‘DWTS’ Holiday Special Tonight: Date, Time, Lineup, and What’s New in the Ballroom (Dec. 3, 2025)

The ballroom isn’t taking a week off. One week after the Season 34 finale crowned wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin the Mirrorball champion, a festive one-hour DWTS holiday special is bringing back pros, fan-favorite celebs, and a few surprise faces for a purely celebratory night of dance.

When the DWTS holiday special airs (and how to watch)

The special—titled “Dancing With the Holidays”—aired live Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 8/7c with a same-time digital stream and next-day on-demand availability. Replays and clips will roll out across the show’s official channels this week. If you missed it live, check your provider or the show’s app for the latest window in your region.

Run time: ~60 minutes
Format: Standalone showcase (no eliminations, no judges’ scores)

Hosts, pros, and musical guests

Your regular emcees Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro steer the festivities, trading quick skits and backstage moments between numbers. The pro bench is deep—expect core Season 34 faces alongside returning veterans in new pairings and small-group mashups designed for maximum holiday sparkle.

Confirmed highlights

• Live performance by Pentatonix anchoring a mid-show medley with the pros

• Cameo from former pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy

• A sweet family moment featuring Jenna Johnson, Val Chmerkovskiy, and their son Rome

The special leans family-friendly, with choreography built around big melodies, bold costumes, and clean camera blocking for living-room viewing.

What the dances look like

Producers packed the hour with jive, samba, tango, and jazz—short, punchy routines that hit hard on theme. You’ll see:

• Classic ballroom with a twist: Waltz phrases wrapped in toy-shop staging, quickstep footwork under “snowfall,” and prop-light choreography so the dancers—not the set—stay center stage.

• Small-group precision: Trios and quartets letting pros trade spotlight lines, then snap into unison for a fireworks finish.

• A choir-backed finale: The pros weave through a medley that lands on a full-company tableau—holiday postcard energy, confetti optional.

Costume design splits between evergreen reds-and-golds and icy silvers that pop on camera. Expect a few tongue-in-cheek nods to viral Season 34 moments, worked into transitions.

Easter eggs for Season 34 fans

The special tips its hat to the just-finished season without turning into a recap. Watch for:

• Winking references to fan-favorite routines (a lifted motif here, a signature arm line there).

• Cameo cutaways to recent finalists cheering from the balcony.

• A brief champions’ salute that lets the new Mirrorball winner soak up one more ovation.

It’s comfort viewing engineered to remind you why you tuned in all fall—chemistry, craft, and a little chaos when the confetti cannons fire early.

Why DWTS is doing a holiday special

Three reasons this makes sense now:

1. Continuity: The show’s energy usually drops after a finale. A holiday hour keeps viewers engaged through December and bridges into winter programming.

2. Showcase the pros: Without scoring pressure, the choreography can be riskier, tighter, and more musical. It’s a calling card for the dancers who make the engine run.

3. Family co-viewing: A single, event-style broadcast slots cleanly into weeknight plans and encourages multi-generational watch parties.

If ratings and social engagement pop, this format is positioned to become an annual tradition.

Quick guide: catch-up and rewatch tips

• Missed the live broadcast? Look for same-week replays on your local affiliate’s schedule and on-demand through your TV provider or the show’s official streaming home.

• Clips first: The production posts select numbers and behind-the-scenes reels within 24–48 hours; it’s an easy way to sample before you hunt the full special.

• Family-friendly picks: The opening number, the Pentatonix medley, and the company finale landed best with younger viewers in early chatter.

What’s next after the DWTS holiday special

Casting chatter for the next cycle heats up in late winter, with formal announcements typically dropping closer to spring. In the meantime, expect tour updates from select pros, digital mini-lessons, and more holiday-adjacent content rolling through the show’s feeds.

The DWTS holiday special is exactly what it says on the tin—an hour of high-gloss, low-stress dance designed to send the ballroom into the holidays on a smile. If you want closure after a competitive season (or a gateway for someone new to the show), this is the bow on top.