to perform a number inspired by some of the most iconic dances in DWTS history.

The show is set to open with a dance number to Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love,” an homage to the very first episode of DWTS, which opened with the same song. The number will be choreographed by pros (and spouses) Pasha Paskov and Daniella Karagach.

The couples will also face off in an Instant Dance Challenge, in which they won’t know the dance style or the song until around five minutes before they must perform live.

Here are the dances and songs for the remaining couples on the show’s 500th episode celebration:

• Danny Amendola and Witney Carson will perform a Quickstep, inspired by Helio Castroneves and Julianne Hough’s performance in season 5, to “Hey Pachuco” by Royal Crown Revue.
• Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson will perform a Contemporary, inspired by Riker Lynch and Allison Holker’s performance in season 20, to “Work Song” by Hozier.
• Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach will perform an Argentine Tango, inspired by James Hinchliffe and Sharna Burgess’ performance in season 23, to “Santa Maria (Del Buen Ayre)” by Gotan Project.
• Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong will perform an Argentine Tango, inspired by Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough’s performance in season 16, to “Para Te” by Appart.
• Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten will perform a Quickstep, inspired by Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold’s performance in season 25, to “Chuck Berry” by Pharrell Williams.
• Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold will perform a Viennese Waltz, inspired by Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas’ performance in season 31, to “Glimpse of Us” by Joji.

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Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+.